#top 12

9. Jim Broadbent, from Arthur Christmas.

What’s unique about Jim Broadbent’s Santa is that, unlike every other version of the character on this countdown, he’s something of an antagonist. However, he’s an antagonist born out of love. In this holiday special, Broadbent plays Malcolm Claus, a.k.a. “Santa the 20th.” In this universe, it’s revealed that many people have been Santa over the decades…but Malcolm seems to be the one who has done it the longest. However, it quickly becomes clear that’s not necessarily a good thing: age can bring experience…but it can also have drawbacks, causing one to get set in one’s ways, or having their mind or body fail on them. That’s exactly what Malcolm is going through: because he’s getting on in years, even by immortal standards, and because he’s finding it hard to adapt to the more modern times, his ability to carry out the job has dwindled, causing him to need to leave a lot of the major work to the elves. On top of that, he’s also developed some memory loss, so he keeps forgetting or overlooking some important things, which naturally doesn’t make things easier. It’s indicated he really should have retired and given the role up to someone else LONG ago…but Malcolm keeps at it, even though it seems like a bad idea to almost everyone else. What I love though is that, despite all this, he’s never depicted as an out-and-out bad guy: he’s not a tyrant who has grown too full of himself, the real issue is just…well…he loves his job. He loves being Santa Claus: he feels he HAS to keep going, for as long as he can, because he loves everything the role MEANS. He loves giving, he loves making people happy, he loves knowing how much it all means to people…but ironically, by trying so hard to keep it together when everything is telling him it’s time to retire, he only ends up causing trouble for his own holiday in the process. He’s still the Santa we all recognize, at the end of the day - jolly, good-tempered, and rotund - but it seems like even St. Nick has to face the music as time goes on. There’s something strangely powerful about that; so many films try to paint the idea of Santa “getting with the times” as either a humorous or even negative thing, but this version really plays with the idea of how, if you want to make things right and good in the world, you need to learn to adapt and put the needs of others over yourself. Santa having to learn that lesson is somehow fitting and ironic all at the same time.

8. Ed Asner, from The Story of Santa Claus AND Elf.

Now, I’m gonna be honest…I’m really including Elf here at all ONLY because I know people would KILL me if I didn’t mention it. I know I’m going to sound like a heartless old codger, but - shock of all shocks - I’m actually not a huge fan of the movie. I don’t HATE it, by any means - it’s got some great jokes, some good scenes, and I love its satire of Rankin/Bass productions - but I guess I’m just not a huge fan of the package overall. With that said, Asner isn’t bad in that movie - playing a rather world-weary Santa who can occasionally seem grumpy, but also still genuinely loves his job and tries his best to live up to expectations. However, “Elf” was far from the only time he played the character: among other appearances, he also played the role in “Olive the Other Reindeer,” “Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus,” and my personal favorite - and the one that really gets him here - a somewhat obscure animated movie simply called “The Story of Santa Claus.” Made in 1996 for CBS, this animated TV special is yet another take on the origin story for the character. In the film, Santa’s true name is Nicholas Claus: a toymaker known for his generosity. In fact, he’s generous to a fault: he is so focused on giving and making children happy that he actually sinks his own business, as he’ll let people take toys for free just because he wants to make them happy. When their wicked landlord evicts Nicholas and his wife, Gretchen (played by Betty White), the two decide to head out across the ocean to find a new life…but end up being lost at sea and finding themselves at the North Pole. Nicholas saves one elf’s life, and thus their leader, Nostros - played by Tim Curry, of all people - agrees to give him one wish. Nicholas wishes that he could give every single child in the world a toy on Christmas Eve, which even Nostros declares is an impossible dream…but Nicholas is determined, and soon he and the elves begin working to find a way to make it happen. The special is a bit corny and has some pacing problems, but overall it’s actually a rather charming piece of work, and it’s undeniably Asner’s best Santa, in my opinion. I love how unfailingly kind, tender, and enthusiastic he is, and also how FORGIVING he is: even people who have not treated him with the best kindness he still tries to act gentle and reasonable towards. Even in his down moments, his worries aren’t for himself, but rather the people he fears he could be hurting or disappointing. He’s hardly the only Santa to be so unflaggingly good-natured, but it’s still always good to see a version play to all those strengths so well. Again, most people are probably going to recognize Asner for “Elf” before all else, and he’s perfectly fine there…but it’s for “The Story of Santa Claus” he makes my top ten. I grew up with that special, and watched it multiple times as a kid; I never forgot about it. It’s one of my favorite takes on Santa’s origins I’ve ever seen and enjoyed, and I plan to watch it at least a few more times in Christmases yet to come.

7. Douglas Seale, from Ernest Saves Christmas.

I think a lot of people agree that Douglas Seale - who many probably know best for playing the equally jovial Sultan from Disney’s Aladdin - is really one of the most perfectly cast and played Santas in live-action history. This is especially funny because he never once wears the classic Santa suit throughout the whole movie! In “Ernest Saves Christmas” - one of a series of films starring Jim Varney’s Ernest P. Worrell character - Seale’s Santa flies into Florida seeking a replacement. Much like in “Arthur Christmas,” it’s indicated that many people have played the role of Santa over the centuries, and that Seale’s Santa is the one who has been doing it the longest. And, also like with that movie, it’s time for Seale’s Santa to retire. The big difference is that, instead of playing a reluctant St. Nick who just can’t give up the job…Seale’s Santa fully recognizes that his time has come, and he needs to move on and give the role to someone else. What’s great about Seale’s Santa, with that in mind, is that - unlike in Arthur Christmas - he’s not depicted as a person who probably SHOULD give up the job; he still feels like a Santa in his prime. He’s kind, he’s wise, he’s understanding, he loves the holidays, he has a sense of humor about things, he keeps a level head and has great grace under pressure…he’s just this constant living beacon of everything Christmas is meant to be. So when he delivers this utterly beautiful monologue, explaining why he feels it’s time for him to give up the job, you feel just torn up beyond belief: you can tell how much he loves being who he is, how much he loves doing what he does…and how much it hurts him to admit, “it’s time for me to go.” You don’t want him to give it up, but you also feel you can’t argue with him when he explains why he must! Seale’s performance almost singlehandedly carries this film and this Santa through: he’s just one of the absolute most perfect casting choices for any Santa in any movie. The only reason he doesn’t rank higher is mostly just due to the film’s own flaws; I personally don’t really care for the movie as a whole…but any time Seale is onscreen, to quote a certain Muppet movie, it feels like Christmas.

6. Tim Allen, from "The Santa Clause" franchise.

This film series seems to be slightly polarizing for people, but generally appears to be loved by most. The original movie has gotten enough love to gain two sequels AND a spin-off streaming TV series, so that’s definitely a sign of at least some popularity. The original movie from 1994 was a comedic story about a man named Scott Calvin - played, obviously, by Tim Allen - who accidentally causes the death of Santa Claus when he startles him and causes him to fall off a roof one Christmas Eve. (Off to a Holly Jolly start.) According to magical law, this means that Scott will now become the new Santa, and take on all of his duties. Over the course of the film, Scott slowly transforms, physically, into the next Santa Claus - gaining weight, growing a big white beard, becoming addicted to milk-and-cookies, and even seeming to have this innate understanding with children and knowing the names of every person he meets without any explanation. At first, of course, Scott is resistant to such things…but by the end of the film, he is more than accepting of his new role as the next Santa Claus. The next two films were about Scott having to work to KEEP the job, as he soon finds that he LOVES being Santa and all that comes with it, almost despite himself. Not only that, but he’s REALLY good at it, as he seems to have a better understanding of why and how more modern children behave and what they really need. I haven’t seen the spin-off show “The Santa Clauses” yet, and I don’t know if it’s generally liked or disliked, but as for the movies…I like the first one, I LOVE the second one (I have no shame in admitting that, even though I'm sure I'm in the minority there), and the third one…has some good moments, though it’s definitely the weakest of the trilogy. Allen is surprisingly great as Santa across all three; when he’s in “Full Claus Mode,” you totally buy it and believe him in the role, and whenever he’s in the form of “Scott Calvin”...you STILL believe it. They somehow took a comedian and actor known for generally more cynical, snarky humor and made him into the living embodiment of optimism, and it works shockingly well. If you had asked me a few years ago, I probably would have put him in my Top Five. I don’t think he’s quite that high anymore, but he still comes close for good reason.

5. Gerard Butler, from The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland.

This animated movie is only about a year old now, and I already feel confident naming it’s take on Santa - mostly referred to specifically as “St. Nick” in the film - as one of my top five favorites. I have no idea what madman thought to cast Gerard Butler, of all actors, in the role…but just like with Tim Allen, he actually turns out to work astonishingly well. In this combination of Christmas special and “Alice in Wonderland” riff, St. Nick is summoned to Wonderland after receiving a letter from the Princess of Hearts, who wants a pet Bandersnatch for Christmas. What Santa and the reindeer don’t know, however, is that the letter has been lost for YEARS, and by the time it has managed to reach them, the Princess has grown up into the nasty Queen of Hearts. It’s revealed that St. Nick apparently hasn’t visited Wonderland in many years, and in that time, the Queen has become the bitter and hate-filled villain we all know from the story. When she vows vengeance upon the jolly old gift-bringer, St. Nick must get help from Alice, the Mad Hatter, the White Rabbit, and a few other Wonderlandians in order to escape the Queen’s wrath and continue on his Christmas Eve flight. Gerard Butler’s St. Nick is different from other Santas because…well…he’s not very bright. I believe the phrase “Golden Retriever Energy” best describes this version of the character: rather than a sagely grandfather or uncle type figure, like we see in so many other versions, Butler’s Santa is essentially a big, dumb, overgrown kid. He’s a bit reckless, he’s easily distracted, he’s perhaps too trusting and optimistic for his own good…he’s kind of a doofus. The thing is though, what he lacks in brain cells he makes up for in heart: there may not be much of a thought in his head, but there is a LOT of love in his soul. His entire being seems to just be SWAMPED with the pure, absolute JOY of the holiday season. Everything he does is simply done out of a desire to make people happy in the best way he knows how: when he hits his lowest point in the film, it’s specifically because he realizes how badly he’s failed in his own mission. He feels like he wasn’t able to make everybody happy; he couldn’t help everybody, he couldn’t give everybody all the happiness and love they deserved. And it’s HEARTBREAKING to him. The only thing that brings him out of it is when he’s given a chance to fix what he sees as his own mistake. In a way, the guy’s whole problem is just that he’s TOO good, TOO nice, TOO cheerful and loving and oozing with Yuletide warmth and joy. And…well…isn’t that what Santa SHOULD be, in a way? The most warm and loving person in the entire universe? It may be to a fault, in this version, but still…I love that’s the route they went, and it makes him one of the best Santas I’ve personally ever seen. Again, this movie isn’t that old or that well-known, but I have no doubt this is one of my favorite Santas of all time.

4. Alec Baldwin, from Rise of Guardians.

Continuing the trend of “didn’t see this coming, but it works,” I don’t think ANYBODY expected the formula of Alec Baldwin + Action-Packed Swordsman + Over-the-Top Russian Accent = One of the best Santas ever. But, yet again, that’s arguably what we get! “Rise of the Guardians” features a whole slew of mythological figures of childhood - including Jack Frost, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, and others - trying to stop the evil machinations of the Boogeyman himself, known as Pitch Black. Among these figures is Nicholas St. North, a.k.a. Santa: an uncommon mixture of holiday ho-ho-hoer who brings love and joy to all…and a kick-ass warrior who will whoop your butt and carve you to pieces if you aren’t careful. There have been multiple attempts to make Santa into an “action star type,” surprisingly - some more serious and/or successful than others - but out of all of them, I think this one achieves that assignment the best. The reason why, in my opinion, is because the filmmakers and Baldwin seemed to understand that North needed to be Santa first, and an action hero second. Yes he’ll slice up his foes to slivers if he has to, yes he can be competitive and sassy, yes he even shows a bit of a cocky ego at times…but more than anything, what he is is a man who loves to have fun and loves to make children smile. And despite all his bluster and boisterous brass, he can also be kind and wise, just the way you would want most versions of Santa to be. You can totally buy him happily giving gifts to children or letting them whisper their wishes into his ear, just as you can buy him summoning armies of Yetis or slicing up Nightmares. What more can I say? As far as more unconventional Santas go, it doesn’t get much better than this.

3. The Version From “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”

It may surprise a bunch of you to know that I actually really struggled with where to place this version of Santa. On the one hand, “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is quite possibly my favorite movie of all time. So, just by that point alone, this one gets a lot of kudos. I also like how Santa is basically depicted in the film; especially how, despite all that happened, he forgives Jack Skellington and even gives him the gift of a white Christmas in Halloween Town. Ed Ivory’s voice is great, the design is great, it’s a generally decent Santa. HOWEVER, on the other hand…well, frankly, he doesn’t get to DO much Santa stuff. Santa is a relatively minor character in the film, even though his presence is important. Most of the movie has him being confused or frightened or even downright angry…not without reason, admittedly, because he spends a large portion of it trapped against his will with the threat of a VERY horrible death looming over his jolly old head. So, by those standards, he really shouldn’t be this high up. DOUBLE-HOWEVER, and on an inexplicable third hand…I really, REALLY love this Santa in spin-off materials from the film. Most especially in the game “Kingdom Hearts II.” There played by Corey Burton, “Sandy Claws” - as Jack calls him - actually plays a surprisingly major role in the Halloween Town levels of the game, and we get to see more of him just…well…being Santa! Again, he does get a little grumpy now and again, but it’s treated with some humor, and again, you can’t say it’s unjustified, given everything he’s gone through and IS going through. But more importantly, the game manages to showcase more of his kindness and his compassion: the speech he gives to Jack at the end of the first visit is honestly one of my favorite pieces of dialogue from any Santa ever, and it really does feel like character growth on his part, since the events of the World in the game take place sometime after the movie. I also love how it’s established he is THE Santa Claus, and apparently travels to ALL Worlds that need him, rather than being confined to just his own: it makes both him and everything else in Halloween Town feel so much more important and grand, in a way. Even beyond KH, there are some great shining moments from Santa in this franchise sprinkled throughout numerous pieces…I’ve heard he’s particularly well-rounded (fitting for Mr. Claus, har har) in the comic sequel “Zero’s Journey,” but I haven’t read that yet. At the end of the day, after balancing it all out in my head…I still feel I kind of HAVE to give this Santa a spot in my personal top three. I’m not sure how high he’d rank for others, all things told, but it really does feel like this is the best place for him in my own heart.

2. Both the 1947 AND 1994 Versions of “Miracle on 34th Street.”

There have been several adaptations of “Miracle on 34th Street,” but most people seem to feel the very best are the original 1947 film and the later 1994 cinematic remake. I am inclined to agree, and part of the reason is simply because they have probably the two best Santas in live-action history. The story in both films starts when a big department store in New York City (the real-life Macy’s in the 1947 film, and the fictional Cole’s in 1994) faces a crisis during their annual Thanksgiving Day Parade: the person meant to play Santa during the parade’s grand finale turns out to be drunk, disorderly, and generally unfit for duty. Desperate, they turn to a man who literally calls himself Kris Kringle, and he is so well-accepted they hire him on to fulfill the role of Santa at their store for the holiday season. However, it soon becomes clear that Kris Kringle actually is…well…Kris Kringle! He really IS the real Santa, or, at the very least, he CLAIMS that he is and BELIEVES that he is. This becomes an issue when Kris is framed for assaulting someone (in actuality, it was an act of righteous defense), and when people hear about his claims of being Santa, the other characters must decide if they will try to defend him as the real deal, or if he’ll be sent to a mental institution for his supposed delusions. Both films, like the Polar Express, toy around a lot with the idea of faith and trust; treating the belief in Santa Claus as really an analogy for belief and faith in general. The trial of Kris is really a trial of humanity’s willingness to trust in miracles and believe in things despite all logic being against it. In the original film, Kris is played by Edmund Gwenn; in the remake, he’s played by Richard Attenborough. Both films and both Santas have their pros and cons, and it’s genuinely impossible for me to choose either as truly the best; I feel like Gwenn’s Santa has a bit more prideful dignity to him, while Attenborough’s seems just so joyfully enthusiastic about a lot of things. Both dip into each other’s territory, however, so to speak, and both have moments that pull on your heartstrings. It really is a matter of comparing apples to bananas in both cases, with the movies and with their respective Clauses: no matter which you pick, they truly help to make you believe the unbelievable.

1. Mickey Rooney, from Various Rankin/Bass Specials.

Rankin/Bass Productions, of course, are responsible for some of the most famous Christmas specials of all time, and Santa is a frequent figure in many of them. In most of his appearances - most famously “Frosty the Snowman” - he was played by Paul Frees. Allen Swift handled things in "Twas the Night Before Christmas." In their adaptation of “The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus” (which is the only version of that story I’m REALLY familiar with), he was played by Earl Hammond. In his very first appearance in “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” he was voiced by Stan Francis. All of these performers were great and had their moments in the role…but if there’s one Santa to top them all, it’s Mickey Rooney. Simply put, barring the fact that he’s a stop-motion puppet and not a real human being…Rooney’s Santa simply IS Santa to me. His voice is the one I think of above all others, his personality is the one I think of above all others…and thanks to his intro in “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town,” his origin is the one I think of above all others. Yes, there are other takes on Santa’s backstory - a couple even on this list - but my favorite will always be the one in that special. I love how, in that backstory, Santa Claus - or Kris Kringle, if you prefer - is depicted as this sort of underdog figure. He tries to fight against cruelty and bitterness not with violence but with charity and love; “kill ‘em with kindness,” you might say. Everything he does is simply because…it’s all he knows how to do. This is even referenced in a later appearance by Rooney, in the film “Rudolph & Frosty’s Christmas in July,” which features a scene calling back to the events of this special. In that film, Claus chuckles, and I quote, “Well, giving toys is just my way of saying hello, and showing my love.” He doesn’t know how NOT to be giving, how NOT to be kind, and while he can occasionally get frustrated or disappointed, he never loses that determination or hope that goodness will win out. Heck, in that same film, he gets lost in a horrible storm, but refuses to back down or go home, simply because he will not rest in his mission to help people. This same resilience is tested in-between these two points in a semi-sequel special called “The Year Without a Santa Claus,” where Santa - disheartened by the feeling that so many people no longer believe in him - decides to cancel Christmas that year. Over the course of the special, his faith in not only others but also himself is tested…and what ultimately brings him out of his depressive state is the realization of how much so many children depend on him, and how the kindness of others hasn’t nearly faded out as much as he thought. Reinvigorated, he hastily gets back into gear and vows to never try such a thing again. Even these three specials were not the end, for Rooney would reprise the role one last time in an official sequel to “Year Without a Santa Claus” entitled “A Miser Brothers Christmas.” While that special generally isn’t great, it is nice to hear Rooney again in the part, and once again, his simple need to make people happy no matter the cost shines through: despite having a busted leg (and having a deranged villain on his back), he refuses to let Christmas be spoiled, and is willing to go out and try against all odds. More than any other Santa, this one seemed to constantly play into that determined spirit, and once again felt very human (ironic, given his animated state) while also having all the joy and whimsy you would hope for in such a figure. I know the animation is a bit clunky, and…well, frankly, Mickey Rooney himself was seemingly anything BUT a Santa Claus in real life (by all accounts, he was kind of a grumpy and pompous baboon)…but at the end of the day, I just can’t help myself. This has been, and likely will always be, My Favorite Santa Claus. He was just everything I ever wanted Santa to be, and that hasn’t changed in all this time. If ever I meet the real Santa, one can only hope he’s even better in real life.

Honorable Mentions Include…

Kurt Russell, from The Christmas Chronicles.

Nick Frost, from Doctor Who: Last Christmas.

James Cosmo, from The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005).