Miracle on 34th Street
Santa Claus , the face of the Christmas time of year himself , is one of the most iconic characters in all of macrocosm . It takes a sure character of magic to add this jolly previous elf to life on screen , and we ’ve got no dearth of Santas invarious specials . But how many really stack up and do the role justice ?
From the bright and middling to the mysterious and magic , we ’ve seen Santas as different as they come . For this holiday time of year , we ’ve got some special picks . reconcile for your reading and watch pleasure , here are our choices for the ten best Santas on screen .
Scott Calvin/Santa Claus
Tim Allen might not be everyone ’s first choice when they think of an iconic Santa Claus , but we ca n’t deny how incredibly memorable his version of the eccentric was in Disney’sThe Santa Clause . When shrewd businessman , Scott Calvin mistakenly knocks Santa off his cap , it ’s up to him to maltreat into the big valet de chambre ’s boots .
Allen ’s Santa is n’t the most traditional on our list , at least at first . When he fully and readily accepts his Modern use as the cerise - fit out gift giver , he ’s pretty good for standard fare . Think the Coca Cola Santa derive to lifetime and you ’ve pretty much got it .
Santa Claus (Polar Express)
For one of the well animated Santas we ’ve ever take in , climb aboard the Polar Express for an unforgettable Christmas journeying . Tom Hanks gives us this version of St. Nick , and the build - up to his reveal is absolutely palpable in its payoff . There ’s nothing extra or overweening about this interlingual rendition , he ’s essentially Santa in his unadulterated shape .
The inscrutable but quick and loving voice , the magic that much radiate off of him , and the absolute mightiness in his front is enough to give us goosebumps . This is our idea of the classic Santa , red suit , jingle campana , and the power of belief .
Death
In Sir Terry Pratchett ’s Discworld , the angel of Death trades in the scythe for a sledge inHogfather . When the Discworld ’s variation of Santa Claus , the Hogfather , is indispose , last has to transmit out his vacation himself .
TheDiscworldseries is what happens when you blendLord of the Rings , Harry Potter , andMonty Python and the Holy Grailtogether . last subbing for Santa is passably much a normal Thursday here . To his credit , Death does a decent job , though his delivery is a bit dry and deadpan ( no pun intended ) . He fulfills his duty with a foreign but sincere brand of good humor and cheer .
Jack Skellington
address of skeletal figures who take the use of Santa Claus , how can we forget to observe the skittish antics of the Pumpkin King himself ? True , Burton ’s holiday tale does have its own Santa , but he ’s barely in the film . Jack , though mistaken and misguided in his try , really does want to give everyone a lively Christmas .
When Jack decides to switch his Halloween haunts for yuletide cheer , things do n’t exactly go as planned . We have to include our pet Halloween Town resident simply because of the sheer joy cistron he carries on his trip . Though he delivered a Christmas more macabre than merry , he was happy just to try it .
Raymond Briggs’s Father Christmas
From the man that brought usThe Snowmancomes this take on the jolly old elf . Father Christmasshows us a different side of Santa , specifically what he does outside of the holiday time of year . In this lovely small cinema , we see what happen when Santa Claus goes on holiday .
The short is interesting , to say the least . We see Santa chat France , Scottland , and even Vegas all while jaunt in a reindeer - get out flying camping bus . Santa himself is very alone and definitely more human than any other version on our inclination . Even Father Christmas needs a vacation now and then .
Kris Kringle/Santa Claus (Rankin Bass)
When it come to tenure as Santa Claus , Mickey Rooney might just hold the phonograph recording . Rooney played Kris Kringle five dissimilar times in his decorate career , namely in the Rankin Bass vacation specials . However , his most notable credit of this list has to beSanta Claus is Comin ' to Town .
Kris prepare our list because this is one of the few instances where we ’re introduced to Santa as a younger humans who grows up into the bearded bringer of toys we all know and love . Every famous character necessitate an stock account , veracious ? This is a pretty good style to get the ball cast for old Saint Nick .
Nicholas St. North
How can we not talk about Alec Baldwin ’s sword - swinging , swashbuckling , tattooed , Russian Santa inRise of the Guardians ? This is by all odds a guy we would love to get our Christmas gifts from , and can you blame us ?
He meets all the Santa criteria with his immense white beard , joyous disposition , and lustrous flushed suit , but can easily be a horrific warrior if he really needs to be . Easily the most interesting and alternative Santa on our list , it ’s not every day we see the vacation image turned into a superhero , but this is a pretty impressive way to do it .
Santa Claus (Christmas Chronicles)
Say what you require aboutThe Christmas Chronicles , but we had to let in a rockstar Santa played by Kurt Russell ? masses have tried to make Santa " nerveless " before , but this interlingual rendition actually succeeds with Russel come home a killer face fungus , a violent leather pelage , and even an Elvis inspired melodious phone number .
The hard - rock exterior might be a bit flashy , but this Santa is also a pro , sporting a legion of gadgets that allows him to perform his yearly lap around the world . It ’s a more innovative take , but not one we ’d turn down any fourth dimension soon .
Kris Kringle (Miracle on 34th Street (1947))
unquestionably the most noted interpretation of Santa Claus on our list has to be Edmund Gwenn from the Oscar - winningMiracle on 34th Street . The film is considered an all - clock time Christmas classic , and Gwenn ’s performance is decidedly one of the biggest reasons why . This edition of Kris Kringle definitely captures a round-eyed sense of wonder in all of us .
Gwenn ’s Santa carries himself very well with a polished elegance and pride in his operation . He ’s also very gentle and warm in his fundamental interaction with everyone he meets . The scene with the Dutch female child gets us every time , and we ca n’t have a Santa list without him .
Kris Kringle (Miracle on 34th Street (1994))
We ’re not saying the remaking is well than the original , but Richard Attenborough ’s version of Kris Kringle is unquestionably different from Edmund Gwenn ’s . Gwenn ’s is no doubt an iconic public presentation of the character , but it does still palpate like a carrying out . Attenborough ’s , on the other helping hand , feels more like a rude Santa .
Attenborough perfectly melt into this persona , the amount of joy that radiates off of him is just communicable and it never fails to illuminate up whatever scene he ’s in . The way he smiles , laughs , and hold our attention is enough to make us all believeyes , there is a Santa Claus .
NEXT : Christmas Vacation : 10 Funniest Scenes From The Holiday Film
