Bad Santa

Released Nov 26, 2003

1h 33m

Holiday

Comedy

Crime

Drama

List

78%

Tomatometer

220 Reviews

75%

Audience Score

100,000+ Ratings

In this dark comedy, the crotchety Willie T. Stokes (Billy Bob Thornton) and his partner (Tony Cox) reunite once a year for a holiday con. Posing as a mall Santa and his elf, they rip off shopping outlets on Christmas Eve. This year, however, Willie is falling apart. He's depressed and alcoholic, and his erratic behavior draws the suspicion of mall security (Bernie Mac). But when befriending a small boy brings out his kinder side, Willie begins to wonder if there is still some hope for him.

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Critics Consensus

A gloriously rude and gleefully offensive black comedy, Bad Santa isn't for everyone, but grinches will find it uproariously funny.

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Nick Schager

The Daily Beast

Climactic uplift is far less important than the bawdy, nasty, inappropriate hilarity peddled by Terry Zwigoff’s 2003 gem, which also benefits from the participation of the late Bernie Mac and John Ritter.

Dec 5, 2022

Full Review

Paul Byrnes

Sydney Morning Herald

In the annals of movie profanity, this movie would rate an Oscar, but it's actually pretty sweet at heart, although never sentimental. And if you don't believe me, you know what you can do.

Dec 14, 2014

Full Review

David Ansen

Newsweek

An antidote to forced holiday cheer, this scabrously funny misanthropic comedy is not for the whole family.

Dec 14, 2014

Full Review

David Walsh

World Socialist Web Site

The film contains perhaps 90 seconds of genuine amusement. The rest is forced, juvenile, "off."

Feb 15, 2021

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

His journey of humanization (or the softening of a terribly hardened heart) is sometimes genuinely poignant, even when it's surrounded by preposterously reprehensible conduct.

Rated: 8/10

Sep 25, 2020

Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Lauren Graham was wonderful as the sweet, at times horny, bartender with a thing for Santa.

Rated: 3.0/4.0

Sep 2, 2020

Full Review

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Chris T

The best Christmas movie of all time! And one of the best comedy movies of all time! A conman alcoholic santa and an elf is all you need to make this happen. And the kid who is the star of the show helps bring out the good in Bad Santa.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/17/24

Full Review

Jameson S

The Funniest Adult Christmas Movie Ever.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/23/24

Full Review

Donald C

Funny, sweet, disgusting and tasteless. Billy bob Thornton rules

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/11/24

Full Review

Madie R

It took me a long time to watch this movie...mainly b/c I'm not the biggest fan of Billy Bob Thornton. However, I was happily surprised by the dark, twisted comedy. He's not your typical mall Santa. Watched this movie back-to-back b/c I was crying with laughter the first time. Especially when the one kid sneezes chocolate ice cream in Willie's face. "Bad Santa" is a demented, twisted, unreasonably funny Christmas comedy style with great performances from Billy Bob Thornton, Tony Cox, Bernie Mac, and Brett Kelly.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/01/24

Full Review

corina m

Worst movie I ever saw in my life! This movie should be illegal!!!!! Such a stupid, nasty bad, disgusting movie. So regret watching it!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

12/27/23

Full Review

Kevin A

Dumb, Sour, and not full of Christmas Spirit. Don't waste your time.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

12/24/23

Full Review

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Terry Zwigoff

Director

Billy Bob Thornton

Willie

Tony Cox

Marcus

Brett Kelly

The Kid

Lauren Graham

Sue

Lauren Tom

Lois

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Bad Santa: Official Clip - I'm a Dwarf!