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The Santa Clause (1994)

PG | | Comedy, Drama, Family | 11 November 1994 (USA)
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When a man inadvertantly kills Santa on Christmas Eve, he finds himself magically recruited to take his place.

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2 wins & 8 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
... Scott Calvin
... Neal
... Laura
... Charlie
... Bernard
... Detective Nunzio
... Ms. Daniels
Paige Tamada ... Elf-Judy
... Mr. Whittle
... Susan
... Waitress
Melissa King ... Little Girl
Bradley Wentworth ... Elf at North Pole
Azura Bates ... Elf in Hangar
Joshua Satok ... Elf-Larry
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Storyline

Divorcee Scott Calvin is disgusted to learn that his ex and her husband have tried - and failed - to break it easy to their 6-year-old son Charlie that Santa isn't real. On Christmas Eve, Scott reads The Night Before Christmas... then receives an unexpected visitor on his roof. When he's startled by Scott's calling out and falls, the Santa impersonator disappears, leaving only an 8-reindeer sleigh and a suit with instructions to put it on if he's involved in an accident. Scott does, and is transported around the town dropping gifts through chimneys until he's taken to the North Pole and informed by a group who claim they're elves that he is now Santa. Charlie is proud of his dad's new job, though Scott's convinced it's a dream. Until his hair turns white, his beard refuses to stay shaved, he gains weight inexplicably, even for his sudden love of junk food... Now he's accepted it, there's just one problem: how to keep it secret from his disbelieving family? Written by Anonymous

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

christmas eve | surrealism | christmas tree | santa suit | toy maker | See All (96) »

Taglines:

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas... See more »

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Family | Fantasy

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for a few crude moments | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

|

Release Date:

11 November 1994 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Santa Cláusula  »

Filming Locations:

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Box Office

Budget:

$22,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$144,833,357

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$189,800,000
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

, ,  »
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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Among the individuals seen on the first page of Santa's list are Andre Agassi and Armand Assante. See more »

Goofs

When Scott is at the North Pole for the first time, he is given a cookie. As Bernard talks about the card and reads it, the cookie is alternately bitten/whole with Scott never having taken a bite. See more »

Quotes

Mr. Whittle: [to Scott] I don't know what's happening to you. You're starting to look like the Pillsbury Doughboy.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in The Cinema Snob: Crackerjack 2: Hostage Train (2017) See more »

Soundtracks

Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
Written by J. Fred Coots And Haven Gillespie
Performed by The Chipmunks
Courtesy of EMI Records, USA, a division of ERG
Under license from CEMA Special Markets
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why are there elves in people places?
Q: What is the name of the story that Scott reads to Charlie before he goes to bed?
Q: How does Scott become Santa?
See more »

User Reviews

The "Tool Man" gets jolly
10 October 1999 | by – See all my reviews

With great, funny holiday flicks like "The Christmas Story" and "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation", "The Santa Clause" is next on line to add laughs as the common sounds of Christmas other than jingling bells! Tim Allen is great in his movie debut as Scott, a toy salesman that owned the roof where Santa Claus fell from to his death! So in pleading cries from his young son, Scott puts on the late jolly-old-elf's suit and instantly becomes Santa, which insues problems to him, his ex-wife and her new boyfriend (played with annoying sarcasm by Judge Reinhold) and Scott's son. That's where the real chaos starts! > "The Santa Clause" is a great flick to watch on Christmas Eve. True, it can get too sentimental at times (Scott and his wife are battling for custody of their son. Remember "Kramer Vs Kramer" and "Over the Top"?!). But that surely fades away thanks to Tim Allen's antics. It'll make you wonder if Santa really is that clumsy!!
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