Bad Santa (2003)
The worst mall Santa in America plans his annual heist — then a kid happens.
Willie, a safecracker who works one season a year as a department-store Santa, and Marcus, his elf, are planning the usual Christmas Eve robbery when a lonely, trusting kid attaches himself to Willie like a limpet. Billy Bob Thornton's commitment to awfulness makes the slow thaw land. Strictly for grown-ups.
Terry Zwigoff directed the anti-Christmas movie as a genuine antidote: Billy Bob Thornton's Willie is a safecracker whose department-store Santa suit is a crime cover, and the film refuses to sand him down even as a lonely kid's faith starts, horribly, to work on him. Thornton earned a Golden Globe nomination for playing rock bottom without begging for sympathy. It was John Ritter's final film, and it is dedicated to him. The Coen brothers executive-produced. Two decades on, its filthy-sweet balance makes it the Christmas Eve tradition for everyone the tinsel movies leave cold.
From the Film
The Facts
- Year
- 2003
- Director
- Terry Zwigoff
- Runtime
- 92 minutes
- Genres
- Comedy, Drama
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Billy Bob Thornton | Willie T. Soke |
| Tony Cox | Marcus Skidmore |
| Lauren Graham | Sue |
| Brett Kelly | Thurman Merman |
| Lauren Tom | Lois Skidmore |
| John Ritter | Bob Chipeska |
| Bernie Mac | Gin Slagel |
Good to know: It was John Ritter's last live-action film appearance before his death, and the film was dedicated to his memory.
Where to watch Bad Santa
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