Santa Claus: The Movie
“You'd better watch out! This year he REALLY IS coming to town.”
Synopsis
In ancient times, a man named Claus, who delivers toys in his small village, fulfils his destiny to become Santa Claus after meeting an expert toy-making elf, Patch, in the North Pole. In the present day, Santa Claus has become overwhelmed by his workload, and the disgruntled Patch flees the workshop to New York City. There, Patch unknowingly threatens the fate of Christmas by taking a job at a failing toy company run by a scheming businessman.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
4K Restoration TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2023-10-11
Top Cast
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Dudley Moore
Patch
John Lithgow
B.Z.
David Huddleston
Santa Claus
Burgess Meredith
Ancient Elf
Judy Cornwell
Anya Claus
Jeffrey Kramer
Towzer
Christian Fitzpatrick
Joe
Carrie Kei Heim
Cornelia
John Barrard
Dooley
Anthony O'Donnell
Puffy
Melvyn Hayes
Goober
Don Estelle
Groot
Tim Stern
Boog
Christopher Ryan
Vout
Peter O'Farrell
Honka
Dickie Arnold
Goobler
Aimée Delamain
Storyteller
Dorothea Phillips
Miss Tucker
Release History & Theatrical Window
October 29, 1985
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$50M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$23.7M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
0.47x
-$26.3M deficit
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Jeannot Szwarc
- Screenplay & Story
- David Newman
- Original Score
- Henry Mancini
- Original Title
- Santa Claus: The Movie
- Country of Origin
- United States of America, United Kingdom, Netherlands
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 48m
- Production Budget
- $50M
- Worldwide Gross
- $23.7M
- Production Studios
- Calash Corporation, Santa Claus Ltd.
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Jeannot Szwarc
David Newman, Leslie Newman
Henry Mancini
Arthur Ibbetson
Peter Hollywood
Ilya Salkind, Pierre Spengler
Department Leadership Roster
Henry Mancini
Original Music Composer
Jeannot Szwarc
Director
David Newman
Screenplay
Ilya Salkind
Producer
Bob Ringwood
Costume Design
Arthur Ibbetson
Director of Photography
Peter Hollywood
Editor
Pierre Spengler
Producer
Anthony Pratt
Production Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 0 — Approved without age restriction.
Universal — Suitable for all audiences.
Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Santa Claus: The Movie.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Santa Claus: The Movie
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Santa Claus: The Movie about?
In ancient times, a man named Claus, who delivers toys in his small village, fulfils his destiny to become Santa Claus after meeting an expert toy-making elf, Patch, in the North Pole. In the present day, Santa Claus has become overwhelmed by his workload, and the disgruntled Patch flees the workshop to New York City. There, Patch unknowingly threatens the fate of Christmas by taking a job at a failing toy company run by a scheming businessman.
Who directed Santa Claus: The Movie?
Santa Claus: The Movie was directed by Jeannot Szwarc.
Who stars in Santa Claus: The Movie?
The principal cast of Santa Claus: The Movie includes Dudley Moore, John Lithgow, David Huddleston, Burgess Meredith, Judy Cornwell.
When was Santa Claus: The Movie released and how long is it?
Santa Claus: The Movie was released in 1985 with a total runtime of 1h 48m.
What was the box office and production budget of Santa Claus: The Movie?
Santa Claus: The Movie had a reported production budget of $50M and grossed $23.7M at the worldwide box office (0.47 return on budget, classified as a underperformed).
Who composed the musical score for Santa Claus: The Movie?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Santa Claus: The Movie was composed by Henry Mancini.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Santa Claus: The Movie?
Santa Claus: The Movie holds official age classifications: DE: 0 (FSK 0 — Approved without age restriction.); GB: U (Universal — Suitable for all audiences.); US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).