The Santa Clause (franchise) explained

The Santa Clause
Distributor:Buena Vista Pictures Distribution (films)
Disney+ (The Santa Clauses)
Released:1994–present
Runtime:294+ minutes
Country:United States
Language:English
Budget:>$99 million
Gross:$470 million

The Santa Clause is a media franchise that consists of three American holiday family-comedy theatrical feature films starring Tim Allen, and one television series for Disney+. Based on an original story by Leo Benvenuti and Steve Rudnick, the plot centers around Scott Calvin's transformation into Santa Claus, and his adventures thereafter.

The Santa Clause was met with mixed-to-positive critical reviews, and was a box office success. In the years since its release, it has earned its status as a Christmas classic.[1] The sequels experienced diminishing critical reception, but were financially successful and are considered holiday cult classics.[2]

The franchise continued with a television series, The Santa Clauses, which premiered on November 16, 2022.

Films

TitleU.S.
release date
DirectorScreenwritersStory byProducers
The Santa ClauseJohn PasquinLeo Benvenuti & Steve RudnickRobert Newmyer, Brian Reilly and Jeffrey Silver
The Santa Clause 2Michael LembeckDon Rhymer
and Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio
and Ed Decter & John J. Strauss
Leo Benvenuti & Steve Rudnick
Ed Decter & John J. Strauss

The Santa Clause (1994)

See main article: The Santa Clause. Divorced dad Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) has custody of his son Charlie (Eric Lloyd) on Christmas Eve. After he accidentally causes Santa to fall from his roof, they are magically transported to the North Pole, where an elf explains that Scott must take Santa's place before the next Christmas arrives. Scott thinks he's dreaming, but over the next several months he gains weight and grows an inexplicably white beard. Realizing that it wasn't a dream, Scott embraces the new, permanent role he has as Santa Claus.

The Santa Clause 2 (2002)

See main article: The Santa Clause 2. Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) has been in the role of Santa for the past eight years, and his loyal elves consider him the best one ever. But the world of the "Merry Old Soul" turns upside down when he's dealt a double whammy of news: Not only has his son, Charlie (Eric Lloyd), landed on this year's naughty list, but Scott discovers that he must marry by Christmas Eve, or he will stop being Santa Claus forever.

The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006)

See main article: The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause. Christmas cheer turns into holiday chaos when Scott Calvin / Santa Claus (Tim Allen) invites his in-laws (Ann-Margret, Alan Arkin) for a visit and must also contend with Jack Frost's (Martin Short) scheme to take over the North Pole. Scott, his family, and Head Elf Curtis (Spencer Breslin) must join forces to foil the nefarious plot.

Short film

True Confessions of the Legendary Figures (2003)

Released on The Santa Clause 2 home media, the 3 minutes 30 second short film is a mockumentary interview with Father Time, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, Cupid, Sandman and Mother Nature. The actors reprised their roles from the film.

Television series

See main article: The Santa Clauses. In January 2022, it was announced that a sequel limited series was in development. Jack Burditt will serve as showrunner and executive producer, while Tim Allen and Elizabeth Mitchell will reprise their roles as Scott Calvin / Santa Clause and Carol Newman-Calvin / Mrs. Claus, respectively. Allen, Kevin Hench, Richard Baker and Rick Messina will serve as additional executive producers. The project will be a joint-venture production between Disney Branded Television, 20th Television, Disney Television Studios, and Disney+ Original Series. The show is intended to be released via streaming exclusively on Disney+. Production is scheduled to commence in March 2022 in Los Angeles, California.[3] [4] At the beginning of that month, Jason Winer was announced as the director.[5]

The official premise of the series was announced as:

In March 2022, Kal Penn was cast in the series as a character named Simon Choski.[6] While Penn's character has not officially been identified as Allen's character's successor, the initials of his character's name are "S.C.", the same as Scott Calvin and Santa Claus. The Santa Clauses was renewed for a second season on December 14, 2022, with Tim Allen and Elizabeth Mitchell set to return.[7]

Main cast and characters

CharacterFilm seriesTelevision series
The Santa ClauseThe Santa Clause 2The Santa Clause 3:
The Santa Clauses
Season 1Season 2
Scott Calvin / Santa ClausTim AllenTim AllenTim Allen
Toy Santa
Comet the ReindeerFrank WelkerBob Bergencolspan="2"
Charlie CalvinEric LloydEric Lloyd
Neil MillerJudge Reinhold
Laura MillerWendy Crewson
Mr. WhittlePeter Boyle
Bernard the ElfDavid KrumholtzDavid Krumholtz
Falling Santa / Santa 17Steve LucescuJim O'Heir
SaraMelissa KingCasey Wilson
Kris Moreno / Kris KringleUncredited child actorGabriel Iglesias[8]
Carol Newman-Calvin / Mrs. ClausElizabeth Mitchell
Lucy MillerLiliana Mumy
Curtis the ElfSpencer Breslin
Mother NatureAisha Tyler
Father TimePeter Boyle
Easter BunnyJay ThomasTracy Morgan
CupidKevin PollakKevin Pollak[9]
Tooth FairyArt LaFleur
SandmanMichael DornMichael Dorn[10]
Jack FrostMartin Short
Buddy "Cal" CalvinUncredited baby actorAustin Kane[11]
Bud NewmanAlan Arkin
Sylvia NewmanAnn-Margret
Simon ChoksiKal Penn
Sandra CalvinElizabeth Allen-Dick
Grace ChoksiRupali Redd
BettyMatilda LawlerMatilda Lawler
NoelDevin Bright
La Befana, the Christmas WitchLaura San Giacomo
RileyRuby Jay
Magnus Antas / Mad SantaEric Stonestreet
OlgaMarta Kessler

Additional crew and production details

TitleComposerCinematographerEditorProduction
companies
Distributing
company
Running time
The Santa ClauseMichael ConvertinoWalt LloydLarry BockWalt Disney Pictures
Hollywood Pictures
Outlaw Productions
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution97 minutes
The Santa Clause 2George S. ClintonAdam GreenbergDavid FinferWalt Disney Pictures[12]
Boxing Cat Films
Outlaw Productions[13] [14]
104 minutes
The Santa Clause 3:
Robbie Greenberg92 minutes
The Santa ClausesAriel RechtshaidJ.P. WakayamaArge O'Neal
Christine Kim
Dean Pollack
20th Television
Small Dog Picture Company
Double Wide Productions
Disney Platform Distribution196 minutes

Reception

Box office performance

FilmRevenueBudget
U.S. and CanadaOther territoriesWorldwide
The Santa Clause$145,539,357$45,000,000$190,539,357 $22,000,000[15]
The Santa Clause 2$139,236,327$33,618,738$172,855,065$65,000,000[16]
The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause$84,500,122$26,268,000$110,768,122>$12,000,000[17]
Totals$$$>$99,000,000[18]

The Santa Clause 2 on its opening weekend grossed more than its predecessor. The opening weekend was a personal best to date for Tim Allen. The Hollywood Reporter said its performance "exceeded expectations".[19] The Santa Clause strongest market outside the United States was Germany, and The Santa Clause 2 had in Germany an opening weekend of $892,000, which was 50% larger than the opening weekend of the original film.[20]

In the United States, The Santa Clause 3 had an opening weekend of, which was less than the grossed by The Santa Clause 2. Box Office Mojo reported: "More often than not, second sequels in the family genre make significantly less than their predecessors".[21] After in theaters, the third film had grossed, which Box Office Mojo said was "lagging behind its predecessors by a wide margin".[22]

In the United Kingdom, The Santa Clause 3 had an opening weekend of at, which was 40% better than the opening weekend of The Santa Clause 2.[23] In Mexico, The Santa Clause 3 had an opening weekend of at, which was three times better than The Santa Clause 2s opening weekend.[24]

Critical and public response

TitleSeasonCriticalPublic
Rotten TomatoesMetacriticCinemaScore
The Santa Clause73% (59 reviews)[25] 57 (13 reviews)[26] A−[27]
The Santa Clause 256% (122 reviews)[28] 48 (26 reviews)[29] A
The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause17% (66 reviews)[30] 32 (17 reviews)[31] B+
The Santa Clauses157% (21 reviews)[32] 55 (6 reviews)[33]
2[34] [35]

Scott Foundas of Variety called the 1994 film was "a full-on charmer pic". Foundas said the 2002 follow-up had too many writers and executives involved during the long development process, which he said led to "systematically pulverizing most of the original's simple delights". The critic said: "The Santa Clause 2 is a movie conscious, at every waking moment, of trying to out-do its predecessor".[36] Varietys Justin Chang said The Santa Clause 3 was "a much cleaner, more streamlined ride than its overstuffed predecessor". Chang said: "Michael Lembeck directs the action with a surer touch and more consistent tone than he brought to Santa Clause 2, and effortlessly pulls off the pic's sentimental, life-affirming moments without tugging too hard".[37]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: What Makes 'The Santa Clause' a Christmas Classic?. Nerdist. Walsh, Michael. December 10, 2018. February 3, 2022. September 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230903194720/https://nerdist.com/article/what-makes-the-santa-clause-a-christmas-holiday-classic-movie/. live.
  2. Web site: 16 Years Later, 'Santa Clause' Star Will Return With Tim Allen in New Series. Inside the Magic. Roberts. Daniel. January 29, 2022. February 3, 2022. September 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230903194721/https://insidethemagic.net/2022/01/the-santa-clause-series-dr1/. live.
  3. Web site: Tim Allen To Headline 'The Santa Clause' Sequel Series For Disney+ From 'Last Man Standing' Team. Deadline. Andreeva, Nellie. January 14, 2022. February 3, 2022. March 28, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230328040101/https://deadline.com/2022/01/tim-allen-the-santa-clause-sequel-series-disney-plus-scott-calvin-jack-burditt-last-man-standing-1234912715/. live.
  4. Web site: Elizabeth Mitchell To Return As Mrs. Claus For 'The Santa Clause' Disney+ Limited Series. Deadline. Del Rosario. Alexandra. January 28, 2022. January 28, 2022. October 24, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221024204917/https://deadline.com/2022/01/the-santa-clause-elizabeth-mitchell-disney-series-mrs-clause-1234921373/. live.
  5. Web site: Disney's 'The Santa Clause' Limited Series Taps Jason Winer As Director. Collider. Haas. Shawnee. March 1, 2022. March 1, 2022. September 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230903194723/https://collider.com/the-santa-clause-tv-show-jason-winer-director-disney-plus/. live.
  6. Web site: 'Santa Clause' Series at Disney Plus Adds Kal Penn. March 3, 2022. March 12, 2022. Variety. Maas. Jennifer. November 24, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221124023137/https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/santa-clause-series-disney-plus-kal-penn-1235195311/. live.
  7. Web site: 'The Santa Clauses' Renewed For Season 2 By Disney+. Deadline Hollywood. Denise. Petski. December 14, 2022. December 14, 2022. December 14, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221214233607/https://deadline.com/2022/12/the-santa-clauses-renewed-season-2-disney-plus-1235199579/. live.
  8. Web site: 'The Santa Clauses' Adds Gabriel Iglesias As Series Regular. Deadline Hollywood. Lynette. Rice. February 27, 2023. February 27, 2023. February 27, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230227200455/https://deadline.com/2023/02/the-santa-clauses-gabriel-iglesias-series-regular-1235273076/. live.
  9. Web site: Santa Clauses Season 2 Trailer: Eric Stonestreet's Mad Santa Is Out for Revenge — Plus, Tracy Morgan's Easter Bunny Makes His Debut. TVLine. Ryan. Schwartz. October 17, 2023. October 18, 2023.
  10. Web site: Tim Allen Clashes With Modern Family's Eric Stonestreet In The Santa Clauses Season 2 Trailer, And I'm Down To See These Sitcom Legends Face Off. CinemaBlend. Erik. Swann. October 17, 2023. November 9, 2023.
  11. Web site: Eric Stonestreet Joins 'The Santa Clauses' In Season 2; 'Modern Family' Star Will Play Mad Santa. Deadline Hollywood. Lynette. Rice. February 24, 2023. February 24, 2023. February 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230224182742/https://deadline.com/2023/02/eric-stonestreet-the-santa-clauses-season-2-disney-plus-1235269682/. live.
  12. Web site: AFI|Catalog. catalog.afi.com. 2022-02-04. 2023-09-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20230903194754/https://catalog.afi.com/Film/64011-THE-SANTACLAUSE3THEESCAPECLAUSE?sid=088b2c0e-a869-412c-b900-97dc1ac151c7&sr=6.974817&cp=1&pos=2. live.
  13. Web site: Duo board 'Santa' sleigh. Variety. Lyons, Charles. April 26, 2001. February 3, 2022. September 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230903194725/https://variety.com/2001/film/news/duo-board-santa-sleigh-1117797871/. live.
  14. Web site: The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause. Variety. Chang, Justin. November 2, 2006. February 3, 2022. September 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230903194727/https://variety.com/2006/film/markets-festivals/the-santa-clause-3-the-escape-clause-1200512234/. live.
  15. Web site: The Santa Clause (1994) . . April 29, 2013 . December 6, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131206064437/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=santaclause.htm . live .
  16. Web site: The Santa Clause 2 . . April 29, 2013 . November 9, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131109024659/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=santaclause2.htm . live .
  17. Web site: The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause . . April 29, 2013 . December 26, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131226191647/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=santaclause3.htm . live .
  18. Web site: The Santa Clause Movies. The Numbers. January 18, 2022. September 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230903195255/https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/franchise/Santa-Clause. live.
  19. Fuson . Brian . 'Santa' delivers early b.o. gift . . November 4, 2002 .
  20. Groves . Don . World might be enough for Bond franchise . . November 26, 2002.
  21. News: Gray . Brandon . 'Borat' Bombards the Top Spot . . November 6, 2006 . April 30, 2013 . November 9, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181109070647/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2194&p=.htm . live .
  22. News: Gray . Brandon . 'Happy Feet', 'Casino Royale' Top Thanksgiving . . November 27, 2006 . April 30, 2013 . September 3, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230903195251/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/article/ed1199047684/ . live .
  23. McNary . Dave . 007 goes for the global grab . . November 27, 2006.
  24. McNary . Dave . Bond holds cards o'seas . . December 5, 2006.
  25. santa_clause . m . The Santa Clause . November 10, 2023.
  26. the-santa-clause . m . The Santa Clause . November 10, 2023.
  27. Web site: Fink . Richard . Santa Clause Actor Reveals the REAL Reason Bernard Wasn't in Third Movie . . November 10, 2023 . December 26, 2021 . November 20, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221120100450/https://screenrant.com/santa-clause-3-bernard-absence-explained-david-krumholtz/ . live .
  28. the_santa_clause_2 . m . The Santa Clause 2 . November 10, 2023.
  29. the-santa-clause-2 . m . The Santa Clause 2 . November 10, 2023.
  30. santa_clause_3 . m . The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause . November 10, 2023.
  31. the-santa-clause-3-the-escape-clause . m . The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause . November 10, 2023.
  32. the_santa_clauses . tv . 1 . The Santa Clauses . November 10, 2023.
  33. the-santa-clauses-2022 . tv . 1 . The Santa Clauses . November 10, 2023.
  34. the_santa_clauses . tv . 2 . The Santa Clauses . November 10, 2023.
  35. the-santa-clauses-2022 . tv . 2 . The Santa Clauses . November 10, 2023.
  36. Foundas. Scott. The Santa Clause 2. Variety. October 31, 2002. June 23, 2022.
  37. Chang . Justin. The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause. Variety. November 2, 2006. June 23, 2022.