Usually, when someone thinks of Santa Claus in a movie, they think of a wonderfully jolly and generous man in a red suit. When thinking of unsavory depictions of Santa Claus, the first one that likely comes to mind is Billy Bob Thornton's aptly named Bad Santa. He wasn't the real Santa in the black comedy, of course. Rather, he was a mall Santa who only took the job so he could scope out the shopping mall and rob it after hours.

But while this 2003 comedy gem is one of the funniest interpretations of a "bad Santa," it isn’t the only one. Other films have shown terrible Santas, even murderous ones.

Updated on December 2, 2022 by Christine Persaud:

Santa Claus is known to be a big, jolly, sweet character. But that isn't necessarily always the case in movies. Sometimes, holiday films designed for adults showcase Santas doing pretty bad things, and being generally awful. In fact, even some kids' movies have shown less-than-ideal Santas. With new Christmas movies coming out each year, these continue to include interpretations of Santa that are not meant to delight in the traditional sense.

Bad Santa (2003)

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Billy Bob Thornton slumped in his chair in a Santa outfit, a man dressed as en elf beside him in Bad Santa.

This black comedy stars Billy Bob Thornton along with Lauren Graham, and the late comedic legends John Ritter and Bernie Mac. It's definitely not a Christmas movie to watch with the kids, but it's one that will make adults laugh hysterically at the hijinks.

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Marking John Ritter's last live-action performance before his death, Bad Santa is rude, offensive, and completely opposite of what Christmas movies should be all about. But oddly, that's what makes it such a great movie. It was a commercial success and even spawned a sequel.

A Christmas Story (1983)

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Santa looks at Ralphie in A Christmas Story

It's a common stereotype that mall Santas are the antithesis of who Santa is in real life. In this iconic Christmas classic, arguably the perfect Christmas movie, Ralphie meets Santa after first being escorted over by the mean and impatient elves and tells him all about the very specific BB Gun he would like for Christmas. After grabbing and dragging kids over to Santa, one by one, the elves would quickly shove them down a slide when they got annoying or screamed.

This Santa from A Christmas Story was pretty creepy, though it might have just been Ralphie's exaggerated recollection of the experience since he was so overwhelmed by it all. But then Santa repeated exactly what Ralphie's parents kept telling him about shooting his eye out and shoved him down the slide with his boot.

Trading Places (1983)

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Dan Aykroyd as Santa, drinking a glass of wine in Trading Places.

The premise of this movie sees a white businessman, played by Dan Aykroyd, trade places with a poor Black man from the streets, played by Eddie Murphy, to see if each can hack it in the other man's shoes.

RELATED: Bad Santa And 9 Other Tragic Holiday Movies, Ranked By IMDb

In Trading Places, considered among Aykroyd's top three films, he dons a tattered Santa suit, travels on a bus intoxicated and dirty, and even discovers a ham stuck in his beard that he chows down on as disgusted travelers look on. After he disembarks, he gets urinated on by a dog. As if things couldn't get any worse, it starts pouring rain. The movie has arguably the saddest Santa scene ever in a movie.

Better Watch Out/Christmas Evil (1980)

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Santa Claus in Christmas Evil

Of course, someone would develop a horror movie centered around jolly Saint Nick, turning him into a sinister character that could ruin childhoods and taint memories. In this psychological slasher film, a man who is obsessed with Santa Claus decides to don his signature red and white suit before embarking on a murder spree.

The image of a murderous man dressed as Santa delivering death instead of presents isn't easy to get out of the head. Nonetheless, the film has since developed a cult following.

Santa's Slay (2005)

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Santa screaming in Santa's Slay

Another slasher film, this one takes a more comedic look at a Santa gone wrong. In it, professional wrestler Bill Goldberg stars as St. Nick. The scene is set when he comes down the chimney of the wealthy Mason family's home, then kills everyone in the most ridiculous ways. He drowns the mom, played by Fran Drescher, in eggnog and stabs the dad with a ninja star from the top of the tree. This massacre is considered one of the best killer Santa deaths ever in film.

The movie is gruesome, crude, and all sorts of wrong. But it's still somewhat hilarious for viewers who have the stomach and sense of humor for it.

Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)

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A man dressed as Santa looking scared in Silent Night, Deadly Night.

The concept of a killer impersonating Santa has been done, and overdone, countless times. Another is in this slasher film whereby a man suffering from PTSD breaks down on Christmas and begins a killing spree dressed as Santa Claus.

His trauma dates back to witnessing his parents' murder on Christmas Eve, then being abused in an orphanage. For those into such niche slasher films, it's warped and vulgar, but developed a cult following. And it remains one of the movies with a Santa who is the complete opposite of the ones from childhood memories.

Tales From the Crypt (1972)

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A scary man dressed as Santa with hands out in Tales From the Crypt

In the story "And All Through the House" from Tales From the Crypt, a killer Santa is on the loose after escaping a mental institution. He goes on to murder a woman while he's dressed to the nines as Santa.

In an interesting twist, the woman is hunted after murdering her own husband and trying to pin it on the killer Santa. Making the story even more twisted, the murderer then marches around with his Santa sack, filled with the woman's remains. This is a horror movie at its finest, with a Christmas twist that will scare viewers and change the viewpoint of Santa.

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

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A scene from Miracle On 34th Street

He's not a murderous Santa, just the typical unfit hired hand, filling in for the real guy. In this film, a man named Kris Kringle who, of course, turns out to be the real Santa, is upset when he witnesses a drunk man playing Santa for the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

That man is eventually fired, and the real Santa takes his place to save the day. In addition to being one of the best Christmas movies, Miracle on 34th Street is often considered mandatory Thanksgiving viewing as well. Despite the depiction of a "bad Santa" in the beginning, Miracle on 34th Street has some heartwarming quotes.

The Santa Clause (1994)

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Scott Calvin dressed as Santa in The Santa Clause

Technically, Tim Allen's version of Santa is only "bad" in that he exists because the character accidentally killed the real Santa on Christmas Eve after he fell from his roof. He also starts out as a pretty neglectful, workaholic father.

RELATED: 10 Best Santa Claus Movies, Ranked

He then sets out on a journey of lies as he attempts to fulfill his destiny and take the big man's place, convincing everyone that he is indeed the real Santa. At its heart, The Santa Clause is a sweet story as Scott slowly transforms into Santa Claus. Nonetheless, it begins in a pretty morbid way. The story continues with the latest Disney+ series, The Santa Clauses.

Jingle All the Way (1996)

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Arnold Schwarzenegger with a group of Santas in Jingle All The Way

It isn't just one Santa from this movie who is bad, but a bunch of them. When Arnold Schwarzenegger's character confronts a bunch of drinking-on-the-job mall Santas in the warehouse where they make counterfeit toys, calling them everything from criminals to degenerates and low-lives, a brawl breaks out.

One Santa taunts him relentlessly until they all begin to attack, using everything from makeshift nunchucks to swift punches to the face. It's a hilarious scene from Jingle All the Way, made more so because of the bright and jolly red and white Santa suits doing heinous things.

Elf (2003)

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Buddy the Elf talking to a mall Santa, a child on his lap in the movie Elf.

In one of the best Christmas movies of the 2000s, Buddy the Elf accuses a mall Santa, played by Artie Lange, of not being the real Santa: he knows, of course, because he knows Santa personally. (Who is actually played by Ed Asner in the movie). The mall Santa's witty retort? He declares that Buddy's biological father is "on the naughty list."

Sure, Will Ferrell, who played Buddy in Elf, was a full-grown man. Nonetheless, a Santa should never say such potentially hurtful things to a child or child-like adult.

The Ref (1994)

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Three people look terrified, a man in a Santa suit blurred in the foreground in The Ref

This black comedy - one of the best home invasion movies that isn't Home Alone - is about a cat burglar who kidnaps a family only to end up in the middle of their intense arguments after having just come from marriage counseling. He finds himself acting as mediator, helping them with their marital issues.

Bill Raymond plays George, the neighbor who dresses up as Santa, attends a Christmas party, but ends up drunk and belligerent, such that he gets kicked out. He is seen wandering the streets in his suit, drinking booze. Despite his portrayal of a "bad Santa," the character does end up sort of saving the day.

Violent Night (2022)

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David Harbour in Violent Night

Right off the heels of Stranger Things season 4, David Harbour stars in this action-comedy movie about a paramilitary group that holds a rich family hostage in their home. However, they get more than they bargained for when an angry, murderous Santa Claus shows up to save the day.

In this interpretation, Santa is indeed the bearer of gifts through the holiday season on Christmas Day. But he is also a former Viking warrior. It's a silly and fun Christmas movie for adults to enjoy.

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