View source for The Santa Clause

{{short description|1994 film directed by John Pasquin}}
{{about||films with similar titles|Santa Claus (disambiguation)|the media franchise|The Santa Clause (franchise){{!}}The Santa Clause (franchise)}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = The Santa Clause
| image          = The Santa Clause.jpg
| caption        = Theatrical release poster by [[Drew Struzan]]
| director       = [[John Pasquin]]
| producer       = Brian Reilly<br />Jeffrey Silver<br />[[Robert Newmyer]]
| writer         = [[Leo Benvenuti and Steve Rudnick|Leo Benvenuti<br />Steve Rudnick]]
| starring       = {{Plainlist|<!-- NAMES ON THE FILM POSTER ONLY -->
* [[Tim Allen]]
* [[Judge Reinhold]]
* [[Wendy Crewson]]
* [[David Krumholtz]] 
* [[Peter Boyle]]
}}
| music          = [[Michael Convertino]]
| cinematography = Walt Lloyd
| editing        = Larry Bock
| studio         = [[Walt Disney Pictures]]<br>[[Hollywood Pictures]]<br>Outlaw Productions
| distributor    = [[Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures|Buena Vista Pictures Distribution]]
| released       = {{Film date|1994|11|5|[[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]]|1994|11|11|United States}}
| runtime        = 97 minutes
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = $22 million<ref name="bom">{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0111070/|title=The Santa Clause (1994)|website=[[Box Office Mojo]]|access-date=November 29, 2020|archive-date=July 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728114916/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0111070/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| gross          = $190.3 million<ref name="bom" />
}}
'''''The Santa Clause''''' is a 1994 American [[Christmas]] [[fantasy]] [[comedy film]] directed by [[John Pasquin]] and written by [[Leo Benvenuti and Steve Rudnick]]. The first installment in [[The Santa Clause (franchise)|''The Santa Clause'' franchise]], it stars [[Tim Allen]] as Scott Calvin, an ordinary man who accidentally causes [[Santa Claus]] to fall from his roof to his death on [[Christmas Eve]].{{efn|The 2022 TV series ''[[The Santa Clauses]]'' [[retroactive continuity|retcons]] this event as an intentional action on Santa's part and shows him retiring to the afterlife.}} When he and his young son, Charlie, finish the late St. Nick's trip and deliveries, they go to the [[North Pole]] where Scott learns that he must become the new Santa and convince those he loves that he is indeed Santa Claus.

''The Santa Clause'' premiered at [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]] on November 5, 1994, and was theatrically released in the [[United States]] on November 11. It grossed $190 million worldwide, and received positive reviews from critics, and it has since become a Christmas-time staple among viewers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetoptens.com/top-christmas-movies/|title=Top Ten Christmas Movies Of All Time|website=Thetoptens.com|access-date=November 22, 2020|archive-date=June 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618064554/https://www.thetoptens.com/top-christmas-movies/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url= https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/best-christmas-movies/ |title= The 50 Best Christmas Movies of All Time |website= Rotten Tomatoes |access-date= November 22, 2020 |archive-date= November 7, 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151107202326/https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/best-christmas-movies/ |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/nation/best-christmas-movies-of-all-time|title=The 50 Best Christmas Movies of All Time|last=Patches|first=Dan Jackson, Matt|date=December 22, 2017|website=Thrillist|access-date=November 22, 2020|archive-date=October 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009214702/https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/nation/best-christmas-movies-of-all-time|url-status=live}}</ref> Its success led to two sequels, ''[[The Santa Clause 2]]'' (2002) and ''[[The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause]]'' (2006), both of which were commercially successful despite the former's mixed and the latter's negative reception. The franchise continued with a follow-up series, ''[[The Santa Clauses]]'', which premiered November 16, 2022 on [[Disney+]].

The film was originally going to be released under the [[Hollywood Pictures]] banner, but following positive test screenings among children, it was transferred to the [[Walt Disney Pictures]] banner.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}

== Plot ==
<!-- Per WP:FILMPLOT, plot summaries are 400 to 700 words only. -->
Scott Calvin, a marketing director for a toy company at Lakeside, Illinois, prepares to spend [[Christmas Eve]] with his young son Charlie. Scott wants Charlie to maintain his belief in [[Santa Claus]], despite not believing himself. Scott's ex-wife Laura and her psychiatrist husband Dr. Neal Miller stopped believing in Santa at a young age and feel it is time for Charlie to do the same.

Scott and Charlie are awakened that night by a noise on the roof. While investigating, Scott startles [[Santa Claus]], who falls off the roof and dies. Santa's body vanishes, leaving behind a red suit and business card stating that if anything were to happen to him, someone should put on the suit and the [[reindeer]] will know what to do. Scott and Charlie find Santa's sleigh and reindeer on the roof. At Charlie's request, Scott reluctantly dons the suit and delivers gifts before the reindeer take them to the North Pole. 

It turns out that, by putting on the suit, Scott is subject to a legal technicality known as "The Santa Clause," and has accepted all of the late Santa's duties and responsibilities. The head elf, Bernard, gives Scott eleven months to get his affairs in order before reporting back to the North Pole on [[Thanksgiving (United States)|Thanksgiving]]. Overwhelmed, Scott changes into the pajamas provided to him and falls asleep. The next morning, Scott awakes in his own bed and believes the previous events were a dream, but realizes he is still wearing the pajamas given to him. Charlie is proud that his father is the new Santa Claus, and this arouses concern in Laura, Neal, and the school staff. Scott, not wanting to destroy Charlie's newfound enthusiasm, asks him to keep their North Pole trip a secret. 

Over the next year, Scott undergoes a drastic transformation; he gains weight and develops an increased fondness for sweets, particularly milk and cookies. He develops a white beard that instantly regrows after shaving, and his hair turns white in spite of attempts to dye it. During a meeting with his company, Scott is angered at a proposal to advertise a toy military tank by showing Santa riding it. Scott also begins to recount "naughty" and "nice" children by name when he sees them. After Laura and Neal witness children wanting to sit on Scott's lap at Charlie's soccer game, they assume Scott is deliberately misleading Charlie and suspend Scott's visitation rights. 

On Thanksgiving, a devastated Scott goes to Laura and Neal's house to see Charlie one last time. Charlie, desperate to help Scott realize how important he is to the children of the world, shows him a magical snow globe (a gift from Bernard), convincing Scott that he really is Santa. When Laura and Neal allow Scott a minute to talk to Charlie alone, Bernard appears and transports father and son to the North Pole. Thinking Scott has kidnapped Charlie, Laura and Neal summons the police. 

Scott sets out to deliver gifts with Charlie in tow. Upon arriving at Laura and Neal's home, Scott is arrested inside the house while Charlie waits for him in the sleigh. The elves eventually break him out of jail. Scott returns Charlie to his house and insists he spend Christmas Eve with Laura and Neal. His heartfelt speech to Charlie about the importance of everyone in the family convinces Laura and Neal that he is Santa. Laura burns the court documents suspending Scott's visitation rights, and tells him he can visit anytime. According to Bernard, any time Charlie shakes his snow globe, his father will appear. Before leaving, Scott gives Laura and Neal the two presents that they never got as children, which caused their disbelief in Santa. His takeoff from the roof proves his identity to the police and various witnesses outside the house. After Scott leaves, Charlie summons him back with the snow globe, and Laura agrees to let them go together in the sleigh to finish delivering the presents.

==Cast==
* [[Tim Allen]] as Scott Calvin/[[Santa Claus]]
* [[Eric Lloyd]] as Charlie Calvin 
* [[Wendy Crewson]] as Laura Miller  
* [[Judge Reinhold]] as Dr. Neal Miller 
* [[David Krumholtz]] as Bernard the Head Elf 
* Paige Tamada as Judy the Elf 
* [[Peter Boyle]] as Mr. Whittle  
* [[Larry Brandenburg]] as Detective Nunzio  
* [[Jayne Eastwood]] as Judy the Waitress 
* [[Kenny Vadas]] as the E.L.F.S. Leader
* Chris Benson as Fireman O'Hara
* [[Mary Gross]] as Ms. Daniels
* Joyce Guy as Principal Compton
* [[Judith Scott (American actress)|Judith Scott]] as Susan Perry
* [[Tabitha Lupien]] as Ballet Girl
* [[Lachlan Murdoch (actor)|Lachlan Murdoch]] as Fax Kid
* [[John Pasquin]] as Santa #6
* [[Steve Vinovich]] as Dr. Pete Novos
* [[Frank Welker]] as Reindeer (voice)
* [[Kerrigan Mahan]] as Reindeer (voice)
* [[Bob Dermer]] as Puppet Punch
* [[Nina Keogh]] as Puppet Judy
* Melissa King as Sara
* Steve Lucescu as the previous Santa Claus (uncredited)

== Production ==
The script was written on spec by Steve Rudnick and Leo Benvenuti.<ref name="AllenForClause">{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/1992/film/news/h-wood-aims-to-nail-allen-for-clause-101652/|title= H'wood aims to nail Allen for 'Clause'|work=Variety|access-date=December 25, 2021}}</ref> In November 1992, it was announced [[Hollywood Pictures]] had acquired the script as a potential starring vehicle for [[Tim Allen]].<ref name="AllenForClause" />

The film was shot at [[Famous Players Film Company#Raleigh Studios|Raleigh Studios]] in [[Hollywood, California]],<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tCZNDQAAQBAJ|title = Character-Based Film Sereies Part 1|isbn = 9781365421051|last1 = Rowan|first1 = Terry| date=16 September 2016 | publisher=Lulu.com }}</ref> and on location in the [[Greater Toronto Area]], with [[Oakville, Ontario|Oakville]] serving as the city of Lakeside, Illinois. The reindeer used in the film were all from the [[Toronto Zoo]]. The trains used in the North Pole scene and the start of the film were all made by [[LGB (trains)|LGB]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Reel Toronto: The Santa Clause|work=Torontoist|url=https://torontoist.com/2010/12/reel_toronto_the_santa_clause/|access-date=2012-01-26|archive-date=2013-05-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524103525/http://torontoist.com/2010/12/reel_toronto_the_santa_clause/|url-status=live}}</ref> Eric Lloyd had to wear fake teeth and part of his dialogue was rearranged after he knocked out his teeth in an accident on a day off.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-11-20 |title=As Kids, They Starred in Holiday Hits. They Moved On. Can We? (Published 2019) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/20/movies/christmas-movies-child-actors.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231220232156/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/20/movies/christmas-movies-child-actors.html |archive-date=2023-12-20 |access-date=2024-12-26 |language=en-US}}</ref>

[[Bill Murray]] and [[Chevy Chase]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Evans|first=Bradford|date=September 22, 2011|title=The Lost Roles of Chevy Chase|url=https://www.vulture.com/2011/09/the-lost-roles-of-chevy-chase.html|access-date=July 16, 2021|website=Vulture}}</ref> were offered the role of Scott Calvin, but both turned it down; Chase declined due to scheduling conflicts, and Murray did not want to do another holiday-themed movie after doing ''[[Scrooged]]''. [[Tom Selleck]], [[Robin Williams]], [[Tom Hanks]], and [[Mel Gibson]] were also considered for the role. [[Jeff Daniels]], [[Stanley Tucci]], [[Christopher McDonald]], and [[Bradley Whitford]] were considered for the role of Neal Miller. [[Patricia Richardson]] (Allen's co-star on ''[[Home Improvement (TV series)|Home Improvement]]''), [[Patricia Clarkson]], [[Patricia Heaton]], and [[Kate Burton (actress)|Kate Burton]] were considered for the role of Laura Miller.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bricker|first=Tierney|date=November 11, 2019|title=25 Secrets About The Santa Clause Revealed|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1092212/25-secrets-about-the-santa-clause-revealed|access-date=July 16, 2021|website=[[E!]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Jackson|first=Matthew|date=December 19, 2019|title=14 Festive Facts About The Santa Clause|url=https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/610551/the-santa-clause-movie-facts|access-date=July 16, 2021|website=Mental Floss|language=en}}</ref>

== Reception ==
=== Box office ===
''The Santa Clause'' grossed $145.3 million in the United States and Canada, and $45 million in other territories, for a worldwide, total of $190.3 million.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1131382273/ | title = The Santa Clause (1994): All Releases | access-date = December 21, 2020 | website = Box Office Mojo | archive-date = June 29, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210629200233/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1131382273/weekend/ | url-status = live }}</ref>

The film grossed $19.3 million in its opening weekend, finishing second at the US box office behind ''[[Interview with the Vampire (film)|Interview with the Vampire]]'' which opened with $36 million.<ref>{{cite news|title= Love at First Bite: 'Vampire' Tears Into Box Office : Movies: Warners film looks to be the fourth largest debut ever. 'Santa Clause' sleighs into the No. 2 spot with a solid take.|newspaper= [[Los Angeles Times]]|date=November 14, 1994|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-11-14-ca-62651-story.html|access-date=December 22, 2010|first=Richard|last=Natale}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Daily Variety]]|page=3|title=Playing the numbers|date=November 15, 1994|last=Klady|first=Leonard}}</ref> In its second weekend it grossed $17.1 million, finishing third. Over the three-day Thanksgiving frame it then made $20.4 million, peaked at number one.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1131382273/weekend/ | title = The Santa Clause (1994): Original Release | access-date = December 21, 2020 | website = Box Office Mojo | archive-date = January 25, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210125085507/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1131382273/weekend/ | url-status = live }}</ref> In November 2020, with the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] limiting new releases, ''The Santa Clause'' was re-released into 1,581 theaters and grossed $711,000.<ref>{{cite web |last= McNary |first= Dave |date= November 22, 2020 |url= https://variety.com/2020/film/box-office/box-office-freaky-repeats-quiet-1234837533/ |title= 'Freaky' Repeats as Winner of Quiet U.S. Box Office With $1.2 Million |website= Variety |access-date= November 22, 2020 |archive-date= December 25, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201225000902/https://variety.com/2020/film/box-office/box-office-freaky-repeats-quiet-1234837533/ |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.boxofficemojo.com/releasegroup/gr547639813/ | title = The Santa Clause (2020 Re-Release) | access-date = December 21, 2020 | website = Box Office Mojo | archive-date = June 29, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210629200232/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/releasegroup/gr547639813/ | url-status = live }}</ref>

[[Freeform (TV channel)|Freeform]] and [[AMC (TV channel)|AMC]] have played the film on television during the holiday season with record ratings.<ref>{{cite news|title=Disclosure Edges Out 'Santa' at the Box Office Movies: Much-hyped sexual-harassment drama pushes aside the Tim Allen heavyweight.|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=December 12, 1994|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-12-12-ca-8096-story.html|access-date=November 12, 2010|first=Richard|last=Natale|archive-date=June 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605170220/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-12-12-ca-8096-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Critical response ===
On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film holds an approval rating of 73% based on 59 reviews, with an average rating of 5.9/10. The website's critics consensus reads:  "''The Santa Clause'' is utterly undemanding, but it's firmly rooted in the sort of good old-fashioned holiday spirit missing from too many modern yuletide films."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/santa_clause|title=''The Santa Clause''|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]|access-date=24 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220504234307/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/santa_clause|archive-date=4 May 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> 
On [[Metacritic]] the film has a weighted average score of 57 out of 100, based on reviews from 13 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".<ref name="metacritic">{{cite web |title=The Santa Clause Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-santa-clause |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=2019-09-14 |archive-date=2020-07-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728122453/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-santa-clause |url-status=live }}</ref> Audiences surveyed by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade "A−" on scale of A+ to F.<ref name="CinemaScore">{{cite web |url=https://www.cinemascore.com/ |title=CinemaScore |publisher=[[CinemaScore]] |access-date=April 16, 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220413083139/https://www.cinemascore.com/ |archive-date=April 13, 2022 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Sandi Davis of ''[[The Oklahoman]]'' ended up placing the film sixth overall on her list of the best films of 1994.<ref>{{cite web|last=Davis|first=Sandi|date=January 1, 1995|url=https://oklahoman.com/article/2488350/oklahoman-movie-critics-rank-their-favorites-for-the-year-forrest-gump-the-very-best-sandi-declares|title=Oklahoman Movie Critics Rank Their Favorites for the Year "Forrest Gump" The Very Best, Sandi Declares|work=The Oklahoman|access-date=July 20, 2020|archive-date=July 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720065431/https://oklahoman.com/article/2488350/oklahoman-movie-critics-rank-their-favorites-for-the-year-forrest-gump-the-very-best-sandi-declares|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Home media ==
''The Santa Clause'' was released on [[VHS]] and [[LaserDisc]] on October 25, 1995.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122256897/batman-the-cure-flip-flopped-in/ |title='Batman,' 'The Cure' flip-flopped in Japan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404195546/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122256897/batman-the-cure-flip-flopped-in/ |date=September 29, 1995 |access-date=April 4, 2023 |archive-date=April 4, 2023 |page=61 |publisher=[[El Paso Times]] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-status=live}} {{Open access}}</ref>

At one point in the film, a brief exchange between Scott and Laura takes place in which Laura hands Scott a piece of paper with Neal's mother's phone number on it. Scott then says "1-800-SPANK-ME. I know that number." In 1996, this line caused an incident in which a child from [[Steilacoom, Washington]] called the number (which turned out to be an actual, working [[Phone sex|sex line number]]) and incurred a phone bill of {{US$|400|1996}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19971019&slug=2566882|title='Santa Clause' Has A Line That Could Invite Trouble|work=Seattle Times|first=Shelby|last=Gilje|date=October 19, 1997|access-date=December 4, 2018|archive-date=February 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226072550/https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19971019&slug=2566882|url-status=live}}</ref> Beginning with the 1999 [[DVD]] release, the exchange was removed from all future United States home media releases of the film (though it remains in the earlier released VHS and LaserDisc releases) and most digital downloads. The line is also removed from the [[Disney+]] print. On television broadcasts, the number is changed to 1-800-POUND.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jennings |first=Collier |date=December 14, 2023 |title=Disney Needed To Remove This Very Naughty Detail From 'The Santa Clause' |url=https://collider.com/the-santa-clause-hotline-joke/ |access-date=April 27, 2024 |website=Collider |language=en}}</ref>

A special edition DVD of ''The Santa Clause'' was released on DVD on October 29, 2002, and was presented in widescreen and fullscreen versions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dvdizzy.com/thesantaclause.html|title=The Santa Clause: Special Edition DVD Review|website=DVDizzy.com}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of Christmas films]]
* [[Santa Claus in film]]

== References ==
{{notelist}}
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20180118211750/http://movies.disney.com/the-santa-clause}}
* {{IMDb title|0111070}}

{{Santa Clause}}
{{John Pasquin}}
{{Disney Christmas films}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Santa Clause}}
[[Category:1994 films]]
[[Category:1994 children's films]]
[[Category:1994 comedy films]]
[[Category:1994 directorial debut films]]
[[Category:1990s children's comedy films]]
[[Category:1990s children's fantasy films]]
[[Category:1990s Christmas comedy films]]
[[Category:1990s fantasy comedy films]]
[[Category:American children's comedy films]]
[[Category:American children's fantasy films]]
[[Category:American Christmas films]]
[[Category:American Christmas comedy films]]
[[Category:American fantasy comedy films]]
[[Category:American slapstick comedy films]]
[[Category:1990s English-language films]]
[[Category:Films directed by John Pasquin]]
[[Category:Puppet films]]
[[Category:Films adapted into television shows]]
[[Category:Films scored by Michael Convertino]]
[[Category:Films set in the North Pole]]
[[Category:Films set in Chicago]]
[[Category:Films shot in Toronto]]
[[Category:Santa Claus in film]]
[[Category:Hollywood Pictures films]]
[[Category:Walt Disney Pictures films]]
[[Category:Films about father–son relationships]]
[[Category:1990s American films]]
[[Category:The Santa Clause (franchise)]]
[[Category:English-language fantasy comedy films]]
[[Category:English-language Christmas comedy films]]