Magical, mysterious and warm are appropriate words to describe the iconic Christmas film Miracle on 34th Streetand Edmund Gwenn’s Oscar-winning portrayal of Kris Kringle cements his status as one of the greatest of all time.

At first glance it seems like a pretty depressing Christmas movie. A kindly old man who filled in for a drunken Santa Claus at Macy’s New York ends up claiming he’s really Santa Claus, ultimately landing him a potentially permanent place in a mental institution.

But a series of miraculous events and special encounters tell a different story, and by the end, audiences were left wondering if Kris was really the fabled Man in Red.

Gwenn’s touching performance meets all expectations. Not only does he nail the traditional look with a realistic beard and kind eyes, but he also embodies the soulful, warm personality that has long been associated with the character.

From his scenes with four-year-old co-star Natalie Wood (like the iconic “Pull my beard” moment) to the joyous realizations in court, Gwenn’s performance set the standard for years to come, and many others followed suit.

Richard Attenborough later portrayed Kringle in the 1994 remake Miracle on the 34thand hints of Gwenn’s charm are clearly evident in his portrayal of the character.

What happens if Santa Claus dies? That’s the darkly comedic question asked in Santa Claus Film series and expertly explored by ’90s young man Tim Allen.

Allen’s Scott Calvin is a divorced father trying to keep the Christmas dream alive by telling his son that Santa Claus exists.

It turns out that Santa Claus is actually real and dies when he falls from the roof of Calvin’s house and ties up the father with one Santa Claus to become the new Santa Claus.

Like many of the other Santas on this list, Allen excels in this role because there is an unmistakably human element to his portrayal of Calvin/Santa Claus.

He has marital problems, burns family dinners and ultimately wants to do what’s best for his young son.

Whether it’s the hesitation to put on the suit, the cheeky, clever asides and sarcastic jokes, or even the brash physical comedy, Allen’s The Santa Clause strikes the perfect balance for children and adults alike.

The success of the first film spawned two sequels and proved that there was interest in the character.

Whether you believe in the big red man or not, Scott Calvin will definitely make you think about the wonder of Christmas and why it’s always important to keep a little magic during this festive season.

While Santa Claus is traditionally associated with children and family, Billy Bob Thornton’s portrayal couldn’t be further different.

Despite its unusually heartfelt message and warm undertones, the original Bad Santa Claus took Miracle on the 34th drunk Santa Claus at the beginning of the film and personified him a thousand times.

Willie, a sex-addicted alcoholic, poses as Santa Claus to rob a department store, but his plans are thwarted when he accidentally befriends a young boy.

While the film features plenty of bad behavior from Willie, who plays Santa in anything but the traditional way, there are also heartfelt moments where the con artist acts almost like a father figure to the little boy when the robbery plans suddenly go awry.

Known for playing harsh and uncompromising characters, Thornton nailed his unflinching role as Santa Claus with sarcastic irony and dry wit.

His character was so well received that a sequel was made in 2016.

Unshaven, dirty and foul-mouthed, Willie’s uncompromising caricature of Saint Nick for adults is just the antidote to the sterile Christmas tales often produced in Hollywood these days.

Although he only appeared in the film for a very short time, Santa Claus, voiced by Tom Hanks, provided the voice in the hit animated film The Polar Express dominates every scene he appears in.

If we’re looking for the classic Santa Claus, this is it. Wearing his trademark hat and suit, Hanks addresses the character with an unmistakably deep yet warm tone.

As he is ready to begin his journey around the world to deliver gifts, he gives the young male protagonist a sleigh bell in a symbolic and touching moment.

There are no hidden motives or backstory here, just the happy, cheerful man with an aura more festive than one could imagine.

Our hero begins the film not believing in Santa Claus, but seeing all the classic Christmas motifs in action pushes him to believe.

Many excited children in cinemas around the world would have remained loyal after the screening The Polar Express, no doubt.

What made Paul Giamatti’s Christmas appearance so memorable was the fact that for the first time we got a good look into the domestic life of Saint Nicholas.

Fred (Vince Vaughn) is the troublemaker and the exact opposite of his saintly sibling Nicholas aka Santa (Giamatti).

One day Fred gets into trouble with the law, and Nick rescues him and takes him to the North Pole to pay off his debts by making toys.

After a brief argument between the brothers because Fred’s young friend is on the “naughty” list, Nick injures his back, forcing Fred to step in to deliver the Christmas presents.

Giamatti plays the character in a fairly straightforward manner while still bringing some of his trademark humor to the role.

He embodies the Santa tropes and traditional stoic nature while revealing a more human and easy-going side, as shown in his interactions with his immediate family.

He obviously loves his brother despite his flaws and wants the best for him. The film contains crude gags, bad jokes and a lot of dry humor, but Giamatti still puts a great modern twist on a classic character.

Mitchell Hageman joined the Heralds Entertainment and lifestyle team in 2024. He previously worked as a multimedia journalist for Hawke’s Bay today.