BAD SANTA

Year: 2003
USA: Miramax Films
UK: Buena Vista International UK
Cast: Billy Bob Thornton, Bernie Mac, Lauren Graham, John Ritter, Alex Borstein, Ethan Phillips, Tony Cox, Cloris Leachman, Lauren Tom, Hayden Bromberg, Stu Brumbaugh, Joe Bucaro, Dylan Cash, Gelbert Coloma, Georgia Eskew, Will Heermance, Brett Kelly, Steven W Lake, Ajay Naidu, Briana Norton, Lisa Ross, John Griffin
Director: Terry Zwigoff
Country: USA
USA: 93 mins
UK: 91 mins
USA Rated: R for pervasive language, strong sexual content and some violence
UK Certificate: 15 contains strong language and moderate sex
USA Release Date: 26 November 2003
UK Release Date: 5 November 2004

Synopsis

"Santa is even-tempered. Santa does not hit children over the head who kick him. Santa does not have a three-martini lunch. Santa wears a good deodorant."
- Instructions to would-be Santa Clauses from Western Temporary Services, world's largest supplier of Santas.

This year, the traditional Christmas tale will never be the same with the cleverly twisted, merrily irreverent story of a Santa so bad he's wickedly funny. Terry Zwigoff's BAD SANTA stars Billy Bob Thornton as one of the most crooked, corrupted and downright hysterical Kris Kringles ever to grace the screen. Inspired by a mix of movie classics, including the outrageous one-liners and outcasts of THE BAD NEWS BEARS and the riotous impertinence of SOUTH PARK, with a dash of the holiday spirit of A CHRISTMAS CAROL, albeit one that would make Dickens wince, BAD SANTA is a Christmas comedy unlike any other."

Willie T Soke otherwise known as Santa Claus (Billy Bob Thornton) and his elf are travelling around the country going from mall to mall and capitalising on the goodwill shown towards Santa to con shoppers and rob the stores, until a young 8 year-old boy reminds them of what Christmas is...