3. Kurt Russell – The Christmas Chronicles (2018)
The Christmas Chronicles sees Kurt Russell take the reins of Santa’s sleigh, and he certainly cuts a very different figure to Ed Asner. When two children set a trap in hopes of catching Santa on Christmas Eve, they unwittingly set into motion a chain of events that causes a sleigh crash, threatening Christmas itself. Kurt Russell’s Santa has no choice but to work with the siblings to salvage the night, restoring their faith in him in the process.
Kurt Russell’s version of Santa seems a far younger, more energetic figure. He’s cool and charismatic, offering up bluesy rock-and-roll numbers even while locked up in jail. He’s magical and he’s mildly self-aware, and the modern world has caused him to develop a slight edge that only adds to his intriguing mystique.
Russell’s Santa trades red felt for leather and fur, but in almost every other sense, he’s everything you’d hope a movie Santa to be. He hits almost every item on the Santa checklist, and he also comes with a unique sense of style that makes him particularly memorable. Russell’s Santa Claus may not be for everyone, but he’s certainly one of the better and more innovative takes on the character.