As the holiday season quickly approaches, it’s time for movie fans to start breaking out the classics of Christmas’ past. The 2003 dark-comedy Bad Santa is a hit that still makes it onto audiences’ must-watch list this time of year, even two decades after its release. Starring the Academy-Award winning actor, writer, and director Billy Bob Thornton, best known for the film adaption of Sling Blade, the movie follows the hysterical antics of a drunken, department-store Santa named Willie who gets his jollies by swearing at children, hooking up in dressing rooms, and robbing retailers every Christmas Eve.
The film’s lead recently appeared on the BBC program The One Show to promote his new series Landman, exclusively streaming on Paramount Plus. During his interview, despite Bad Santa’s box-office success, he admitted that he initially thought the movie would end his career. A naughty Father of Christmas who takes his misery out on everyone around him seemed like a ridiculous addition to the typical love and joy-filled holiday genre of film. So, what exactly changed his mind?
Release Date November 26, 2003
Runtime 1h32m
The Script Was Too Good to Pass On
When first approached about the role, Thornton was hesitant to get involved. The crazy premise didn’t seem like it would be a commercial or critical success. According to Thornton, as soon as he heard what the story was about, he told his manager that it would definitely be a “career ender.” Luckily for the film’s dedicated fans, the manager was convincing enough for Thornton to at least take a look at the script.
However, Thornton didn’t even need to finish reading before eagerly calling his manager back about making the movie. Almost immediately, the script had him “laughing so hard [he] cried.” Regardless of the odd plot behind Bad Santa, the hilariously crude dialogue, likable and offbeat characters, and deliciously deviant protagonist made it a Christmas comedy Thornton couldn’t pass up.
Despite his overwhelming passion for the film, Thornton still didn’t foresee the huge amount of success it would have with audiences. He explained that “one way or the other, we expected it to do OK,” and that “people would think it was funny and everything,” but he wasn’t sure how far that would go. Due to the lewd humor and overly ill-tempered Santa figure, he believed that a lot of viewers would take issue with the dark content that the movie relies on. So, he knew Bad Santa was funny and would do well generally, but he had no idea how well. Even today, Thornton is shocked that the film has become an iconic, cult-classic worth watching and re-watching.
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Bad Santa vs. Love Actually
The same year that Thornton starred in Bad Santa, he also appeared in the widely-beloved Christmas rom-com Love Actually. Similar to his vulgar, criminal Santa role, in Love Actually he plays a mean U.S. President who behaves inappropriately towards junior staff member Natalie (Martine McCutcheon), who works for (and secretly adores) the U.K. Prime Minister (Hugh Grant).
During his interview, Thornton joked that he “wasn’t as romantic in it” when compared to the rest of the movie and its cast. Although Love Actually leans more heavily into love and romantic themes, his two 2003 holiday films are mostly different in their focus on (and style of) humor. Bad Santa is more interested in getting audiences to laugh at the foul-mouthed and miserly Thornton rather than painting him as a villain. Also, romance isn’t entirely absent from the film. He even gets the girl in the end (she’s got a Santa kink).
Additionally, Thornton talked about encountering different super fans from both flicks. Every holiday season he now expects to meet the “Love Actually people” and the “Bad Santa people”, but sometimes they overlap. Whatever film they prefer, Thornton clearly provides audiences with fresh characters and stories that help get them into the holiday spirit time and time again — a Christmas miracle for any actor unsure about a project’s projected success.
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Audiences Want New and Interesting Stories
When it comes to producing entertainment, the best (or at least the most memorable) films are usually those that are unique and give viewers a fresh perspective on an old concept. The Christmas genre is oversaturated with feel-good stories of joy — the good guy wins, the two lovers unite, all in time for the impending festivities.
However, stories about those on the naughty list are just as desired as one’s about those on the nice list. Even though Thornton didn’t realize what a hit Bad Santa was going to be, it was a necessary movie to fill the gap between what audiences had already seen and what they were hoping to see next. Thus, its success makes sense in hindsight. There are Christmas rom-coms, truthful dramas of hope, and playful holiday capers galore. But there is also Scrooge, and the Grinch, and a Bad Santa for viewers to enjoy as well. Stream Bad Santa on Pluto TV for free today.
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