Bad Santa

A resentful and alcoholic con man, Willie T. Stokes, poses as a mall Santa every year to rob the establishment on Christmas Eve. He operates with his equally foul-mouthed elf associate, Marcus. Their cynical operation is threatened when Willie befriends a lonely boy named Thurman Merman and a department store security guard, Bob, who suspect him of wrongdoing.

Bad Santa was a commercial success and received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its dark humor and Billy Bob Thornton's performance, while some found its offensive nature off-putting.

• Praised for its subversive and darkly comedic take on the holiday genre.
• Billy Bob Thornton's performance as the misanthropic Santa is frequently highlighted as a standout.
• Some critics found its R-rated humor and cynicism too extreme for a Christmas film.

Google audience: Google users largely appreciated the film's unconventional humor and dark comedy, finding it a refreshing, albeit vulgar, alternative to traditional holiday movies. Billy Bob Thornton's portrayal of a truly 'bad' Santa was a common point of praise.

The part of Thurman Merman was originally intended for a much younger child actor, but Brett Kelly, who was 12 at the time, was cast because he was the only auditionee who could convincingly drink a beer.