Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Mild
- profane
- misanthropic
- sardonic
- adult christmas viewing
- holiday movie marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly viewed the sequel as a weaker, less witty repetition of the original's scatological and misanthropic humor, with Kathy Bates's performance a notable bright spot.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Willie repeatedly exploits a Santa costume and a Christmas charity while the film undercuts sentimental holiday conventions with misanthropic humor.
Willie is an alcoholic safe-cracker who returns to crime despite his inability to maintain stability or resist destructive habits.
Willie's reluctant partnership with his estranged mother Sunny forces unresolved maternal conflict into the charity heist.
The plot reunites Willie, Marcus, and Thurman for another Santa-disguise caper thirteen years after the previous film.
Films like Bad Santa 2, and why
Bad Santa
shares black comedy, abrasive antihero humor, criminal schemes, and Christmas-season irreverence
The Ref
shares bleak holiday satire, dysfunctional characters, profane humor, and criminal misbehavior
The Ice Harvest
shares foulmouthed black comedy, an inept criminal protagonist, and chaotic family dysfunction
Movie Details
- Director
- Mark Waters
- Release Date
- 2016-11-23
- Runtime
- 92 min
- Rating
- 5.4 / 10 (888)
Cast
- Billy Bob Thornton
- Kathy Bates
- Tony Cox
- Christina Hendricks
- Brett Kelly
- Ryan Hansen
- Jenny Zigrino
- Jeff Skowron
- Cristina Rosato
- Mike Starr
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- HBO Max Amazon Channel, Cinemax Amazon Channel, HBO Max, Cinemax Apple TV channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Bad Santa 2 about?
- A foulmouthed, alcoholic safe-cracker reprises his Santa disguise for a charity heist complicated by his estranged mother and the return of his unlikely former family.
- What is Bad Santa 2 like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Bad Santa 2 as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Bad Santa 2 violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Bad Santa 2 as mild.
- What did critics think of Bad Santa 2?
- Critics broadly viewed the sequel as a weaker, less witty repetition of the original's scatological and misanthropic humor, with Kathy Bates's performance a notable bright spot.
- Which films are like Bad Santa 2?
- Films with a similar feel include Bad Santa, The Ref, and The Ice Harvest.
- How long is Bad Santa 2?
- Bad Santa 2 runs 92 minutes.
- Where can I watch Bad Santa 2?
- In United States, Bad Santa 2 streams on HBO Max Amazon Channel, Cinemax Amazon Channel, HBO Max, Cinemax Apple TV channel.
