Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- breezy
- sentimental
- christmas viewing
- family movie night
What critics said
Critics generally found the talented cast and holiday premise undercut by a simplistic, overly familiar script and uneven comedy.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Fred must help manage the Christmas rush while Santa faces an efficiency expert and the threat of being fired.
Fred has spent his life feeling overshadowed by Nick’s saintly reputation and must confront that bitterness at the North Pole.
Santa’s operation is evaluated through efficiency charts and naughty-or-nice data during the holiday rush.
Fred’s fast-talking selfishness and comic schemes gradually give way to renewed fraternal feeling and seasonal warmth.
Films like Fred Claus, and why
Elf
Both are warm Christmas fantasies built around family reconciliation, comic culture clash, and an unconventional central character.
The Santa Clause
Both combine holiday spectacle, sibling or family tension, broad comedy, and a sentimental redemption arc.
Arthur Christmas
Both are ensemble Christmas comedies using workplace pressure, magical settings, and emotional lessons beneath the humor.
Scrooged
Both center on a cynical, self-interested adult whose involvement in a seasonal fantasy world gradually restores family feeling.
Movie Details
- Director
- David Dobkin
- Release Date
- 2007-11-09
- Runtime
- 115 min
- Rating
- 5.9 / 10 (939)
Cast
- Vince Vaughn
- Paul Giamatti
- John Michael Higgins
- Miranda Richardson
- Rachel Weisz
- Kathy Bates
- Trevor Peacock
- Ludacris
- Elizabeth Banks
- Jeremy Swift
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex
- 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 Fred Claus about?
- A self-serving Chicago hustler must help his saintly brother save Christmas while finally confronting a lifetime of sibling resentment.
- What is Fred Claus like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Fred Claus as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Fred Claus violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Fred Claus as mild.
- What did critics think of Fred Claus?
- Critics generally found the talented cast and holiday premise undercut by a simplistic, overly familiar script and uneven comedy.
- Which films are like Fred Claus?
- Films with a similar feel include Elf, The Santa Clause, Arthur Christmas, and Scrooged.
- How long is Fred Claus?
- Fred Claus runs 115 minutes.
- Where can I watch Fred Claus?
- In United States, Fred Claus is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex.
