Overview
A heartwarming tale of friendship and holiday spirit unfolds on a frozen island, where laughter and generosity reign.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- heartwarming
- cozy
- christmas viewing
- family movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film's beautiful hand-drawn animation, humorous heartwarming storytelling, and fresh take on Santa Claus lore, while some found the narrative over-complicated.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film constructs an unexpected origin story for Santa Claus through Jesper, Klaus, Alva, letters, and handmade toys.
Jesper and Klaus's gift-giving helps transform feuding residents of Smeerensburg into kinder, more connected neighbors.
The film is specifically praised for its beautiful hand-drawn animation and creates a richly illustrated frozen island setting.
Smeerensburg is a frozen island where local feuds have nearly eliminated communication and letter exchange.
Films like Klaus, and why
The Grinch
hand-drawn animated Christmas fantasy centered on generosity, community transformation, and a warm origin story
Arthur Christmas
family-friendly holiday animation combining whimsical comedy, heartfelt redemption, and a community rediscovering joy
The Iron Giant
inventive animated fantasy with a gentle emotional arc, distinctive visual design, and themes of kindness overcoming social division
Rise of the Guardians
cozy seasonal storytelling built around friendship, generosity, magical lore, and a small community
Movie Details
- Director
- Sergio Pablos
- Release Date
- 2019-11-08
- Runtime
- 97 min
- Rating
- 8.2 / 10 (4847)
Cast
- Jason Schwartzman
- J.K. Simmons
- Rashida Jones
- Joan Cusack
- Norm Macdonald
- Will Sasso
- Sergio Pablos
- Mila Brener
- Neda Margrethe Labba
- Sydney Brower
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Klaus about?
- A self-serving postman, a reclusive toymaker, and a divided island community accidentally create the legend of Santa Claus.
- What is Klaus like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Klaus as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Klaus violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Klaus.
- What did critics think of Klaus?
- Critics broadly praised the film's beautiful hand-drawn animation, humorous heartwarming storytelling, and fresh take on Santa Claus lore, while some found the narrative over-complicated.
- Which films are like Klaus?
- Films with a similar feel include The Grinch, Arthur Christmas, The Iron Giant, and Rise of the Guardians.
- How long is Klaus?
- Klaus runs 97 minutes.
- Where can I watch Klaus?
- In United States, Klaus streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
