Santa Claus Is a Stinker
A disastrously crowded christmas-eve help center becomes the stage for a mercilessly funny collision of romantic misery, neurotic charity, and festive absurdity.
Overview
A chaotic holiday season takes a wild turn when a Santa impersonator's plans go awry.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- irreverent
- sardonic
- claustrophobic
- christmas viewing
- group comedy night
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Félix, Josette, Thérèse, Pierre, and Jean-Jacques converge at the SOS Distress office, where escalating encounters drive the humor.
Father Christmas disguises, christmas-party advertising, and seasonal charity are repeatedly turned into sources of black humor.
The cast includes the transvestite character Katia, whose presence is integrated into the film’s ensemble farce.
The SOS Distress organization, its neurotic operators, and the desperate callers create a recurring tension between help and dysfunction.
Films like Santa Claus Is a Stinker, and why
The Dinner Game
Shared black humor, claustrophobic ensemble farce, and escalating interpersonal chaos.
The Visitors
Shared theatrical comedy, eccentric characters, broad physical humor, and tightly orchestrated misunderstandings.
Bad Santa
Shared christmas setting, dark comic sensibility, dysfunctional group dynamics, and abrasive satire.
Movie Details
- Director
- Jean-Marie Poiré
- Release Date
- 1982-08-25
- Runtime
- 88 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (1082)
Cast
- Gérard Jugnot
- Thierry Lhermitte
- Anémone
- Christian Clavier
- Marie-Anne Chazel
- Josiane Balasko
- Bruno Moynot
- Martin Lamotte
- Jacques François
- Michel Blanc
Common questions
- What is Santa Claus Is a Stinker about?
- A disastrously crowded christmas-eve help center becomes the stage for a mercilessly funny collision of romantic misery, neurotic charity, and festive absurdity.
- What is Santa Claus Is a Stinker like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Santa Claus Is a Stinker as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Santa Claus Is a Stinker violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Santa Claus Is a Stinker as mild.
- Which films are like Santa Claus Is a Stinker?
- Films with a similar feel include The Dinner Game, The Visitors, and Bad Santa.
- How long is Santa Claus Is a Stinker?
- Santa Claus Is a Stinker runs 88 minutes.
