‘Bad Santa’ Origins and Success
Released in 2003, Bad Santa quickly became a beloved Christmas film. Starring Billy Bob Thornton, it tells the story of Willie, a foul-mouthed alcoholic who works as a department store Santa to rob the mall alongside his dwarf partner, Marcus (Tony Cox).
"It’s a Wonderful Life meets South Park."
Troubled Production Challenges
The film’s journey to the screen was difficult. An R-rated Christmas movie was considered risky, and Universal rejected it, citing concerns about its misogyny and anti-Christmas tone. Bob Weinstein of Miramax purchased it specifically for those controversial elements.
Setbacks During Filming
- Brett Kelly, who played Thurman Merman, contracted chickenpox before shooting, delaying production.
- Billy Bob Thornton was sometimes legitimately drunk and at other times hungover on set.
Post-Production Issues
After poor test audience reactions, Bob Weinstein requested reshoots. Director Terry Zwigoff refused, and Todd Phillips, director of Joker, assisted unofficially to help with the film.
Casting Notes
The lead role was originally written for a star of The Sopranos, though Billy Bob Thornton ultimately made the character his own.
Author's summary: Despite a rocky production marked by controversy and health setbacks, Bad Santa became a cult holiday classic thanks to its unique dark humor and memorable performances.
More News
- Quote of the Day by Warren Buffett: ‘Wall Street is the only place…’
- Veteran teacher wins six-figure payout after principal falsely quoted him and painted him as racist
- UFC 323’s Edson Barboza doesn’t regret featherweight move but ‘I look back and see how sick I was getting’
- The Good Quote (@thegoodquote) - Inspirational Community
- Lookup Field - Overview in Airtable
- Kayla Harrison is a very interesting case
- Kayla Harrison's manager: There's a lot of beef with Ronda Rousey
- Kayla Harrison ‘grudge match’ backed to do bigger numbers than Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Conor McGregor
- The Number Of Jaguar Recalls For 2025 (So Far) May Surprise You
- Post-Game Quotes: Duke