Fatman

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2:38

Fatman

R

Released Nov 13, 2020

1h 40m

Holiday

Fantasy

Comedy

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

43%

Tomatometer

118 Reviews

84%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Verified Ratings

To save his declining business, Chris Cringle, also known as Santa Claus, is forced into a partnership with the U.S. military. Making matters worse, Chris gets locked into a deadly battle of wits against a highly skilled assassin, hired by a precocious 12-year-old, after receiving a lump of coal in his stocking.

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Critics Consensus

Fatman takes a surprisingly serious approach to a potentially ludicrous twist on the Santa Claus legend, aiming for edgy but mostly missing the mark.

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Nick Schager

The Daily Beast

Such a worldview is as childishly dim as it is cruel-which, in turn, makes it feel in tune with its headliner.

Feb 3, 2021

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Barry Hertz

Globe and Mail

Fatman's vision of Father Christmas is of the rough-and-tumble variety.

Rated: 1.5/4

Nov 26, 2020

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David Stratton

The Australian

Fatman is one of the weirdest movies you will ever see...

Rated: 1/5

Nov 21, 2020

Full Review

Patrick Beatty

ABC4 Utah

The worst thing you could do on Christmas Eve is throw this on and have your kid traumatized into thinking Mel Gibson is coming down the chimney.

Jul 23, 2025

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Akos Peterbencze

Vulnerable Man (Medium)

The only solace we can find here is a vigorous Walton Goggins.

Jul 20, 2023

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Stephen Applebaum

Radio Times

We've had Bad Santa, but Fatman is often just plain bad.

Rated: 2/5

Apr 3, 2023

Full Review

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Negative Phil

I can remember seeing Tim Allen's the Santa Clause in the theater when I was a kid. I hated it. That wasn't my Santa Claus, it didn't make sense to me. One thing for certain is that if I saw Fatman as a kid, this wouldn't be my Santa Claus either. As an adult though, this is the Chris Cringle I've always wanted. I've never seen a more humanized take on the man behind the sled. Financial woes, insecurities, failures, Gibson gives a tough as nails but incredibly humble take on what it might be like to have the weight of the world on your shoulders. Fatman is the most original take that I've seen on Santa in my 40 some years of life! This movie is DARK, fun and has a huge heart. Up until now, I've never seen the relationship between Santa and Mrs. Claus depicted as anything but a cardboard cutout. In this film, Mel and Marianne Jean-Baptiste give us a marriage that has spanned centuries. The dialogue the director gives us in their most intimate moments feel like real life conversations that my partner and myself have had. It's the heart of the movie. On the flip side Walton Goggins, whom I absolutely love from Justified, does not disappoint as the hitman sent to kill Santa. He plays his character with a hilarious coldness that becomes borderline sympathetic when you piece together his backstory throughout the film. Even the kid who hires him plays the roll perfectly! I don't know that I've ever wanted to see a kid get what is coming to him as much as I did here in this film. The film is not quite as action packed as the trailer makes it seem, but if you want to see an original take on a legend you think you know, this is the film. Well directed, well shot and brilliant performances across the board!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/30/20

Full Review

Nephretery

It made me laugh 🤷‍♀️

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/10/20

Full Review

Suesman

Interesting movie! I liked Mel Gibson in this role!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/03/20

Full Review

Robert S

An entertaining dark comedy. Enjoyed something different. A unique twist on Santa Clause, with great characters. Gibson is good

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/23/20

Full Review

M A S

Quite different, but glad to see mel gibson in a movie again

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/23/20

Full Review

Matias

Good, from start to finish.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/21/20

Full Review

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Ian Nelms

Director

Eshom Nelms

Director

Mel Gibson

Chris

Walton Goggins

Skinny Man

Marianne Jean-Baptiste

Ruth

Chance Hurstfield

Billy Wenan

Fatman: Movie Clip

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Fatman: Trailer 1

2:38

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Synopsis

To save his declining business, Chris Cringle, also known as Santa Claus, is forced into a partnership with the U.S. military. Making matters worse, Chris gets locked into a deadly battle of wits against a highly skilled assassin, hired by a precocious 12-year-old, after receiving a lump of coal in his stocking.

Director: Ian Nelms, Eshom Nelms
Producer: Todd Courtney, Nadine de Barros, Brandon James, Michelle Lang, Robert Menzies, Lisa Wolofsky
Screenwriter: Ian Nelms, Eshom Nelms
Distributor: Saban Films
Production Co: Fortitude International , Windy Hill Pictures, Mammoth Entertainment, Rough House Pictures, RBL Studios, Zed Filmworks, Sprockefeller Pictures, Ingenious
Rating: R (Language|Bloody Violence)
Genre: Holiday, Fantasy, Comedy, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 13, 2020, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 24, 2020
Box Office (Gross USA): $263.7K
Runtime: 1h 40m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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