Miracle on 34th Street

Play trailer

2:01

Miracle on 34th Street

Released May 2, 1947

1h 36m

Holiday

Comedy

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

96%

Tomatometer

52 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

In this Christmas classic, an old man going by the name of Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) fills in for an intoxicated Santa in Macy's annual Thanksgiving Day parade. Kringle proves to be such a hit that he is soon appearing regularly at the chain's main store in midtown Manhattan. When Kringle surprises customers and employees alike by claiming that he really is Santa Claus, it leads to a court case to determine his mental health and, more importantly, his authenticity.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

Irrefutable proof that gentle sentimentalism can be the chief ingredient in a wonderful film, Miracle on 34th Street delivers a warm holiday message without resorting to treacle.

Read Critics Reviews

Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

Miracle on 34th Street is the gift that keeps on giving.

Rated: 4/4

Dec 21, 2022

Full Review

Kate Cameron

New York Daily News

It is light, it is charming, it is delightfully funny and completely captivating. It is all that, and something more.

Rated: 4/4

May 11, 2015

Full Review

Michael Wilmington

Chicago Tribune

A Christmas season evergreen.

Rated: 3.5/4

Dec 4, 2013

Full Review

Tim Dirks

Filmsite

Director George Seaton's popular and perennial Thanksgiving and Christmas classic holiday film was a dramatic comedy-fantasy about the commercialization of Santa Claus (Kris Kringle) and Christmas itself. The sentimental and appealing

Rated: A+

Oct 12, 2022

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

A sentimental, heartwarming piece, designed to be a fluffy bit of yuletide entertainment.

Rated: 8/10

Sep 22, 2022

Full Review

Carson Timar

ButteredPopcorn

For those looking for a strong and wholesome holiday special, it is hard to find much better than Miracle on 34th Street.

Rated: A

Aug 28, 2022

Full Review

Read all reviews

Kevin P

A very grounded approach to Santa Claus that still has warmth and a damn good dignified performance from the lead Santa.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/27/25

Full Review

David F

Justly a classic, this movie is about a man claiming to be Santa Claus (he is, the Post Office delivers Santa’s mail to him, therefore, he is Santa Claus) who enriches the lives of a young girl, her mom who plans the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, and a host of other folks in 1940 New York City.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/26/24

Full Review

ed m

Classic. Only watch this one. Don't watch the remakes.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/25/24

Full Review

Kim P

As Dolly, then Whitney said: "I will always love you!" Wonderfully done!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/17/24

Full Review

Mark J

Nothing to fault with this film. Simple and nice story for Christmas. Possibly one of the best Santas in all of film history.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/11/24

Full Review

Hugh J

Injecting some christmas magic and joy of the season into a court room drama only cements this title among time tested christmas classics.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/06/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

George Seaton

Director

Maureen O'Hara

Doris Walker

John Payne

Fred Gailey

Edmund Gwenn

Kris Kringle

Gene Lockhart

Judge Henry X. Harper

Natalie Wood

Susan Walker

People Will Talk

88%

79%

People Will Talk

Watchlist

It's a Wonderful Life

94%

95%

It's a Wonderful Life

Watchlist

TRAILER

for It's a Wonderful Life

What Price Glory?

63%

38%

What Price Glory?

Watchlist

Bus Stop

79%

62%

Bus Stop

Watchlist

Gentleman's Agreement

82%

78%

Gentleman's Agreement

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

The Weekly Ketchup: Rachel McAdams In, Katie Holmes Out Of "Dark Knight," "Evil Dead" Remake, And More!

RT’s Top Christmas Classics — Christmas Countdown, Day Five

Miracle on 34th Street: Trailer 1

2:01

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

In this Christmas classic, an old man going by the name of Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) fills in for an intoxicated Santa in Macy's annual Thanksgiving Day parade. Kringle proves to be such a hit that he is soon appearing regularly at the chain's main store in midtown Manhattan. When Kringle surprises customers and employees alike by claiming that he really is Santa Claus, it leads to a court case to determine his mental health and, more importantly, his authenticity.

Director: George Seaton
Producer: William Perlberg
Screenwriter: George Seaton
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Twentieth Century Fox
Genre: Holiday, Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 2, 1947, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Runtime: 1h 36m

Most Popular at Home Now