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The Santa Clause 2

Play trailer 1:44 Poster for The Santa Clause 2 G 2002 1h 44m Kids & Family Holiday Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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56% Tomatometer 120 Reviews 43% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) has been in the role of Santa for the past eight years, and his loyal elves consider him the best one ever. But the world of the "Merry Old Soul" turns upside down when he's dealt a double whammy of news: Not only has his son, Charlie (Eric Lloyd), landed on this year's naughty list, but Scott discovers that he must marry by Christmas Eve -- just a month away! -- or he will stop being Santa Claus forever.
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The Santa Clause 2

The Santa Clause 2

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Critics Consensus

Though it's harmless as family entertainment and has moments of charm, The Santa Clause 2 is also predictable and forgettable.

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Critics Reviews

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Keith Phipps AV Club 11/05/2019
Despite the obviously mercenary nature of this sequel, there's a thimbleful of clever ideas at work here, most notably in the way Allen's RoboSanta begins to turn his toy factory into a tiny dictatorship. Go to Full Review
Nell Minow Common Sense Media 12/29/2010
2/5
This one deserves a "bah humbug." Go to Full Review
Peter Bradshaw Guardian 12/02/2002
1/5
You might find the syllables bah, hum, and bug dancing on your lips. Go to Full Review
Debbie Lynn Elias Behind The Lens 11/15/2019
On Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and Vixen! On Comet, Cupid, Donder and Blitzen! On Chet! Yes - Chet. Remember - Seeing isn't believing. Believing is seeing. Go to Full Review
Sloan Freer Radio Times 11/05/2019
2/5
It simply feels like a marketing opportunity, without the sincerity and genuine warmth the Christmas season represents. Go to Full Review
Andy Patrizio IGN Movies 11/05/2019
8/10
Sure, it's cotton candy movie making with a totally predictable outcome. If you want a cranky Christmas, there's always Bad Santa. It's also not as funny as the original, but it's still entertaining. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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TheMovieSearch R @TheMovieSearch 4d The Santa Clause 2 attempts to recapture the magic of its predecessor by diving deeper into the mythology of Scott Calvin’s life as Santa Claus, but the film’s ambition sometimes outweighs its execution. While the first movie delivered a perfectly balanced mix of heart, humor, and holiday wonder, the sequel shifts its focus to the introduction of a future Mrs. Claus. This narrative choice gives the film its emotional direction, though it doesn’t always hold the same effortless charm as the original. Even so, the continuation of Scott’s journey keeps the story engaging enough to hold the interest of returning fans. One of the film’s biggest challenges lies in its screenplay, which is noticeably weaker and more uncertain than the one that fueled the first installment. The story often feels like it’s second-guessing itself, wavering between clever ideas and uneven pacing. There are moments of genuine holiday warmth, but they sometimes struggle to break through structural issues, leaving the film feeling like it’s trying to recreate something it hasn’t fully figured out how to repeat. Still, the underlying creativity remains, giving the sequel a festive personality even when the writing falters. Despite its screenplay shortcomings, The Santa Clause 2 benefits greatly from its casting. Tim Allen once again anchors the film with a performance that effortlessly blends humor and heart, reaffirming why he remains so closely associated with the Santa persona decades later. The supporting cast continues to shine, maintaining the whimsical dynamic that made the North Pole feel so enchanting in the first place. Their chemistry and comedic timing help soften some of the film’s structural weaknesses. Visually and tonally, the film retains the charm audiences expect from a Disney holiday production. The North Pole remains imaginative and lively, filled with colorful sets and endearing side characters who bring warmth to even the film’s clunkier moments. The childlike energy of the elves and the magic of Santa’s world continue to resonate, reminding viewers why the franchise has such strong seasonal staying power. It’s clear that the filmmakers cared about maintaining continuity within this cinematic universe. While The Santa Clause 2 doesn’t reach the same emotional or narrative height as the original, it still offers a wholesome seasonal experience. The movie provides a sincere look at love, responsibility, and the pressure of living up to what others believe you should be. These themes allow the story to stand on its own, even if the execution isn’t always as strong or as confident as what came before it. Fans of the first movie will likely appreciate the continuation of Scott Calvin’s evolution, especially as he moves toward building a family. Ultimately, this sequel succeeds as a warm and enjoyable addition to the franchise, even if it never quite recaptures the effortless magic of the first film. It’s a holiday movie that fits comfortably within the universe of The Santa Clause—not flawless, but heartfelt enough to revisit each December. For viewers seeking familiar Christmas charm and a chance to reconnect with beloved characters, it delivers a perfectly pleasant seasonal celebration. See more Ed R Nov 21 An incredible sequel that keeps the magic alive! See more Cade H. @cholton Jun 28 A good sequel to binge watch after seeing the first movie, especially next to a fire on a snowy December night. It does make you wonder what happened to the last Mrs. clause though… See more Lyra A Mar 2 Bernard is an icon been hyperfixated on this movie for 3 months See more The Wandering D Dec 24 A good sequel to the first film. However, the first one is the best in my opinion. See more Rowan C Dec 23 I still liked watching this move even though it was not better than the first movie. It has been 8 hours since Scott Calvin took up the role of Santa and he has been doing really good. He finds out that Charlie has been put on the naughty list for graffiti and Scott feels like he needs to go back to see his son. Bernard and Curtis alerts Santa that if he does not obtain a wife by Christmas Eve, he will no longer be Santa. Scott returns to the real word and is met with the prinicpal complaining about Charlies' behavior. Scott is going through a process called desantification and he is reverting back to his original self. Scott soons finds his one true love and it turned out to be the principal, and she agreed to become Mrs. Claus at the end of the movie. While Scott is back in the real world, Curtis had the idea to duplicate Santa in a toy version and this whole process goes terribly wrong. The fake Santa decides that all kids are bad in the world and that they all deserve coal. He captures the elves and was ready for takeoff to give coal to the entire world. Scott had help from the tooth fairy to get back to the North Pole since all of his magic was gone. Scott ended up stopping the toy Santa and manages to marry Carol who is played by Elizabeth Mitchell. Scott used the new reindeer in training to stop the toy Santa named Chet who was a baby. Scott becomes Santa again and finally saves Christmas with Charlie who he dropped off at home. Charlie goes to wake up Lucy who is played by Liliana Mumy and she always knew that Uncle Scott was Santa. At the end, Santa rides off into the moonlight to deliver presents and tells Chet to stay on course. Overall, I always enjoy watching these movies but this one was not better than the first The Santa Clause. See more Read all reviews
The Santa Clause 2

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Movie Info

Synopsis Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) has been in the role of Santa for the past eight years, and his loyal elves consider him the best one ever. But the world of the "Merry Old Soul" turns upside down when he's dealt a double whammy of news: Not only has his son, Charlie (Eric Lloyd), landed on this year's naughty list, but Scott discovers that he must marry by Christmas Eve -- just a month away! -- or he will stop being Santa Claus forever.
Director
Michael Lembeck
Producer
Brian Reilly, Bobby Newmyer, Jeffrey Silver
Screenwriter
Don Rhymer, Cinco Paul, Ken Daurio, Ed Decter, John Strauss, Steve Rudnick, Leo Benvenuti, Steve Rudnick, Leo Benvenuti
Distributor
Walt Disney Pictures
Production Co
Buena Vista (Walt Disney)
Rating
G
Genre
Kids & Family, Holiday, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 1, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 5, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$139.2M
Runtime
1h 44m
Sound Mix
Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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