Bad Santa
Billy Bob Thornton ’s darkChristmascomedy franchise is making the holidays a little more twisted , as it climbs up the streaming charts . The multi - gifted performing artist broke through in 1996 with the disturbing dramaSling Blade , earning an Oscar nominating address for Best Actor , and winning the award for Best Adapted Screenplay . Thornton in 1998 picked up another nominating speech for playing a torment character in a decidedly dark movie , fetch a Best Supporting Actor nod for Sam Raimi ’s thrillerA Simple Plan .
Thornton ’s most remarkable early roles indeed placed him on a darkly striking track . The star soon veer into the clowning realm , however , with roles that show his inherently jittery and brood qualities being adapted to funny textile . Thornton went for offbeat chortle in the blackamoor comedyPushing Tin , the dramedyBanditsand the Coen Brothers ’ romantic farceIntolerable Cruelty . He also went for jolly more loosely - appealing guffaws in the remaking ofThe Bad News Bears , as well asMr . WoodcockandSchool for Scoundrels .
Thornton’s Bad Santa And Bad Santa 2 Are Climbing Up Paramount+’s Streaming Charts
Willie Soke Might Be Thornton’s Greatest Character
Thornton ’s relentlessly crabby and astringent comedic part come to full flower in 2003 , when he played the lead in the anti - holiday comedyBad Santa . star as a cranky stealer posing as a shopping centre Santa , Thornton helped drive the outrageous laughfest to a ecumenical gross of $ 76 million on a budget of $ 23 million . 13 geezerhood later , Thornton reprised his funniest function for the delayed sequelBad Santa 2 , which fall flat at the boxful part with only $ 24 million in gross against a budget of $ 26 million .
TheBad Santasequel may not have been a holiday smash , but it ’s prove a hit on streaming , as both it and the originalBad Santafind themselves in Paramount+ ’s top 10 streaming picture . As of this publishing , Bad Santais at # 5 andBad Santa 2is at # 8 .
Our Take On Bad Santa And Bad Santa 2 Being Streaming Hits
Thornton’s Comedies Are A BItter Antidote To Holiday Sweetness
Bad Santawas originally develop by the Coen Brothers , with James Gandolfini signify to star
Bad Santawas indeed commercialize as an alternative to the usual jolly , soupy Christmas picture , and common people back in 2003 were hungry enough for such return - computer programming that they made the film a hit . Bad Santa 2might have been a hit as well , had it come out mightily after the original , but 13 geezerhood was too foresightful to await to put Thornton back in a Santa causa , and the downbeat comedy feel forced .
ThoughBad Santais over 20 age old , it remains a perfect non - traditional Christmas movie , a refreshingly sardonic jolt for those who ca n’t stomach assay-mark - style vacation schmaltz - fests , nostalgic stop - motion fables or gooey , sentimental seasonal classics . Thornton ’s pair ofBad Santamovies rising into the top 10 on Paramount+ shows there are still plenty of folks looking for reliever from the time of year ’s feel - good vibes , and not enough fresh title around to satisfy their wriggle , anti - holiday craving .
author : Paramount+
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Cast
Bad Santa revolves around Willie T. Stokes and Marcus Skidmore , professional thieves who mask themselves as a mall Santa Claus and his elf during the holiday time of year with the plan to hook them at the end of the shopping season . Their latest job becomes complicated when Willie , already struggling from alcoholism , sexual practice addiction and frequently swearing , start out constitute an unmated friendship with dimwitted Thurman Merman , go steady local barkeep Sue and coming under the sleepless heart of the later target shopping center ’s foreland of security department , Gin Slagel .
Image via Columbia
Bad Santa revolves around Willie T. Stokes and Marcus Skidmore, professional thieves who disguise themselves as a mall Santa Claus and his elf during the holiday season with the plan to rob them at the end of the shopping season. Their latest job becomes complicated when Willie, already struggling from alcoholism, sex addiction and frequently swearing, begins forming an odd friendship with dimwitted Thurman Merman, dating local bartender Sue and coming under the watchful eye of the latest target mall’s head of security, Gin Slagel.