Weekly Watches: December 10, 2025

The Christmas movie that shouldn’t work and the classics you’ve probably missed.

Zach Smith, Samuel Morales, and Cameron DeLaFleur

Dec 10, 2025

∙ Paid

The Santa Clause (1994)

Directed by John Pasquin. Starring Tim Allen and Judge Reinhold.

By Zach Smith

For as long as I can remember, The Santa Clause has been my family’s favorite Christmas movie. You might be saying to yourself: really? The Santa Clause? Over It’s a Wonderful Life? Miracle on 34th Street? White Christmas? DIE HARD? To which I say, wholeheartedly: yes. Now listen: is it shot like a TV movie? Is the CGI bad? Is it predictable? Sure, yes, fine. They ported the crew from Tim Allen’s #1 show of the time, Home Improvement, over to this, and it’s clear that none of them had really worked at the theatrical level before. But! The movie’s central conceit — what if you killed Santa Claus? — is as clever a jumping off point as it was in 1994. The jokes land, as does the heart. The movie came at the peak of Allen’s powers and utilizes his dry, sarcastic humor — but also his heart! — as its most effective weapon throughout. There’s a reason its considered one of the most rewatchable Christmas movies and can be found playing on TV from December 1 long through the 31st each and every year. Make some hot chocolate, not too hot, extra chocolate, shaken not stirred, and flip this one on this Christmas season.

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A guest post by

Zach Smith

Dubbed "the Tom Cruise of Virginia" by a leather jacket salesman in Florence, Italy, Zach Smith is a marketing director living in Virginia. He can be found most often on Instagram.