Is Bad Santa on Netflix?

‘Tis finally the season to watch Bad Santa!

To the surprise of some moviegoers, this dark comedy starring Billy Bob Thornton has become somewhat of an unexpected–and totally hilarious–Christmas movie staple over recent years, especially for those who aren’t all about a squeaky-clean holiday flick.

Rated R, the not-so-holly-jolly Christmas comedy was brought to life on the big screen by award-winning director Terry Zwigoff. As noted by Indie Wire, Bad Santa is now widely considered to be an instant classic. With that said, it’s also proven to not be a movie for everyone.

The Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus describes the film as a “gloriously rude and gleefully offensive black comedy,” adding that Bad Santa definitely isn’t fit for everyone, but “grinches will find it uproariously funny.”

Is Bad Santa appropriate for kids?

Common Sense Media reports that parents should be aware that this movie is not for kids, saying, “though it features a Santa Claus character and Christmas theme, [Bad Santa] is not for kids and may even be too much for some adults.” As noted by the publication, the film includes lots of profanity, depicts drinking and smoking, includes explicit sexual references and situations, as well as graphic violence.

Some critics have called it rude, while others have said its main character is downright crude. Naughty or nice, you don’t get a name like “Bad Santa” for just anything.

What is Bad Santa about?

Rotten Tomatoes describes the plot as:

"In this dark comedy, the crotchety Willie T. Stokes (Billy Bob Thornton) and his partner (Tony Cox) reunite once a year for a holiday con. Posing as a mall Santa and his elf, they rip off shopping outlets on Christmas Eve. This year, however, Willie is falling apart. He’s depressed and alcoholic, and his erratic behavior draws the suspicion of mall security (Bernie Mac). But when befriending a small boy brings out his kinder side, Willie begins to wonder if there is still some hope for him."

Is Bad Santa on Netflix in 2020?

Unfortunately, it’s not available for streaming on Netflix. Not this year, anyway.

The good news? It is available for Amazon Prime users right now. You can rent or buy this one on Amazon Prime Video. Phew! Click here to start watching Bad Santa.

Happy holiday streaming!