Santa Claus Conquers the Martians

Critics Consensus

Ho, ho, oh no.

23%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 22

28%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 6,023

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Movie Info

The biggest, most brightly-wrapped gift under the colorful Christmas tree is a new digital restoration of the unforgettable 1964 B-movie Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, best known as the screen debut of actress/singer Pia Zadora. Martians come to Earth to kidnap Santa Claus because there is no one on Mars to give their children presents. Earth kids Billy and Betty set out to save Santa and return him to Earth. The film is a baffling mixture of sci-fi, Christmas cheer and childish slapstick, all filmed in garish (or as the poster says, "Space-Blazing") color. See all this, a bouncing ball "Jingle Bells" sing-along and much more, mastered from the best surviving prints!
  • Rating:
    PG
  • Genre:
    Classics, Comedy, Kids & Family, Science Fiction & Fantasy
  • Directed By:
    Nicholas Webster
  • Written By:
    Glenville Mareth, Paul L. Jacobson
  • In Theaters:
     limited
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Independent Pictures

Cast

John Call
as Santa Claus
Leonard Hicks
as Kimar
Vincent Beck
as Voldar
Lelia Martin
as Momar
Victor Stiles
as Billy
Donna Conforti
as Betty
Bill McCutcheon
as Dropo
Christopher Month
as Bomar
Pia Zadora
as Girmar
Leila Martin
as Momar
James Cahill
as Rigna
Charles G. Renn
as Hargo
Carl Don
as Von Green/Chochem
Al Nesor
as Stobo
Josip Elic
as Shim/Torg
Jim Bishop
as Lomas
Doris Rich
as Mrs. Claus
Ned Wertimer
as Andy Henderson
Lin Thurmond
as Children's Announcer
Jamie Farr
as Stobo
Don Blair
as News Announcer
Ivor Bodin
as Winky
Gene Lindsey
as Polar Bear
Glenn Schaffer
as Santa's Helper
Ronald Rotholz
as Santa's Helper
Tony Ross
as Santa's Helper
Scott Aronesty
as Santa's Helper
View All

News & Interviews for Santa Claus Conquers the Martians

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Critic Reviews for Santa Claus Conquers the Martians

All Critics (22) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (5) | Rotten (17)

  • [A] hilariously bad stab at sci-fi.

    June 24, 2006 | Full Review…
    Time Out
    Top Critic

  • Adults may find it obvious and as square-cut as cheese. But let's face it. From now till you-know-when, the youngsters are all that matter.

    May 9, 2005 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Howard Thompson

    New York Times
    Top Critic

  • The plot, such as it is, proves it is possible to insult the intelligence of a three-year-old.

    June 13, 2001 | Rating: 1/5 | Full Review…

    Nick Cramp

    BBC.com
    Top Critic

  • For those with a taste for bad movies, especially unintentionally hilarious ones that take themselves completely seriously, you can't do much better than this.

    August 6, 2019 | Rating: 0/4 | Full Review…

    Matthew Lucas

    From the Front Row

  • Just how incompetent is this picture? Its ineptitude applies even to the opening credits, which lists a "custume" designer.

    December 29, 2018 | Rating: 1/4 | Full Review…

    Matt Brunson

    Film Frenzy

  • There's no warmth to the movie, no good cheer or happiness, and (at risk of bathing in bathos), ne'er a hint of what makes the season special.

    December 10, 2016 | Full Review…

    Jason Bailey

    Flavorwire
View All Critic Reviews (22)

Audience Reviews for Santa Claus Conquers the Martians

  • May 03, 2016
    Hailed as one of the worst films ever, it really was.
    Sylvester K Super Reviewer
  • Dec 31, 2014
    A cult Christmas classic, "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" concerns Martians and their selfish, perturbed children who have no fun and hope that Santa's goodwill will come to their planet. The Martians come to Earth, kidnap some kids, then Santa, and take them back to their planet. Some of the Martians dislike the idea of letting Santa on their planet, and plot to kill him and the children, but are thwarted time and again. The film isn't inherently bad: it has a logical plot, the performances aren't all that bad, and it's message of letting kids have fun is inspiring. The reason it's so ridiculous is the premise itself. That and the costuming is horrible, like, ridiculously bad. The Martians are all in green-face, the elves are all dwarves, and the Martian children look and sound like practiced wind-up dolls. While this isn't the best bad movie it's rather entertaining and fun for the entire family, even with its constant plot device of children killing alien life forms.
    Spencer S Super Reviewer
  • Dec 23, 2014
    "Hooray for Santy Claus!" Extraordinarily awful and hysterically funny, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians is insanity wrapped in a bow. The plot is beyond idiotic; finding that their children have forgotten how to play and have fun, a group of Martians go to Earth to abduct Santa Claus in the hopes that he'll be able to revive their children's spirits. The acting is atrocious, but not as bad as the makeup and costumes, which are horrendous (even for '60s sci-fi). Yet it's all made infinitely worse by how seriously the film takes itself. Though it's terrible in every way possibly, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians is too ridiculous to hate and is just begging to be laughed at (which is actually kind of fun).
    Dann M Super Reviewer
  • Dec 20, 2010
    I just happened to catch this movie on TV the other night, unfortunately. It's got an interesting story, which may have been the inspiration for Disney's new movie Mars Needs Moms, because in this movie the kids of mars need a Santa. This movie is complete cheese, with bad actors, dialogue, special effects, directing, the works! An interesting bad movie, though.
    Aj V Super Reviewer
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