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Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964)

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Movie Info

Martian ruler Kimar (Leonard Hicks) is upset that the children of Mars are lazy and under the influence of too much pop culture from Earth. They are obsessed with the planet's television programs and don't want to do much of anything. In an attempt to get the kids peppy again, Kimar orders the kidnapping of Santa Claus (John Call), hoping that the jolly old toymaker will know how to cheer the children up again. But two Earth children are also nabbed, and this complicates things for Kimar.

Genre:

other, sci fi
Original Language:

English
Director:

Nicholas Webster
Producer:

Paul L. Jacobson
Writer:

Paul L. Jacobson, Glenville Mareth
Release Date (Streaming):

Jun 30, 2016
Runtime:

1h 20m
Production Co:

Jalor Productions

Cast & Crew

John Call
Santa Claus

Leonard Hicks
Kimar

Pia Zadora
Girmar

Vincent Beck
Voldar

Donna Conforti
Betty

Victor Stiles
Billy

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News & Interviews for Santa Claus Conquers the Martians

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Critic Reviews for Santa Claus Conquers the Martians

All Critics (23) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (5) | Rotten (18)

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
[A] hilariously bad stab at sci-fi.

June 24, 2006 | Full Review…

Time Out
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
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
Its status as one of the strangest films ever made about Father Christmas has given it a degree of cult status. Without that, it wouldn't have a snowball's chance of still being watched today.

December 17, 2020 | Rating: 1/5 | Full Review…

Jennie Kermode
Eye for Film
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
This is, without exaggeration, one of the single worst films ever made, which hasn't prevented it from becoming a cult classic.

December 3, 2012 | Rating: 1.5/4 | Full Review…

TV Guide
A terrible product of people who wanted to appeal to kids but likely never met one in their lives...

December 18, 2010 | Full Review…

Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
Who knew this would be the pinnacle of Pia Zadora's career?

October 22, 2005 | Rating: 0/5

Pete Vonder Haar
Film Threat
Better than 'Mars Needs Women', but worse than 'Teenagers from Outer Space' . . .

December 24, 2004 | Full Review…

James O'Ehley
Sci-Fi Movie Page
White Christmas on a red planet, and not as bad as some people insist.

December 16, 2004 | Rating: 2.5/5

Phil Hall
Film Threat

View All Critic Reviews (23)

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