Arthur Christmas poster
Review

Arthur Christmas 2011

Directed by Sarah Smith · 97 mins · 1,151 views

4.0 Letterboxd 3.55(135,759)
Ratings L A 𝑚 A D E B J A A

Synopsis

For hundreds of years, the Claus family has delegated the title "Santa" to a chosen few of its members, which can be passed down upon retirement. Each Christmas, Santa and his vast army of highly trained elves produce gifts and distribute them around the world in a one-night high-tech operation. However, when one of 600 million children to receive a gift from Santa on Christmas Eve is missed, it is deemed ‘acceptable’ to all but one—Arthur Claus, the current Santa’s misfit son deemed ineligible for the title, who executes an unauthorised rookie mission to get the last present halfway around the globe before dawn on Christmas morning.

Trailers

Reviews (99)

  1. L
    Luna Challis 8 月 26, 2026

    steve’s santa jacket being made by versace is way funnier than it has any right to be

    929
  2. A
    anthony 8 月 26, 2026

    so apparently time zones don’t exist during christmas

    762 10
  3. 𝑚

    the elf with the eyebrow piercing gave me the most iconic lesbian vibes i love her

    1,857 8
  4. A
    alba 8 月 26, 2026

    what is a family if not a twink with anxiety, an slightly offensive old man and a lesbian elf with an eyebrow piercing

    2,208 1
  5. D
    Dakota Joaquin 8 月 26, 2026

    This is easily one of the greatest Christmas movies to come out of the 21st century. Underrated as hell and does not get the amount of love that it deserves

    994 10
  6. E
    emma 8 月 26, 2026

    the elves should unionise

    1,262 1
  7. B
    bre 8 月 26, 2026

    santa and steve are just like logan and kendall roy

    951 2
  8. J
    James (Schaffrillas) 8 月 26, 2026

    This is the only kids movie I’ve seen that references the Cuban Missile Crisis and that’s how you know it’s good

    6,103 24
  9. A
    Apelsins 8 月 26, 2026

    ”I have to worry! It’s the only thing I’m good at!”

    1,220 3
  10. A
    aaron 8 月 26, 2026

    what if i said i fancy arthur what then

    2,370 17
  11. K
    Kennoniah 8 月 26, 2026

    “They used to say it was impossible to teach women to read.”

    1,898 3
  12. M
    Mark Jewiss 8 月 26, 2026

    My kids are at the age where they are starting to ask questions about how Santa does what he does, so of course I put on this Aardman produced documentary about how the Claus family can deliver presents to millions of children around the world in just a few hours. Obviously Aardman have had to digitally disguise the faces of everyone involved, and have actors dub over the recorded audio. What starts out as a simple examination of present delivery soon turns into an adventure that the documentarians were lucky to be able to capture, following the discovery that one present has not been delivered to a child in Cornwall. What follows is a fascinating look into the internal politics of the Claus family, with corporate politics coming in to play in ways that you wouldn’t expect.

    1,130 8
  13. A
    adi ☆ 8 月 21, 2026

    one of the rare movies that makes me cry, I will not elaborate further

    1
  14. F
    FinneganUnawake 8 月 21, 2026

    I love how the elves have shell shock

  15. P
    PEPSI38 8 月 21, 2026

    Absoulute peak

  16. N
    Nick 8 月 20, 2026

    Best Christmas movie and animation combo I’ve seen

  17. E
    evablum 8 月 20, 2026

    and yeah maybe ill watch a christmas movie whenever i freaking want to how about that

    5 2
  18. D
    DecliningPi 8 月 20, 2026

    Extra half a star just for the elves

  19. H
    harriethazel 8 月 19, 2026

    it’s a no from me x

  20. P
    presley 8 月 19, 2026

    literally the GOAT of Christmas movies…idk!!!

  21. N

    adoro filmes de natal que me fazem sentir a magia do natal

  22. T
    tomhodgson8 8 月 18, 2026

    Go to Xmas movie

  23. I
    Inceptionation 8 月 18, 2026

    Just an amazing film

  24. M
    medisina ang pelikula 8 月 18, 2026

    maangas ang christmas tree goatee facial hair ni steve.

  25. L
    Lucas Nowicki 8 月 17, 2026

    Together with Klaus the best Christmas movie

  26. J
    JabbaDaHutt78 8 月 17, 2026

    A really solid Christmas film

  27. T
    tompearsonn 8 月 17, 2026

    bang average christmas film, does the job though

  28. J
    jenna 8 月 16, 2026

    cinema

  29. E
    egtart7876 8 月 16, 2026

    Arthur Christmas is literally me fr

  30. X
    X0live 8 月 15, 2026

    Je l’écoute souvent dans le temps des fêtes. Je ne sais pas pourquoi, je devrais arrêter.

  31. N
    nicktgreen 8 月 15, 2026

    “Fell outta the sleigh over Lake Geneva, never saw him him again.”

  32. S
    Saeid 8 月 15, 2026

    این انیمیشن جز کارهای ضعیف کمپانی آردمن خالق والاس و گرومیت هست که تخصص اون تو استاپ موشن اولین انیمیشن کامپیوتری این کمپانی شکست خورده

    4
  33. F
    Fireproof 8 月 15, 2026

    ‘They used to think it was impossible to teach women to read.’ One of the only 3 Christmas Movies ever.

  34. E
    Elise 8 月 15, 2026

    A guy named Arthur going to Cornwall is pure cinema

  35. M
    matchaducks 8 月 14, 2026

    Pretty good movie that doesn’t have a twist villain. also Bryony and Grandsanta are so quoteable

  36. T
    teffoide 8 月 13, 2026

    ya se siente la navidad cuando esta peli empieza en mi casa

  37. Y
    yink20 8 月 13, 2026

    Buena película me gustó, el diseño de personajes me gustaron, mi parte favorita es la de los leones y usan las pantuflas de reno y comienzan a cantar.

  38. D
    DTK123 8 月 13, 2026

    One of the best Christmas films around. Childhood classic.

  39. Z
    ZOE 8 月 12, 2026

    christmas!!

  40. U
    username_sopa 8 月 12, 2026

    la mejor película de navidad que he visto porque mi pobre angelito ni de navidad trata

  41. B
    bictorinn 8 月 12, 2026

    santa

  42. R
    ria .☘︎ ݁˖ 8 月 12, 2026

    animated christmas films make me a special type of emotional

    1
  43. L
    little bat 8 月 12, 2026

    самый лучший мультик нахрен стабильно каждый декабрь пересматриваю

  44. A
    alexgeeson44 8 月 12, 2026

    always liked this

  45. J
    J B 8 月 11, 2026

    Average in all aspects.

  46. K
    KASS☆ 8 月 11, 2026

    i forgot all about this

  47. D
    Darragh1234_ 8 月 11, 2026

    Another poor Christmas film compared to the older movies but worth watching just for the scene where they deliver the presents.

  48. G
    gracelightninggg 8 月 11, 2026

    Classic

  49. H
    hayley212 8 月 10, 2026

    The best film ever literally

  50. N
    NMS777 8 月 10, 2026

    IMDb: 7.1/10 | My rating: ⭐⭐⭐ | 🎅

  51. E
    Erwin 8 月 10, 2026

    this is Christmas

  52. I
    ivitomorrron 8 月 10, 2026

    De las mejores peliculas navideñas que e visto

  53. E
    Ewan Prouse 8 月 10, 2026

    I liked how the elfs delivered the presents like it was a mission impossible mission such a good christmas film as well

  54. A
    Abigail 8 月 9, 2026

    This is hands down the best Christmas movie ever made. And I WILL die on this hill

  55. M
    Moni✝︎ 8 月 9, 2026

    Ta ai né

  56. M
    Moni 8 月 8, 2026

    Uq eh isso

  57. A
    ash 8 月 8, 2026

    pwede bang mag-christmas na leche I LOVEEE THISSS

  58. M
    Michaela 8 月 8, 2026

    one of my fav christmas movies everrrr

  59. P
    poo lander 8 月 7, 2026

    goat

  60. L
    lucydunnexx 8 月 7, 2026

    so much nostalgia, my fav xmas film

  61. A
    Andrew M 8 月 6, 2026

    A movie that makes you think about why we give gifts to children on Christmas.

  62. R
    RossStelxbd 8 月 6, 2026

    Still get clowned for watching this, cinematic masterpiece and lifts the mood when big reds coming round.

  63. F
    finnanmovieman 8 月 5, 2026

    this is such a sleeper movie i love it

  64. G
    Gregorialthe2nd 8 月 4, 2026

    The (2nd) best Christmas movie of all time. I get nostalgia watching this movie

  65. M
    Matilda_Clarke 8 月 4, 2026

    If Grandsanta had offered me an apple core, I would have taken it.

  66. M
    Meg 8 月 3, 2026

    no i started crying it’s so serious

  67. M
    murronkane56 8 月 2, 2026

    One of the best childhood Christmas movies ever it was on every year

  68. Y
    yanchh 8 月 1, 2026

    christmas movies has really got a soft spot in me. movie was good, loved the characters there were just scenes that were quite boring for me.

  69. N
    Nostromo16 8 月 1, 2026

    Best Christmas film of all time- I can’t believe they taught women to read.

  70. E
    Ethan 8 月 1, 2026

    Bawling my eyes out at a silly fun Christmas movie in the beginning of August, just like Aardman intended

  71. S
    SPEEDFORCE117 8 月 1, 2026

    Surprised i hadn’t logged this either, another yearly December rewatch that I really never get tired of.

  72. A
    Arabella Bernard 7 月 31, 2026

    Genuinely good modern way of explaining Christmas to kids tbh from when I watched it

  73. L
    literallylupin 7 月 31, 2026

    Don’t ask.

  74. 𝑪

    I don’t have pretty much to say, just that it is a great movie to watch in the Christmas period and the essence is literally there

  75. M
    Meowburrito 7 月 31, 2026

    Aardmans most unique animation style with a neat idea on Christmas. I enjoy how it technically doesn’t have a villain instead the brother of Santa accepts that Arther can be the next Santa.

  76. _
    _reesetam 7 月 31, 2026

    THE GREATEST CHRISTMAS MOVIE EVER MADE. fight with the wall.

  77. T
    Thomas Drake 7 月 31, 2026

    Was a decent Christmas film tbf but nothing great

  78. P
    Partyhips 7 月 31, 2026

    I love how they mention “and is happy” in everyone’s epilogue.

    1
  79. J
    Jac_21 7 月 30, 2026

    best movie of the human existence innit

  80. M
    movies435 7 月 29, 2026

    A really good Christmas movie

  81. 𝗁

    feliz navidad (no le hago caso al calendario)

  82. E
    evelynw 7 月 28, 2026

    fav chrissy film

  83. T
    Theta 7 月 28, 2026

    Watching this in class during the last week of primary school was PEAK.

  84. E
    Evilyne1 7 月 25, 2026

    I’ve heard that this movie is surprisingly good, so I decided to give it a watch. It’s true! The emotional beats really hit, and I believed the family dynamics and drama. A fun little Christmas movie.

  85. D
    DavidDefinitive 7 月 9, 2026

    It felt a little weird watching a Christmas movie in July but at the same time I don’t care because this is my favorite Christmas movie. Eventually, I just got hooked to the story characters again that I forgot it was July. I’m watching this now for a ranking video I’m working on.

  86. P
    Pang09 12 月 20, 2025

    A fun, heart warming easy watcher

  87. S
    ShadowMere28 12 月 17, 2025

    Lots of Grandsanta’s lines really crack me up

  88. S
    Stone T 12 月 14, 2025

    Movie 435: 1 hr and 38 minutes I think this might be my favorite Christmas movie

  89. T
    tuamera 10 月 7, 2025

    Uma aventura natalícia aceitável e com um conceito inicial super divertido sobre elfos tecnológicos. O filme perde algum ritmo e magia a meio da história, mas continua a ser um entretenimento familiar competente e fofinho para a época festiva.

  90. B
    bookofeli1 12 月 17, 2023

    Funniest Christmas film going. Grandsanta is one of the greatest animated characters ever created. Truly an annual watch

  91. H
    Harry 12 月 15, 2023

    73/100

  92. S
    santiago ˖ ࣪⊹ 10 月 25, 2022

    Esse filme não é exatamente maravilhoso, mas me traz uma nostalgia deprimente muito boa, sem zoeira.

  93. A
    Andrea Carnevali 12 月 18, 2020

    his is a classic in our house and every Christmas my son makes us go through it again, so it’s now part of the package, together with the Christmas turkey, jingle bells and all the rest. I must have seen this three or four times and yet I can never quite remember it… I’m not sure whether that says more about my mushy brain or about this being a rather unmemorable film. To be honest, there’s a lot worse to…

  94. B
    Bia 11 月 29, 2019

    Como eu amo filmes de natal

  95. .
    . 11 月 20, 2019

    this is so much smarter than people give it credit for 😭 it’s genuinely funny and somehow manages to make santa logistics emotionally moving. ⋆☾ 🎁

  96. C
    CharlieG 12 月 20, 2018

    Incredibly underrated Christmas film must watch

  97. C
    Carl Patterson 12 月 24, 2016

    It was only at the end where I was trying to figure out which role Bill Nighy played. I must have spotted Rich Hall the last time I watched it.

  98. C
    Carl Patterson 12 月 21, 2015

    It was very good. I laughed quite a few times. I spotted Jim Broadbent, Hugh Laurie, Jane Horricks and Rich Hall who all had parts but did didn’t recognise any others. The animation was stunning. Who would have animated a woolly jumper? If it was just the Americans it would have been a festive sweat-shirt.

  99. P
    ProfessorTeegs 12 月 24, 2011

    tumblr smexy man for the christmas season

Write a Review

My rating

J James McAvoy Arthur (voice)
H Hugh Laurie Steve (voice)
B Bill Nighy Grandsanta (voice)
J Jim Broadbent Santa (voice)
I Imelda Staunton Mrs Santa (voice)
A Ashley Jensen Bryony (voice)
M Marc Wootton Peter (voice)
L Laura Linney North Pole Computer (voice)
E Eva Longoria Chief De Silva (voice)
R Ramona Marquez Gwen (voice)
M Michael Palin Ernie Clicker (voice)
S Sanjeev Bhaskar Lead Elf (voice)
R Robbie Coltrane Lead Elf (voice)
J Joan Cusack Lead Elf (voice)
R Rhys Darby Lead Elf (voice)
J Jane Horrocks Lead Elf (voice)
I Iain McKee Lead Elf (voice)
A Andy Serkis Lead Elf (voice)
D Dominic West Lead Elf (voice)
P Peter Baynham Elf (voice)
Director Sarah Smith
Writer Sarah Smith, Peter Baynham
Producer Carla Shelley, Chris Juen, Steve Pegram, David Sproxton, Peter Lord, Michael Killoren
Executive Producer Cheryl Abood, Peter Baynham
Editor John Carnochan, James Cooper
Original Music Harry Gregson-Williams
Sound Simon Ellegaard, Mike Prestwood Smith, James Boyle, Ben Meechan, Doug Cooper, Joseph Stracey, Dafydd Archard, Andrea King, Kevin Penney, Barnaby Smyth, Peter Gleaves, Peter Burgis, Dan Morgan, Keith Partridge, Johnathan Rush, Mark Appleby, Arthur Graley, Julian Slater, Nick Del-Molino, Howard London, Jason Swanscott
Art Direction Alexei Nechytaylo, Olivier Adam, Tim Watts
Casting Sarah Crowe
Synopsis
For hundreds of years, the Claus family has delegated the title "Santa" to a chosen few of its members, which can be passed down upon retirement. Each Christmas, Santa and his vast army of highly trained elves produce gifts and distribute them around the world in a one-night high-tech operation. However, when one of 600 million children to receive a gift from Santa on Christmas Eve is missed, it is deemed ‘acceptable’ to all but one—Arthur Claus, the current Santa’s misfit son deemed ineligible for the title, who executes an unauthorised rookie mission to get the last present halfway around the globe before dawn on Christmas morning.
Director
Sarah Smith
Writer
Sarah Smith, Peter Baynham
Studio
Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Aardman
Country
UK, USA
Language
English, Spanish
Year
2011
Runtime
97 mins

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