The Christmas Chronicles (2018) — Review, Streaming & Trivia
The Christmas Chronicles (2018) is a thrilling holiday adventure from Netflix that reimagines Santa Claus as a charismatic, leather-jacket-wearing rock star, played with irresistible charm by Kurt Russell. When siblings Kate and Teddy Pierce set a trap to catch Santa on camera, they accidentally cause his sleigh to crash in Chicago, scattering his reindeer and the bag of presents across the city. What follows is a wild Christmas Eve odyssey as the kids team up with this unconventional Santa to retrieve everything and save Christmas before dawn. Produced by Chris Columbus, The Christmas Chronicles delivers spectacular visual effects, laugh-out-loud humor, and a genuinely heartwarming story about family, grief, and the enduring magic of Christmas belief.
Last updated: February 2026
The Christmas Chronicles
Two siblings hatch a plan to catch Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, but when their scheme causes his sleigh to crash, they must team up with a charismatic Santa to save Christmas.
About The Christmas Chronicles
The Christmas Chronicles (2018) is a thrilling holiday adventure from Netflix that reimagines Santa Claus as a charismatic, leather-jacket-wearing rock star, played with irresistible charm by Kurt Russell. When siblings Kate and Teddy Pierce set a trap to catch Santa on camera, they accidentally cause his sleigh to crash in Chicago, scattering his reindeer and the bag of presents across the city. What follows is a wild Christmas Eve odyssey as the kids team up with this unconventional Santa to retrieve everything and save Christmas before dawn. Produced by Chris Columbus, The Christmas Chronicles delivers spectacular visual effects, laugh-out-loud humor, and a genuinely heartwarming story about family, grief, and the enduring magic of Christmas belief.
Cast
- Kurt Russell
- Darby Camp
- Judah Lewis
- Goldie Hawn
Where to Watch
The Christmas Chronicles is currently available on the following platforms:
Trivia & Fun Facts
- Kurt Russell based his portrayal of Santa Claus partly on his real-life persona and partly on rock-and-roll legends.
- Goldie Hawn makes an uncredited cameo as Mrs. Claus in the film's final scene, reuniting the real-life couple on screen.
- The jailhouse musical scene where Santa sings 'Santa Claus Is Back in Town' was largely improvised by Kurt Russell.
- The film was successful enough to spawn a sequel, The Christmas Chronicles 2, in 2020.
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