Bad Santa Review

Messages: Several characters are outright criminals who steal, con people, and even commit murder. The main character's specialty is safecracking. During the Christmas holidays, he poses as Santa Claus in order to rob department stores. He also steals a car, takes money from a residence's safe, and is overall a selfish, mean, reckless individual. However, the movie establishes him as an antihero whose actions are played for laughs. He later experiences an epiphany when he befriends a lonely boy and becomes an unorthodox father figure to him.

Violence: Violence includes murder, characters being shot, attempted suicide. A man is killed when other characters conspire to murder him and then pin him between two vehicles. Police officers and a store robber engage in a gun battle. His partner, who flees the scene, is shot eight times by police, but survives. A lot of fighting, such as punching, kicking, shoving, and kicking in the groin. A man appears to be attempting suicide in his car in a garage, but he doesn't go through with it.

Sex: Very explicit sexual situations and references, borderline NC-17. A man and a woman -- both shown clothed from the waist up -- have sex in a car. They later have sex in a hot tub. A man and a woman have what is implied as anal sex in a department store's fitting room; their legs are shown under the door. A man hits on a girl during a pinball game; she is later revealed to be underage.

Language: Extreme profanity and strong language throughout.

Consumerism: Not an issue

Drinking, drugs and smoking: Characters drink and smoke throughout the movie. The main character is a belligerent alcoholic who regularly drinks to excess.