History Film / BadSanta

* AssholeVictim: Gin, who blackmailed Willie and Marcus for half their stolen treasure, gets rammed by a 1979 Dodge Van (by Lois) and after Marcus shocks him with a car wire, is buried in the desert. Marcus later remarks, "Store dick's dead! Fuck the fucking store dick!"

Willie Soke (Creator/BillyBobThornton) is a drunk sort-of {{Jerkass}} safe cracker who along with his dwarf accomplice Marcus has a yearly routine of getting jobs as a MallSanta and Elf respectively during the holidays and robbing the mall's safe on Christmas Eve after closing time. During one such stint, Wille meets a boy named Thurman Merman (who is mostly referred to in the movie as "The Kid") who inadvertently saves him from being raped. After a run-in with the mall's unscrupulous security chief (Creator/BernieMac) posing as a police officer, Willie, his girlfriend Sue, and Marcus move in with The Kid, who lives alone with his senile grandmother ([[ParentalAbandonment his mother is dead and his dad is in jail for embezzlement]]). Willie starts to warm up to the Kid and starts acting as a surrogate father... of sorts.

** [[spoiler:When Marcus and Lois kill Gin at the end by smashing him between two cars, they seemingly impale him right in the crotch, but it's off-camera, so it's hard to tell.]

* BigBad: Gin seems to be set up as this, but in the end it's actually [[spoiler Marcus himself]].

''Bad Santa'' is a 2003 American Christmas BlackComedy film produced by Creator/TheCoenBrothers (who also provided uncredited rewrites) and directed by Creator/TerryZwigoff--his only financially successful movie to date.

Willie Soke (Creator/BillyBobThornton) is a drunk sort-of {{Jerkass}} safe cracker who along with his dwarf accomplice Marcus has a yearly routine of getting jobs as a MallSanta and Elf respectively during the holidays and robbing the mall's safe on Christmas Eve after closing time. During one such stint, Wille meets a boy named Thurman Merman (who is mostly referred to in the movie as "The Kid") who inadvertently saves him from being raped. After a run-in with the mall's unscrupulous security chief (Creator/BernieMac) posing as a police officer, Willie, his girlfriend Sue and Marcus move in with The Kid, who lives alone with his senile grandmother ([[ParentalAbandonment his mother is dead and his dad is in jail for embezzlement]]). Willie starts to warm up to the Kid and starts acting as a surrogate father... of sorts.

* BaitAndSwitch: After robbing the mall in the opening, Willie says he will use his share to go to Miami and open a bar. Marcus replies that this is not gonna happen. We then cut to several months later, where Willie appears to running a bar on the beach, but then it is shown that he merely walks behind the bar to steal drinks.

* BigBad: Gin seems to be set up as this, but in the end it's actually [[spoiler: Marcus himself]].

* BrokenAce: Willy is a brilliant safecracker and skilled fistfighter who, were this any other movie, would be a wisecracking member of a BadassCrew. Since this is not any other movie, Willie is a miserable alcoholic asshole who hates himself and everybody else, and spends much of his time blackout-drunk and soaked in his own piss.

* DeconReconSwitch: At the beginning of the film, its feel is ''very'' cynical (what with dealing with [[DepravedKidsShowHost Mall Santas]] and all), but by the end, [[spoiler:while keeping the salty language, the movie's more like "Hey, it's Christmas after all".]]

* [[DoesNotLikeSpam Does Not Like Cookies]]: Willie seriously hates sugar, dairy and non-alcoholic carbs. He prefers salads and meat over milk and cookies.

* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler: About halfway through the movie, Willie tries to kill himself through carbon monoxide poisoning. Fortunately, he snaps out of his funk when Thurman comes to check on him.]]

* HeWhoFightsMonsters: Gin is a security chief who penalizes shoplifting (and unnecessarily roughs up shoplifters), but he's not above stealing either as he blackmails Willie and Marcus for half the spoils from their next heist.

** Marcus insults Willie that the latter would fall apart without him. Though it's clear that Marcus needs Willie far more than the other way around, since Marcus's only ambition is to steal money and needs Willie to crack safes, as while Willie was able to leech off Thurman for a car, cash on hand and a place to sleep.

* TheMillstone: Marcus begins to view Willie as this since his unprofessional behavior has almost gotten them fired or arrested on numerous occasions. [[spoiler:This ultimately leads to him turning against Willie at the end.]]

* PoliceAreUseless: Justified in that Willie and Marcus always plan out every single half-second of their contingency plans to crack safes and know how to evade arrest, that Willie can get away with robberies even while drunk (but only because Marcus pulls him out of the crime scene every time). Gin came close to busting them, but [[spoiler:he tried extorting them for a cut of their loot rather than turn them in - which winds into his own undoing]].

* StopOrIWillShoot: During the climax, the police shoot at Willie when he refuses to surrender, despite the fact that the most dangerous thing on him is a plush pink elephant toy. When Willie reaches Thurman's house, he is [[spoiler:shot by the police eight times on the front walkways in front of all the neighbours]] which results in a...
* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: Though he survives, Willie being shot eight times while fleeing from the cops despite not having a weapon proves to be a massive embarrassment to the Phoenix Police Department who also recieves extensive outrage from the public for shooting an unarmed Santa with Willie being treated like royalty by the department, likely so he won't file a massive lawsuit.
* SuspiciousSkiMask: PlayedForLaughs when Willie puts on one of these before he enters Thurman's home with intention to rob it. After entering inside, he encounters Thurman's grandmother [[GrandparentalObliviousness who declares that she's going to make sandwiches for them]] [[UnusuallyUninterestingSight despite seeing Willie wearing a ski mask]]. Even Willie seems [[EveryoneHasStandards perturbed by this]] as well as the fact that someone as clearly incapable of a caretaker as Thurman's grandmother is the only other person besides him who lives in the house. [[CloudCuckooLander Thurman]] himself also doesn't care that Willie put on a ski mask.
* TeethClenchedTeamwork: It's very clear that at least by this point in their partnership, Willie and Marcus simply do not like each other - Marcus views Willie as a liability to their scheme due to his alcoholism and sex addiction jeopardizing his role in their annual operation, whereas Willie seldom misses an opportunity to insult Marcus (generally over his dwarfism, and usually in response to whenever Marcus criticizes and insults Willie over his aforementioned issues). Suffice to say, this tense partnership and Willie's increasing incompetence are what drive Marcus to [[spoiler:betray and attempt to kill Willie in the climax]].

* TrademarkFavoriteFood: Thurman's is sandwiches, Willie's is salads. In the extended version however, Willie was seen eating corn dogs and turkey legs.

** [[spoiler:When Marcus and Lois kill Gin at the end by smashing him between two cars, they seemingly impale him right in the crotch, but it's off-camera, so it's hard to tell.]]

''Bad Santa'' is a 2003 American BlackComedy film produced by Creator/TheCoenBrothers (who also provided uncredited rewrites) and directed by Creator/TerryZwigoff--his only financially successful movie to date.

* AmbiguousDisorder: Much like Ralph Wiggum from ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', Thurman's CloudCuckoolander behavior often makes him appear to be autistic or mentally disabled. It is revealed in the sequel that Thurman is not mentally disabled and is "at the top of the spectrum" (i.e. has high-functioning autism).

''Bad Santa'' is a 2003 American BlackComedy film produced by Creator/TheCoenBrothers (who also provided uncredited rewrites) and the Weinstein brothers and directed by Creator/TerryZwigoff--his only financially successful movie to date.

Willie Soke (Creator/BillyBobThornton) is a drunk sort-of {{Jerkass}} safe cracker who along with his dwarf accomplice Marcus has a yearly routine of getting jobs as a MallSanta and Elf respectively during the holidays and robbing the mall's safe on Christmas Eve after closing time. During one such stint, Wille meets a boy named Thurman Merman who is mostly referred to in the movie as "The Kid") who inadvertently saves him from being raped. After a run-in with the mall's unscrupulous security chief (Creator/BernieMac) posing as a police officer, Willie, his girlfriend Sue and Marcus move in with The Kid, who lives alone with his senile grandmother ([[ParentalAbandonment his mother is dead and his dad is in jail for embezzlement]]). Willie starts to warm up to the Kid and starts acting as a surrogate father... of sorts.

Willie Soke (Creator/BillyBobThornton) is a drunk sort-of {{Jerkass}} safe cracker who along with his dwarf accomplice Marcus has a yearly routine of getting jobs as a MallSanta and Elf respectively during the holidays and robbing the mall's safe on Christmas Eve after closing time. During one such stint, Wille meets a kid (who is mostly referred to in the movie as "The Kid") who inadvertently saves him from being raped. After a run-in with the mall's unscrupulous security chief (Creator/BernieMac) posing as a police officer, Willie, his girlfriend Sue and Marcus move in with The Kid, who lives alone with his senile grandmother ([[ParentalAbandonment his mother is dead and his dad is in jail for embezzlement]]). Willie starts to warm up to the Kid and starts acting as a surrogate father... of sorts.

* GrumpyBear: Willie, especially when he's on a lunch break.

Willie Soke (Creator/BillyBobThornton) is a drunk {{Jerkass}} safe cracker who along with his dwarf accomplice Marcus has a yearly routine of getting jobs as a MallSanta and Elf respectively during the holidays and robbing the mall's safe on Christmas Eve after closing time. During one such stint, Wille meets a kid (who is mostly referred to in the movie as "The Kid") who inadvertently saves him from being raped. After a run-in with the mall's unscrupulous security chief (Creator/BernieMac) posing as a police officer, Willie, his girlfriend Sue and Marcus move in with The Kid, who lives alone with his senile grandmother ([[ParentalAbandonment his mother is dead and his dad is in jail for embezzlement]]). Willie starts to warm up to the Kid and starts acting as a surrogate father... of sorts.

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Starting off as a pure {{Jerkass}}, Willie eventually becomes this.

* RefugeInAudacity: It's a Christmas film about a child-hating, alcoholic, [[SirSwearsALot foul-mouthed]] mall Santa who is plotting to rob a store on Christmas Eve, and that's for starters.

* WouldHurtAChild: Marcus, especially if said child [[GroinAttack kicks him in the balls]]. [[WhatTheHellHero Willie calls him out on this.]]

* PoliceAreUseless: Justified in that Willie and Marcus always plan out every single half-second of their contingency plans to crack safes and know how to evade arrest, that Willie can get away with robberies even while drunk (but only because Marcus pulls him out of the crime scene every time). Gin came close to busting them, but [[spoiler:Marcus and Lois ram him with a Dodge and dispose of his body out in the desert]].

* ThreatBackfire: When approached by a little boy's mother for a "lap" request, Willie screams at them that he's on his lunch break and doesn't want to do it now. The mother threatens to report his behavior to the manager, and Willie insults her back that he doesn't care because he has total dominance over the [[ExtremeDoormat manager as well]].

* AnythingThatMoves: Willie enjoys chasing girls at every opportunity.

* BecomingTheMask: Willie at first disavows he'll ever be a real Santa Claus, but at the end he tries to deliver the pink elephant Thurman always wanted and narrowly succeeds even though [[spoiler: the police shoot a bullet (or even several) through the elephant, but Thurman doesn't seem to mind]].

* BigDamnHeroes: [[spoiler:The cops arrive just in time to stop the robbery and save Willie from being killed by Marcus. Though problems still arise because Willie forgot that he tipped them off and they didn't know he was the one who did so at the time.]]
* BigGood: Willie becomes this to Thurman as the movie progresses, since he is able to help Thurman fend off the bullies who torment him everyday after school, [[spoiler: gets him the pink stuffed elephant he always wanted]] and finally help him attain a proper parental substitute (Sue) to look after him.

** Willie testing [[spoiler:Marcus]]'s temper with daily "Fuck you"s and many insults about his [[spoiler: height and lack of sex life]] leads to [[spoiler:Marcus pulling out a gun on him as soon as he decides Willie helped him rob enough safes for many Christmases to retire]].
** Gin, a security officer, tries blackmailing Marcus for a cut of the spoils on their next heist. Marcus rams him with a car, shocks him and has Lois run his head over with a car.

-->''Thurman'': "Now I don't want an elephant at all. I want a gorilla named Davy for beating up the skateboard kids who pull on my underwear. And he can take his orders from the talking walnut, so it won't be my bad thing."

* {{Determinator}}: [[spoiler: After fleeing from the police, he reaches the kid's house in order to give him his present. Even after being shot eight times, he still tries to crawl to the door with the toy elephant.]]

--> '''Willie:''' "You people are monsters. I'm not talking about you [[spoiler: taking me out]]; that part, I get. But look at all that shit. Do you really need all that shit? For Christ sakes, it's Christmas."

* GroinAttack: When teaching the kid how to fight, the kid ends up kicking Marcus right in the crotch. This causes Marcus to retaliate against the kid in the same fashion. When Willie raises protest about punching a child in the crotch, Marcus yells "fuck you, Willie!", and punches Willie in the balls - and then Willie punches Marcus in the balls. The scene ends with all three lying on the ground groaning in pain (and trying to kick each other in the balls).
** [[spoiler: When Marcus and Lois kill Gin at the end by smashing him between two cars, they seemingly impale him right in the crotch, but it's off-camera so it's hard to tell.]]

** Unlike most Christmas films though, his personality is still foul-mouthed and sarcastic. But now a better person.

-->'''Gin''': I could stick you up my ass, small fry!
-->'''Marcus''': Yeah? You sure it ain't too sore from last night?!

* LeavingFoodForSanta: Equating Willie to Santa, Thurman keeps offering Willie some milk and cookies or sandwiches. Ironically, Willie doesn't like sugary or starchy foods much (His actor is even a strict vegan who is allergic to wheat).

* MakingLoveInAllTheWrongPlaces: Willie in one of the mall dressing rooms - in more ways than one.
* TheMillstone: Marcus begins to view Willie as this since his unprofessional behavior has almost gotten them fired or arrested on numerous occasions. [[spoiler:This ultimately leads to him turning against Willie at the end]].

* NoHonorAmongThieves: Angry that Willie led the security guard Gin straight into their tracks of mall robberies every Christmas, Marcus [[spoiler: decides to shoot Willie at the climax]].

* PintSizedPowerhouse: Marcus despite his dwarfism can tackle Willie with force.
* PoliceAreUseless: Justified in that Willie and Marcus always plan out every single half-second of their contingency plans to crack safes and know how to evade arrest, that Willie can get away with robberies even while drunk (but only because Marcus pulls him out of the crime scene every time). Gin came close to busting them, but [[spoiler: Marcus and Lois ram him with a Dodge and dispose of his body out in the desert]].

* TheThingThatWouldNotLeave: An ironic variant where the house guest is the victim, not the perpetrator since Willie depends on Thurman for free room and board but Thurman is the one who keeps annoying Willie.
* ThreatBackfire: When approached by a little boy's mother for a "lap" request, Willie screams at them he's on his lunch break and doesn't want to do it now. The mother threatens to report his behavior to the manager, and Willie insults her back he doesn't care because he has total dominance over the [[ExtremeDoormat manager as well]].

-->'''Willie:''' No, not ''onto'' your own-- would-- GODDAMN IT, ARE YOU FUCKING WITH ME?!
* WhyDontYouJustShootHim: Lois asks this to Marcus when [[spoiler: the latter decides to shoot Willie at the completion of their heist]] complaining she's losing patience and wants to leave already.

* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: [[spoiler:Once the safe was cracked and he got everything he wanted out of the mall, Marcus decides it's time to off Willie since he's no longer reliable. Marcus]] asserts that Willie's behavior was deteriorating from his alcoholism and felt it was way past time [[spoiler: for them to break ties]].

* AntiHero: Willie may be a thief, a safecracker, a drunk, a sex offender, but he still means well for the Kid.

''Bad Santa'' is a 2003 American BlackComedy film produced by Creator/TheCoenBrothers (who also provided uncredited rewrites) as well as the Weinstein brothers and directed by Creator/TerryZwigoff--his only financially successful movie to date.

* LeavingFoodForSanta: Equating Willie to Santa, Thurman keeps offering Willie some milk and cookies or sandwiches. Ironically, Willie doesn't like sugary or starchy foods much.

* TheThingThatWouldNotLeave: An ironic variant where the house guest is the victim, not the perpetrator of this trope. Thurman will not leave Willie alone.

* TrademarkFavoriteFood: Thurman's is sandwiches, Willie's is salads.

* GroinAttack: When teaching the kid how to fight, the kid ends up kicking Marcus right in the crotch. This causes Marcus to retaliate against the kid in the same fashion. When Willie raises protest about punching a child in the crotch, Marcus yells "fuck you Willie!", and punches Willie in the balls - and then Willie punches Marcus in the balls. The scene ends with all three lying on the ground groaning in pain (and trying to kick each other in the balls).

-->'''Thurman:''' On my head?
-->'''Willie:''' What, are they gonna drop you on somebody else's head?

-->'''Willie:''' Not onto your own h-- ARE YOU FUCKING WITH ME?

Music/Eminem, who was a fan of this movie, included clips of this into his music video "Just Lose It" with himself playing the titular Bad Santa. A sequel called ''Film/BadSanta2'' had been released in theaters on November 23, 2016.

!!What do you want for Christmas? Tropes?:

''Bad Santa'' is a 2003 American BlackComedy film produced by Creator/TheCoenBrothers (who also provided uncredited rewrites) and directed by Creator/TerryZwigoff--his only financially successful movie to date.

A sequel called ''Film/BadSanta2'' had been released in theaters on November 23, 2016.

* HelloNurse: The attractive, pear-shaped woman in the mall whom Willie lustfully admires.

** He also loses it and beats the fuck out of Thurman's tormentors when he sees that one of them blackened his eye. Willie's own history of childhood abuse probably accounts for this being a sensitive spot for him.

%%* AutoErotica: The first time Willie and Sue have sex.