Dallas,/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Saint Nick doesn't have to be saintly for America to love him, according to a survey conducted by Blockbuster Inc. Movie lovers chose Tim Allen's portrayal in "The Santa Clause" as their favorite "nice" on-screen Santa. They chose Billy Bob Thornton's anti-Claus in "Bad Santa" as their favorite version of a less jolly old elf.
The survey, conducted on blockbuster.com last month, asked movie lovers to choose their favorite naughty and nice Santas portrayed on the big and small screens.
"Some get in the holiday spirit by watching a movie with a merry Santa, while others get their jollies from a more mischievous version of St. Nick. The good news is, whether your stocking is going to be full or have a lump of coal this year, there's a Santa movie for you," said Keith Leopard, director of film product for Blockbuster.
Survey participants' other favorite traditional Santa Clauses were those in "Miracle on 34th Street," "Elf" and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." Top anti-Santa portrayals selected were those in both films portraying Dr. Seuss' Grinch and in "The Christmas Story."
Those who want to rekindle their faith in Santa -- or who prefer a more cynical version of Claus -- can consult these lists of America's Favorite Naughty & Nice Santas to get in the holiday mood.
America's Favorite Nice Santas
-- The Santa Clause (played by Tim Allen) 35%
-- Miracle on 34th Street (played by Edmund Gwenn) 22%
-- Elf (played by Edward Asner) 14%
-- Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (voice-over by Stan Francis) 10%
-- Polar Express (voice-over by Tom Hanks) 10%
American's Favorite Naughty Santas
-- Bad Santa (played by Billy Bob Thornton) 33%
-- Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas (played by Jim Carrey) 27%
-- How The Grinch Stole Christmas (voice-over by Boris Karloff) 20%
-- A Christmas Story (played by Jeff Gillen) 13%
-- Trading Places (played by Dan Akroyd) 5%
About Blockbuster
Blockbuster Inc. is a leading global provider of in-home movie and game entertainment, with more than 7,500 stores throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia and Australia. The company may be accessed worldwide at http://www.blockbuster.com.
SOURCE: Blockbuster Inc.
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