Arthur Christmas

Movie Details:

Cast & Characters:

Members of the Claus family

• James McAvoy as Arthur Claus, Malcolm and Margaret’s clumsy, eccentric and good-natured younger son who works in the mailroom. He is also Steve’s younger brother and Grandsanta’s younger grandson.
• Hugh Laurie as Steve Claus, Malcolm and Margaret’s older son, Arthur’s older brother and Grandsanta’s older grandson who is cynical, joyless and incredibly capable of orienting businesses.
• Bill Nighy as Grandsanta, the 136-year-old free-spirited and reckless super-centenarian grandfather of Steve and Arthur. He’s a staunchly traditional former Santa (as well as Malcolm’s father) who dislikes the modern world. A post-retirement joyriding incident during the Cuban Missile Crisis caused the Claus family to ban him from flying. He comes out of retirement to help Arthur, but his unfamiliarity with the modern world leads them into trouble.
• Jim Broadbent as Malcolm Claus / Santa Claus, the affable and ineffective man in charge at the North Pole. He is Grandsanta’s son, Margaret’s husband and Steve and Arthur’s father. Broadbent also played the same character of Santa Claus in Get Santa (2014).
• Imelda Staunton as Margaret Claus / Mrs. Claus, Malcolm’s wife and Steve and Arthur’s mother.

Christmas elves

• Ashley Jensen as Bryony Shelfley, a Christmas elf with a Scottish accent who ends up tagging along with Arthur and Grandsanta on a mission to deliver the present for Gwen Hines.
• Marc Wootton as Peter, a Christmas elf and Steve’s obsequious assistant.
• Michael Palin as Ernie Clicker, a Christmas elf and the former head of the Polar communications. He is brought out of retirement to help Steve find Grandsanta’s old-fashioned sleigh.
• The lead Christmas elves are voiced by Sanjeev Bhaskar, Robbie Coltrane, Joan Cusack, Rhys Darby, Jane Horrocks, Iain McKee, Andy Serkis, and Dominic West.
• The other Christmas elves are voiced by Peter Baynham, Kevin Cecil, Cody Cameron, Kevin Eldon, Rich Fulcher, Bronagh Gallagher, Pete Jack, Danny John-Jules, Emma Kennedy, Stewart Lee, Seamus Malone, Kris Pearn, Alan Short, Sarah Smith, and Adam Tandy.

Other characters

• Ramona Marquez as Gwen Hines, a little girl who lives in Trelew, Cornwall, England. She wants a bicycle for Christmas that Arthur must deliver to.
• Laura Linney as the voice of the North Pole computer
• Eva Longoria as Chief De Silva, the head of UNFITA (which stands for “United Northern Federal International Treaty Alliance”).
• Jerry Lambert as N.O.R.A.D.
• Miggie Donahoe as Pedro
• Finlay Duff as French Boy
• Rich Hall as Idaho Man
• Clint Dyer and Donnie Long as the two reporters
• Deborah Findlay and David Schneider as the two generals
• Ian Ashpitel, Julia Davis and Kerry Shale as the three UNFITA employees

Storyline:

The film centres on Arthur, the youngest son of Santa Claus, who discovers that his father’s high-tech ship has failed to deliver one girl’s present. Accompanied only by his grandfather, a Christmas elf and a team of reindeer, he embarks on a mission to deliver the girl’s present personally in the early morning hours of Christmas Day before sunrise.

About Arthur Christmas Movie:

Arthur Christmas is an animated Christmas comedy film produced by Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, and Aardman Features. Directed by Sarah Smith in her feature directorial debut and co-directed by Barry Cook, the film features the voices of James McAvoy as Arthur Claus, Hugh Laurie as Steve Claus, Bill Nighy as Grandsanta, and Jim Broadbent as Santa Claus.

Plot Summary

The story unfolds at the North Pole, where Santa Claus is preparing for his 70th Christmas mission. The operation is now highly technological, relying on the S-1, a state-of-the-art sleigh operated by Steve Claus, who expects to inherit the title of Santa from his father. Meanwhile, Arthur, Santa’s clumsy and kind-hearted younger son, works in correspondence, responding to letters from children.

On Christmas Eve, an oversight occurs when one child—Gwen Hines—does not receive her present. While Steve dismisses this as an acceptable error among billions of gifts delivered, Arthur is horrified and determined to ensure that Gwen receives her gift. With the help of Grandsanta and a vintage sleigh, Arthur embarks on a chaotic adventure to deliver the missing present before sunrise.

Production Notes

Originally titled Operation Rudolph, the project was announced in 2007 after Aardman signed a deal with Sony Pictures. The film underwent 18 months of pre-production in the UK before moving to Sony’s animation studio in California for production. The animation combined traditional Aardman charm with modern computer-generated techniques.

Reception

Arthur Christmas was released on November 11, 2011, in the UK and November 23 in the US. It received positive reviews from critics for its humor, animation quality, and heartwarming themes. The film grossed approximately $147 million worldwide against its production budget.

Themes and Legacy

The film explores themes of family dynamics, kindness, and the importance of every child’s Christmas wish. It has been praised for its engaging storytelling and has become a modern holiday favorite for families. Its unique take on the Santa mythos has solidified its place among contemporary Christmas classics.

Overall, Arthur Christmas combines wit and warmth while delivering a message about the true spirit of Christmas: that every child matters and that love and generosity are at the heart of the holiday season.

Budget & Box Office Collection: