Fatman (2020): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Fatman is a 2020 comedy directed by Eshom Nelms and Ian Nelms, starring Mel Gibson as Chris, Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Chance Hurstfield. It earned $1.7 million worldwide on a $20 million budget. Critics gave it 44% on Rotten Tomatoes and 40 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.9/10.
- Released
- Directors
- Eshom Nelms and Ian Nelms
- Genre
- Comedy
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Saban Films
- Budget
- $20M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Fatman About?
The premise of Fatman without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A down-on-his-luck Santa Claus, known as Chris Cringle, faces unexpected trouble when the U.S. military intervenes to help him deliver presents. After a spoiled 12-year-old receives a lump of coal, a skilled and ruthless assassin is hired to take out Kris Kringle, leading to a darkly comedic and action-packed showdown during the holiday season.
Fatman Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- christmas
- assassin
- elf
- snow
- santa claus character
- post office
- shootout
- u.s. canada border
- 12 year old boy
- maid
- alaska
- bar
+38 more Show fewer
- merry christmas
- wound
- snowing
- plot to murder santa claus
- teddy bear
- violence
- bare chested male
- snow adventure
- title spoken by character
- lump of coal
- shot in the head
- fight
- letter to santa claus
- written by director
- view through rifle scope
- explosion
- punched in the face
- stabbed in the back
- shot to death
- shot in the back
- checkpoint
- shooting range
- border agent
- 12 year old
- man wears a stocking cap
- scene during opening credits
- best in show blue ribbon
- boy wears a suit and tie
- precocious boy
- oxygen tube
- father son relationship
- grandmother grandson relationship
- old woman
- christmas decoration
- glass of milk
- gun
- target practice
- man with a beard
Fatman Cast & Characters
Mel Gibson leads the cast as Chris, with Marianne Jean-Baptiste as Ruth and Chance Hurstfield as Billy Wenan. Directed by Eshom Nelms and Ian Nelms; 10 actors are credited in all.
- Co-director Eshom Nelms
- Co-director Ian Nelms
-
Mel Gibson as Chris -
Marianne Jean-Baptiste as Ruth -
Chance Hurstfield as Billy Wenan -
Walton Goggins as Skinny Man
Also Starring in Fatman
· 6 more- Paulino Nunes Weyland Meeks
- Shaun Benson
- Deborah Grover Anne Marie
- Bill Turnbull
- Jordan Blais
- Michelle Lang
More from Eshom Nelms and Ian Nelms
More films directed by Eshom Nelms and Ian Nelms, best-rated first: Small Town Crime, Red Right Hand and Waffle Street.
Fatman Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Fatman 44% on Rotten Tomatoes and 40 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.9/10. Our Echo Score gives it 55/100, strongest in rewatch factor (65) and weakest in story & flow (45).
Fatman Echo Score Breakdown
In overall, the film presents an uneven genre mashup that balances occasional humor and novelty with inconsistent execution. While some critics and many users highlighted the playful premise and standout performances, others noted tonal shifts that undercut the narrative cohesion. The combination of dark comedy and holiday motifs yields a distinctive but disjointed experience. As a result, Fatman delivers sporadic entertainment but struggles to maintain momentum or establish a lasting impact.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 55
In terms of direction and cinematography, Fatman oscillates between dynamic genre flourishes and uncertain tonal choices. Some sequences showcase rugged Alaskan vistas and coherent visual framing, while others suffer from abrupt stylistic shifts. Production design evokes a weathered holiday world, yet editing occasionally lapses into uneven pacing. The net effect is a sporadically engaging visual craft.
- Character & Emotion 60
When it comes to acting and emotional resonance, the central performances of Mel Gibson and Walton Goggins stand out through measured physicality and occasional wit. Character depth, however, remains limited as motivations feel underexplored and the emotional arc lacks a compelling buildup. Chemistry between leads provides intermittent engagement. Overall, the performances are strong but the characters’ inner lives receive insufficient development.
- Story & Flow 45
In terms of plot coherence and pacing, Fatman introduces an original premise but unfolds with uneven momentum. The narrative’s genre-blending conceit offers novelty, yet mid-film sequences drag and contribute limited narrative progression. Observers noted confusion in tonal alignment between dark comedy and holiday themes, which undermines sustained engagement. The story concept remains intriguing, but its execution often falls short of cohesion.
- Sensory Experience 50
When it comes to sensory experience, the film presents a rugged visual style paired with a serviceable score. The soundtrack underlines key sequences with measured subtlety, though moments of humor and tension are not always reinforced sonically. Sound design delivers clear effects but lacks standout creativity. Overall, the audiovisual package is competent but rarely elevates the material.
- Rewatch Factor 65
In terms of rewatch value, reactions vary between appreciation for its darkly comedic premise and reservations about pacing and tone. Some viewers express willingness to revisit for standout performances and novel holiday aesthetic, while others note that uneven momentum and inconsistent humor limit repeat enjoyment. The film provides occasional amusement on subsequent viewings but lacks the cohesion to sustain enduring appeal.
-
IMDb 5.9 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 44% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 84%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 40 Metascore
User score 6.2
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 56% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.7 /5
8 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 3.7 /5
See on Movie Insider
Fatman Plot Summary
What happens in Fatman from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
On a secluded and ancient farm, nestled near the quaint Alaskan village of North Peak, Chris Cringle and his devoted wife Ruth diligently operate a workshop dedicated to creating Christmas gifts. This festive enterprise, which plays a vital role in the economy, faces an increasing threat as the US government, grappling with Chris’s declining profits—largely due to the growing ruthlessness of children—begins to cut back on financial support.
Full summary
The whole story of Fatman, scene by scene
Fatman Box Office & Budget
Fatman grossed $1.7 million worldwide on a $20 million budget, 8% of what it cost. $278,378 came from the US and Canada and $1.4 million (83%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$1.7M
8% of its budget back
- US & Canada
- $278.4K
- International
- $1.4M
- Budget
- $20M
Fatman Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Fatman.
How Well Do You Know Fatman?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What job does Chris Cringle refuse initially to help his financial situation?
Cars in Fatman
30 cars on screen, including the 1978 Ford F-150 and the 1977 Plymouth Fury.
-
1978 Ford F-150 Main role -
1977 Plymouth Fury Main role -
AM General FJ-8C Minor role -
AM General HMMWV M1025 Minor role
Fatman Also Known As
24 alternative titles, including “Matar A Santa” and “Le père Noël doit mourir”.
- Also known as
-
- Matar A Santa
- Le père Noël doit mourir
- Santa musí zemřít
- 追杀胖老爹
- Entre Armas e Brinquedos
- Охота на Санту
- Полювання на Санту
- 追殺胖老爹
- A dagadék
- 산타킬러스
- Poľovačka na Santu
- Tlusťoch
+12 more Show fewer
- להרוג את סנטה
- Sposób na świętego
- Cuộc Chiến Của Ông Già Noel
- Kako se riješiti Djeda Mraza
- Storulis
- Kako se znebiti Božička
- Missão: Vingança
- مرد چاق
- Да убиеш Дядо Коледа
- クリスマス・ウォーズ
- Resnulis
- Grăsanu‘
Seen Fatman?
Movies Like Fatman
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Santa with Muscles, Violent Night and Bad Santa.
Fatman FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Release Date
Release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Fatman, each answered in a sentence.
When was Fatman released?
Fatman was released on November 13, 2020.
Who directed Fatman?
Fatman was directed by Eshom Nelms and Ian Nelms.
More films by Eshom Nelms Who is in the cast of Fatman?
Fatman stars Mel Gibson as Chris, Marianne Jean-Baptiste as Ruth and Chance Hurstfield as Billy Wenan, among 10 credited actors.
How much did Fatman make at the box office?
Fatman grossed $1.7 million worldwide ($278,378 domestic, $1.4 million international) on a budget of $20 million.
How is Fatman rated?
Fatman has 5.9/10 on IMDb, 44% on Rotten Tomatoes, 40 on Metacritic and 56% on TMDB.
Does Fatman have a post-credit scene?
No. Fatman has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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