Miracle on 34th Street

Name: Miracle on 34th Street
Released: 1994-11-18
Cast: Richard Attenborough, Elizabeth Perkins, Dylan McDermott, J.T. Walsh, James Remar

PG
1h 54m
1994

60%

age 6+

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Dylan McDermott, Elizabeth Perkins and Mara Wilson star in this charming update on the beloved 1947 classic. After a department store Santa (Richard Attenborough), who claims his name is Kris Kringle, is declared insane and put on trial, everyone’s faith in the magic of Christmas is put to the test – including the man’s boss (Perkins), who’s raising her daughter (Wilson) not to believe in Santa.

Director:

Les Mayfield

Producer:

John Hughes

Writer:

George Seaton, John Hughes

Cast:

Richard Attenborough, Elizabeth Perkins, Dylan McDermott, J.T. Walsh, James Remar, Mara Wilson, Robert Prosky

Rotten Tomatoes® Score

TOMATOMETER®

60%

Reviews

Decider

Brett White

The well-rounded characters, scene-stealing performances, lovely lighting, and lush costumes combine to place the 1994 Miracle on 34th Street in the top tier of must-watch Christmas movies.

When [it] remembers that it's supposed to be a sweet piece of hokum, when it has the wit to leave Attenborough and Wilson on the screen together and forget about its rash of putative improvements, it does offer well-scrubbed family fare.

Although the film as a whole is a much more glamorous affair, and Wilson and Elizabeth Perkins as her mother are undoubtedly charming, it does lack some of the magic of the original.

Richard Attenborough positively sparkles in the role of the mysterious Kriss Kringle, giving a restrained and genuinely sweet performance.

While some will scoff at the idea of a remake of the original film, this is a fairly enjoyable version of the story.

February 2, 2019

FULL REVIEW

Common Sense Media

age 6+

Common Sense Says

Not better than the original, but still smiley holiday fare.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this treacly holiday film introduces the idea that Santa Claus might not be real, and comes to the conclusion that he is indeed real. The film includes several mild physical altercations between Santa Claus and another man, including one where Santa knocks the man down with his cane. A fake Santa is seen drinking alcohol and one brief scene shows a bar full of men dressed as Santas drinking beer and some acting drunk. A fake Santa's pants slip down a bit as he climbs a ladder, revealing the top of his rear end. A bit of mild language and yelling pops up.