What if Santa Claus wasn’t a jolly myth — but a man battered by time and bitterness, trying to keep the spirit of Christmas alive in a world that’s stopped believing? In Fatman, directors Eshom and Ian Nelms strip the legend of its sparkle and give it grit. Mel Gibson plays a Santa who’s seen it all — scarred, stubborn, still standing. Beside him, Marianne Jean-Baptiste is the quietly powerful Mrs. Claus, and Walton Goggins delivers cold-blooded charm as a hitman with unfinished business. The result is part action thriller, part dark satire — and wholly unlike any holiday movie you’ve seen.
The trailer is at the end of the article.
In the snow-bitten wilderness of Alaska, Chris Cringle runs a struggling workshop kept alive by government contracts. But when one spoiled child receives coal instead of toys, revenge becomes the new holiday tradition. He hires a hitman to assassinate Santa — and suddenly, myth collides with mayhem. The Nelms brothers shoot it straight and cold: the violence bites, the humor burns low, and the story cuts deeper than you’d expect.
Gibson taps into a rugged, blue-collar version of Kris Kringle — a man who works with his hands, carries his scars with pride, and still believes that goodness is something you fight to keep alive. Walton Goggins delivers a magnetic performance as a man haunted by the childhood magic he lost long ago, while Marianne Jean-Baptiste brings quiet strength and compassion as the heart that keeps Santa human. Together, they turn a wild premise into something deeper — a bruised and beautiful duel between faith, vengeance, and the fragile hope of redemption.
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Visually, Fatman favors flinty daylight and long winter nights — strings of lights glowing against gunmetal skies. The action is unfussy and physical; the tone walks a tightrope between deadpan and deadly, flirting with absurdity without losing its bruised heart.
Reaction on release was mixed, but Fatman carved out a cult following for its audacity and off-kilter mood. Critics called it “part satire, part shootout,” admiring how it walks the line between absurd and sincere. Over time, the film’s rough edges have become part of its charm, embraced by fans who crave holiday movies that dare to misbehave. Reappraising it on Netflix USA in 2025, audiences are finding a holiday movie that argues kindness still matters — even if you have to fight for it. A bruised, wintry fable with bullets and belief, Fatman is the naughty-or-nice question asked with a straight face.
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- Original title: Fatman
- Genre: Action, dark comedy, holiday thriller
- Country of production: USA
- Year of release: 2020
- Directed by: Eshom Nelms, Ian Nelms
- Main cast: Mel Gibson, Walton Goggins, Marianne Jean-Baptiste
- Produced by: Fortitude International, Sprockefeller Pictures, Mammoth Entertainment, Ingenious Media
- Release date on Netflix USA: November 1, 2025
► WATCH ON NETFLIX: official page for Fatman
In the meantime, enjoy the trailer below.
