Christmas movies tend to fall into one of two camps — heartwarming classics or chaotic comedies — but Mel Gibson’s Fatman manages to be both, with a generous dose of gunfire in between. The 2020 action-comedy, which turns Santa Claus into a grizzled, world-weary antihero, is officially returning to Paramount+, just in time for the holiday season.
Directed by brothers Ian and Eshom Nelms, Fatman reimagines Santa as a rugged, semi-retired icon trying to keep his workshop — and his sanity — afloat. The film stars Gibson as Chris Cringle, a down-on-his-luck Saint Nick forced to go into business with the U.S. military to keep Christmas operational. When a spoiled 12-year-old receives a lump of coal and decides to hire a hitman to take Santa out, things take a predictably wild turn.
That hitman, played by Walton Goggins (Fallout, Justified), is a perfectly unhinged counterpoint to Gibson’s gruff take on the holiday legend. What follows is a violent, darkly funny cat-and-mouse chase through the snow — one that feels more like John Wick than Miracle on 34th Street. The film’s official synopsis sets the tone perfectly:
“To save his declining business, Chris Cringle (Mel Gibson), also known as Santa Claus, is forced into a partnership with the U.S. military. Making matters worse, Chris gets locked into a deadly battle of wits against a highly skilled assassin (Walton Goggins), hired by a precocious 12-year-old after receiving a lump of coal in his stocking. ‘Tis the season for Fatman to get even, in the action-comedy that keeps on giving.”
What Else Is Mel Gibson Making?
While Fatman is making its streaming return, Gibson has also been busy with another pair of projects — two long-awaited sequels to The Passion of the Christ. The filmmaker is currently overseas directing The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One and Part Two, slated for release on March 26, 2027, and May 6, 2027, respectively. The cast includes Jaakko Ohtonen, Rupert Everett, and Kasia Smutniak, following the recent departure of original star Jim Caviezel. Rumors also continue to swirl that Gibson may step behind the camera again for Lethal Weapon 5, marking his return to one of his most iconic franchises.
For now, though, fans can celebrate the holidays a little differently — with a blood-soaked, darkly comic Christmas flick where Santa Claus fights back. Fatman is streaming now on Paramount+.
Release Date
November 13, 2020
Runtime
100 Minutes
Director
Eshom Nelms, Ian Nelms
Writers
Eshom Nelms, Ian Nelms
Producers
Danny McBride, Brandon James, Kyle Stroud, Todd Courtney, Gary Raskin, Nadine de Barros, Peter Touche, Jonathan Saba, Robert Menzies, Ben Rosenblatt, David Gordon Green, Bill Bromiley, Alastair Burlingham, Michelle Lang, Buddy Patrick, Jody Hill, Ryan R. Johnson, Lisa Wolofsky
