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Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sinbad, Phil Hartman, Rita Wilson, Robert Conrad ... see more see more... , James Belushi , Martin Mull , Jake Lloyd , Harvey Korman , David Nash , Laraine Newman , Jane Plank , Brian Johnson

The true meaning of Christmas -- desperate last-minute shopping -- is the subject of this holiday-themed comedy. Howard Langston (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is a mattress salesman with a bad habit of putt... read more read more...ing his work ahead of his family. His son Jamie (Jake Lloyd), who wishes Dad would pay more attention to him, wants only one thing for Christmas -- a Turbo Man action figure, with all the accessories. Howard promises both Jamie and his wife Liz (Rita Wilson) that there will indeed be a Turbo Man under the tree for Jamie on Christmas morning, but come December 24, Howard realizes that he hasn't actually bought the toy yet. Seemingly it would be no great problem to head on down to the toy store and pick one up, but it just so happens that Turbo Man has been the hottest ticket of the holiday season, and literally thousands of parents are scrambling for the last few action figures. Howard then spends a hilariously hellish Christmas Eve madly scrambling from store to store in desperate search of a Turbo Man; in the course of his adventures, Howard keeps crossing paths Myron Larabee (Sinbad), a postal worker who wants a Turbo Man even more desperately than Howard. And on the home front, Howard has to worry about Ted Maltin (Phil Hartman), an annoyingly perfect suburbanite obsessed with Christmas who has eyes for Liz. This was the second film for child actor Jake Lloyd, who three years later would gain international attention when he was cast as the young Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

42% liked it

209,453 ratings

Critics

15% liked it

40 critics

PG, 1 hr. 28 min.

Directed by: Brian Levant

Release Date: June 1, 1997

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DVD Release Date: November 3, 1998

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Stats: 7,875 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (7,875)

  • fb100000883534329
    February 10, 2012
    fb100000883534329
    Last christmas I watched this only to hear the greatest schwarzenegger line ever, 'PUT THAT COOKIE DOWN! NOW!!' classic. but this film makes you think if arnold thinks people thinks he's funny or if he knows it's just because he says things funny. honestly, if u just read the sc... read moreript, without arnolds voice, it's just a bad dad suffering from a bad parenting mistake. it's no kindergarden cop. sinbad's in it... remember when he was a thing?
  • StarCrossedVoyager
    December 26, 2011
    StarCrossedVoyager
    An enjoyable but silly Christmas film. Fun for the kids but too cheesy and unfunny for adults.
  • MovieGeek13
    December 25, 2011
    MovieGeek13
    Some movies are review proof. Jingle All the Way is one such movie. Of course it's bad. The effects are so horrid and the story is so completely ludicrous that you can't help but shake your head and laugh. And laugh you shall!
    I'm an avid Arnold fan, and Jingle All the Way is my... read more annual Christmas movie. Every year, and this year was no different, my brother and my cousins sit around the TV with some nice warm hot chocolate and laugh our asses off as we watch Arnold pummels his way through a pack of evil Santas, a reindeer, Sinbad, and a parade to ultimately make his son happy.
    There is a certain charm to this movie. It may be in the sheer nonsensical slapstick humour, or in the way that it pokes fun at how people confuse mass consumerism with Christmas spirit, but there is an evident good nature to the jokes. A lot of people have dismissed the film by saying it sends a message to parents that they better get their kids the toys they want for Christmas, or they're going to turn into crazy lunatic alcoholic mailmen. I don't think that's entirely the case. I think what's more dangerous in the scenario is not the father forgetting to buy his son a toy, but that he is neglecting his son, and leaving the kid to spend many of his most defining moments without his father present. That leaves a mark on the child, perhaps creating self esteem issues, and wondering if the child is loved by his father.
    Nevertheless, I doubt the filmmakers wanted to do anything more than entertain and get people in the mood for Christmas. In the case of my family and I, no movie does this better than Arnold's holiday family "classic," Jingle All the Way! It fails spectacularly as a satire and a legitimately feel good Holiday movie, but I don't think I would like it so much if it wasn't as bad as it is.
    On a serious note, this was one of the last films to feature Phil Hartman, and his performance here as a sleezy divorcée is a true testament to his comic genius!
  • blkbomb
    December 11, 2011
    blkbomb
    Myron Larabee: How about these stupid letters from kids to Santa at the North Pole: "Dear Santa, Can you send me a bike and a slinky?" No! Your father's been laid off! 

    "Two Dads, One Present, No Prisoners."

    I'm not going to lie, I've always found some enjoyment from this movie... read more. Ever since I was a little kid, I have watched this ever single Christmas and I still haven't grown to hate it yet. It isn't a good movie by any standards, even by holiday movie standards. The kid is really annoying, what with his whining about TurboMan and his dad missing his karate class and the whole Arnold Schwarzenegger as the father thing is a bit of a stretch. Still when it comes to family Christmas films, you could do a lot worse. 

    A father promises his son a TurboMan action figure for Christmas. The problem with that promise is that he hasn't gotten it yet and now it's Christmas Eve and this toy is the hottest thing on the market. Now he has to run around department stores, chase after leads and battle another father for a TurboMan. 

    What I've always liked about the movie is how it uses the classic need to get your kids exactly what they want for Christmas. The father is forced to go to great extents in order to try to get his kid a pretty useless toy  that he will probably play with three times before throwing into a huge pile of other toys he just had to have. It also proves that every guy will always wait until the last minute to get presents. That's just a fact.
  • fb1686480544
    December 11, 2011
    fb1686480544
    Appalling. Intensely cringy, predictable, saccharine and worst of all without any so-bad-it's-good value. It actually drains you of christmas spirit. Avoid it.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    December 4, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Jingle All the Way is one of the worst holiday comedies ever conceived. The film is a horrible mess from start to finish, and doesn't do anything to truly make it a memorable Holiday viewing. Where to begin with this one? The cast? The script? The directing? All of it is terrible... read more. As a holiday comedy, Jingle All the Way isn't a successful comedy. The film is quite awful, and one thing that makes this film so bad is the cast. Schwarzenegger is totally out of place, and he proves yet again that comedies aren't his genre. Director Brian Levant shows how he can't direct an effective, and delivers another crap fest. Jingle All the Way is a film that needs to be avoided. The cast is terrible, and the paper thin script doesn't deliver anything. Jingle All the Way is yet another awful holiday film, and should be seen as a how not to make a holiday film. The film had very poor directing from awful director Brian Levant, who never seems to deliver an entertaining film. His work is sloppy, washed out and he really is one of cinema's worst directors. With Jingle All the Way, he delivers an awful, boring, clichéd film that is plainly a film not worth seeing. If you're looking for a great holiday comedy film, pass up on Jingle All the Way. This is a pointless comedy not worth watching.
  • fb1463751009
    October 25, 2011
    fb1463751009
    TURBO MANNNNNN!
  • TheGame90
    September 18, 2011
    TheGame90
    It's fun because he has problems
  • spielberg00
    June 24, 2011
    spielberg00
    Come on, now. The reviews for this movie totally screw it up. It's a good family holiday movie, and it's funny, even though Arnold Schwarzenegger isn't usually humorous.
  • fb100002359227440
    June 21, 2011
    fb100002359227440
    Good try to be a classic christmas movie. Is a pity that flaw.

View All Jingle All the Way Reviews

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy
December 18, 2006
Emanuel Levy, Variety

In this formulaic star vehicle, Schwarzenegger gets to fly like Peter Pan, act like Superman--and fulfill all the fantasies kids may have about their fathers. Full Review

Andy Seiler
January 1, 2000
Andy Seiler, USA Today

Here's Arnie, of all people, playing a bedraggled suburbanite, and his perversely amusing casting boosts a crass, sometimes nasty and finally funny celebration of holiday mass-merchandising and greed.

Heather Boerner
December 18, 2010
Heather Boerner, Common Sense Media

Ahnold terminates the holiday spirit. Full Review

Rob Nelson
September 5, 2009
Rob Nelson, Boston Phoenix

God forbid Arnold should have to shell out for one of those Spanish-speaking turbomen being hocked in the bad part of town. Full Review

Pete Croatto
November 3, 2007
Pete Croatto, Filmcritic.com

still heartless and unfunny and as welcome a part of the holidays as traffic and fruit cake. Full Review

Kevin Carr
October 23, 2007
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures

Home Alone, this is not, but for a family Christmas movie, it's surprisingly fun. Full Review

Douglas Pratt
July 21, 2006
Douglas Pratt, DVDLaser

The film is rescued by a strong third act, but getting there is torture.

Michael Dequina
September 14, 2005
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com

If it weren't for the credits 'A Brian Levant Film' and 'Directed by Brian Levant,' one would be certain that the director was Chris Columbus. Full Review

Steve Crum
June 12, 2005
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

OK family fun casts Arnold with Sinbad.

Edward Douglas
December 27, 2004
Edward Douglas, ComingSoon.net

And one wonders why Sinbad hasn't made any movies since

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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    • Howard Langston: Put that cookie down. NOW!
    • Howard Langston: Put the cookie down! NOW!
    • Santa Claus: I'm gonna deck your halls bub!
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Jingle All the Way Trivia

  • Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sinbad starred in this Christmas Movie  Answer »
  • What action figure does Arnold Schwarzenegger dress up as, at the end of Jingle All The Way?  Answer »
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