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Richard Attenborough, Elizabeth Perkins, Dylan McDermott, Mara Wilson, Robert Prosky ... see more see more... , J.T. Walsh , James Remar , Jane Leeves , Simon Jones , William Windom , Joss Ackland , Mike Bacarella , Bill Buell , Alvin Greenman , Harve Kolzow , Michele Marsh , Jack McGee , Joe Pentangelo , Byrne Piven , Peter Siragusa , Greg Noonan , Jenny Morrison , Allison Janney , Peter Gerety , Michele Marsh (II)

The 1947 holiday classic Miracle on 34th Street is transplanted to the 1990s with few changes in this family-oriented remake. The screenplay by the prolific John Hughes sticks close to the original ou... read more read more...tline, centering on Macy's executive Dorey Walker (Elizabeth Perkins) and her young daughter Susan (Mara Wilson), neither of whom much believes in the spirit of Christmas. Dorey is in charge of hiring Macy's Santas, including an old man named Kriss Kringle (Richard Attenborough). He does a remarkably convincing job, and he soon reveals that he actually believes himself to be Santa Claus. The authorities threaten to place the old man in an insane asylum, but a young lawyer comes to his defense. Meanwhile, Dorey and Susan find their own defenses melting and become reacquainted with the power of faith. Hughes and director Les Mayfield add a few modern touches, making Susan slightly more cynical and adding the requisite soulless corporate villains. Viewers familiar with the original may still prefer Edmund Gwenn's original Kris Kringle and consider the remake unnecessary, although the newer version reflects enough of the earlier film's spirit to prove entertaining to modern family audiences. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi

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63% liked it

53,965 ratings

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61% liked it

23 critics

PG, 1 hr. 54 min.

Directed by: Les Mayfield

Release Date: November 18, 1994

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DVD Release Date: October 5, 1999

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Stats: 2,158 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (2,158)

  • fb733768972
    December 16, 2011
    fb733768972
    "Miracle on 34th Street" has one of the greatest christmas tales of all time at it's fingertips, and it dazzles with humour, sadness, and too many heartfelt moments to count. This film knows what it is trying to be, and therefore, it is one of my favourite christmas films of all ... read moretime. As one girl is told that santa clause does not exist, she comes into contact with a white bearded man who claims to be the real thing. When he convinces her, she asks him for a new house, a dad, and a baby brother. If she doesn't receive this, then santa clause will not be real to her. There is so much christmas spirit in this film, and every touching moment will bring a tear to your eye. The conclusion will have even adults believing in christmas again. If you have not seen this amazing holiday film, I suggest it be the next one you watch. "Miracle on 34th Street" is a miracle on it's own!
  • TomBowler
    October 3, 2011
    TomBowler
    Uplifting and sweet but verging on twee throughout. Full review later.
  • kiriyamakazou
    December 25, 2010
    kiriyamakazou
    A pretty darn awesome remake. It may bring some extra 90's cheese, mostly due to the needlessly dramatic music, and it may be overlong in places, but this certainly works. Attenborough is the only person I could imagine taking over this role. He comes across as a genuinely kind a... read morend considerate man, with nothing but kindness in his heart. Like the original, it keeps silent as to whether he is Santa or not. The court scene is particularly funny, with a few fist pumping moments. I'd still pick the original, but if you can't sit your whole family down in front of a black and white film, this certainly doesn't offend the original.
  • matertenebraum
    August 8, 2009
    matertenebraum
    Richard Attenborough returned to acting after 14 years behind the camera in "Jurassic Park", and followed it swiftly by daring to challenge comparison with Oscar-winner Edmund Gwenn in this remake.

    As a heartwarmer for those inadequates who won't sit through a 60-year-old monoc... read morehrome movie-- albeit one which rivals "It's a Wonderful Life" as Hollywood's answer to "A Christmas Carol"-- this John Hughes revamp will probably serve. Anyhow, there are plenty of copies on sale at the checkout of my local supermarket. But it is a bit too laid-back and, latterly, too bogged down in argument for younger kids or older boys. It may warm more cockles among the grandparents.

    The main thematic interest is how Hughes chooses to tweak the original screen story as adapted (unusually for the time) by the director, George Seaton. Whether he sought to or not, the remake has thrown up some intriguing twists for a more skeptical and secular time.

    The oldie caught the mood of an America yearning to get back to normalcy amid the perils of the post-war, Cold War world. Location shooting in New York City, with much co-operation from Macys, gave a touch of realism to the fantasy, whereas in 1994 it's an imaginary store and (for Americans, at least) an incongruously "veddy British" claimant to the chair of Santa Claus- although his nationality is not the issue when the legal meanies of the State of New York try to get him confined to the bughouse.

    What is striking is the judge's rationale for allowing Kris's plea for freedom. Because US bills have "In God We Trust" on them, he reasons, it means New York is allowed to have blind faith in the existence of a supernatural being who lays presents on 1.7 billion children in one night, operating from invisible workshops with reindeer which cannot be made to fly in a courtroom demonstration of his powers because it isn't Christmas Eve. Besides, the sneery prosecutor's kids were raised to believe in him, so there- case closed.

    In real life the ACLU would be appealing such a judgement all the way to the Supreme Court for allowing too much religion into the law and the public square. "In God We Trust" was only put on the money during the Cold War, to cock a snook at "Godless bolshevism"; but this film is refreshingly disrespectful to the newer orthodoxy of playing down most Americans' beliefs in their films.

    Kris asks if he should swear in the Bible, the Pope's ruling on Nicholas's sanctity is debated, and the ethos is quietly but unmistakably Christian. No "spiritual" Santa or "Happy Holidays" here. In a very light fashion, the film does revolve issues of how far it is legitimate to maintain a metaphor as a source of inspiration when rationalism of the Dawkins and Hitchens strain is sniping at it. The screenplay also looks quite beadily at the way commercial operators use holy myth to make money, even if the message comes muted from Hollywood.

    That is the good news. There's plenty to carp at as well.

    Attenborough's quiet, gentle but firm performance (most atypical of one who spent his previous acting time mainly playing unreliables or martinets) suffuses the film. He gets little competition, save from the contrasted crustiness of Windom. Most of the support is so-so, on the level of a Yuletide TV special, and not excluding little Wilson as the girl who has faith in Mr Kringle's claim to be St Nicholas. She is no Margaret O'Brien, if no worse in her way than the kewpie-doll Natalie Wood. In fact, she's a John Hughes moppet who did little later and nothing since 2000.

    The narrative's departures from the well shaped original are no help. Once off the legal hook, Kris, wearing a brown suit, just disappears-- we don't see any triumphal sleigh ride to bid him adieu-- while attention shifts to a ridiculous post-midnight-mass impromptu wedding in a Catholic church. Then follows a trip out to a dream house in the snowy country, ushered by a silly salesman. The film does not seem to know when to call a halt, and there's not so much as Clarence's tinkling bell to bring back Kris at the close. It's as if the whole object of the exercise was to unite two bland characters in matrimony.
  • superclerk25
    January 7, 2008
    superclerk25
    This is a good remake of the holiday classic. The performances are good and the story is told well. There is nothing new to the movie though and we are left with just your normal update.
  • puffchunk
    October 23, 2007
    puffchunk
    yes, santa is real. Go cry about it.
  • FiLmCrAzY
    September 10, 2007
    FiLmCrAzY
    lovely christmas film
  • thmtsang
    August 5, 2007
    thmtsang
    Heart warming movie about a girl who doesn't believe in Santa.
  • sanjurosamurai
    January 25, 2007
    sanjurosamurai
    good christmas flick
  • fb100000440772572
    December 14, 2011
    fb100000440772572
    One would think that John Hughes would know better than to remake a classic, but he didâ¦so there it is. Hughes' Miracle on 34th Street is vastly inferior to the original, but it does manage to pull off a little magic. The major flaw of the film is that it creates a villain out... read more of the rival department store, which isn't in keeping with the spirit of the story. The casting is pretty solid for the most part; Elizabeth Perkins and Dylan McDermott do especial well in the lead roles, as does Mara Wilson. As remakes go, Miracle on 34th Street is not a bad one. But it's just reflected glory.

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Critic Reviews

Steve Crum
January 4, 2005
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan

If this doesn't get you into the holiday spirit, may all of your presents be fruitcakes. (published 12-2-94)

Mark Robison
January 5, 2004
Mark Robison, Reno Gazette-Journal

The best version.

Ryan Cracknell
December 12, 2003
Ryan Cracknell, Movie Views

While [this] version of the Christmas spirit on trial as written by John Hughes isn't awful, it's also more disappointing than Seaton's take nearly half a century earlier. Full Review

Ken Hanke
July 21, 2003
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Was this absolutely necessary?

Nell Minow
April 3, 2003
Nell Minow, Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies

A palid remake that misses the point of the story. Stick with the original!

Alex Sandell
April 1, 2003
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum

Decent remake that goes on far too long.

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
August 30, 2002
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

Pays tribute to Santa Claus, a figure who stands for the grace, mystery and wonder available during the Christmas season. Full Review

December 1, 2008
Entertainment Weekly

Click to read the article Full Review

Caryn James
May 20, 2003
Caryn James, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

April 12, 2002
Globe and Mail

Click to read the article Full Review

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    • Kriss Kringle: If you can't believe, if you can't accept anything...on faith, then you're doomed for a life dominated by doubt.
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Miracle on 34th Street Trivia

  • What young actress starred in such films as Miracle on 34th Street, Matilda and A Simple Wish?  Answer »
  • Name the 1947 movie that is still seen today on tv,starring,Maureen O'Hara,Edmund Gwenn,John Payne& Natalie Woods,about a dept store Santa,a little girl who still believes & her world weary mother who doesn't believe in anything good.?  Answer »
  • In Miracle on 34th Street, who told Susan's character that she can't believe in Santa Claus?  Answer »
  • What does Susan wish for in Miracle on 34th Street?  Answer »
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