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Miracle on 34th Street

Miracle on 34th Street

Fantasy · Drama · Family · 1994

Six-year-old Susan Walker has doubts about childhood's most enduring miracle—Santa Claus. Her mother told her the secret about Santa a long time ago, but, after meeting a special department store Santa who's convinced he's the real thing, Susan is given the most precious gift of all—something to believe in.

Movie details

Miracle on 34th Street

“If you really believe, anything can happen.”

1994 Fantasy · Drama · Family 1h 54m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.8 / 10

Community rating

Six-year-old Susan Walker has doubts about childhood's most enduring miracle—Santa Claus. Her mother told her the secret about Santa a long time ago, but, after meeting a special department store Santa who's convinced he's the real thing, Susan is given the most precious gift of all—something to believe in.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Miracle on 34th Street?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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The Nightmare Before Christmas

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Fantasy · 1993

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Jackie Foster, a dynamic Assistant District Attorney and single mom, is looking forward to wrapping up her latest case and spending Christmas with Gracie, her adorable and precocious, eight-year old daughter. But when Jackie’s estranged dad, Jack , a gruff retired police officer, unexpectedly shows up at her door, they will be forced to confront old wounds.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Les Mayfield

Written by

George Seaton · John Hughes · Valentine Davies

Mara Wilson

Mara Wilson

Susan Walker

Richard Attenborough

Richard Attenborough

Kris Kringle

Dylan McDermott

Dylan McDermott

Bryan Bedford

Elizabeth Perkins

Elizabeth Perkins

Dorey Walker

J.T. Walsh

J.T. Walsh

Ed Collins

James Remar

James Remar

Jack Duff

Robert Prosky

Robert Prosky

Judge Henry Harper

Court is in session

Put Miracle on 34th Street on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Sentimental Softie

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Cool Ironist

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.