Richard Attenborough is UK’s favourite Santa
Richard Attenborough is the nation’s favourite onscreen Father Christmas, cinema chain ODEON revealed today. Nearly two thirds (62%) of Brits named film legend Attenborough as the silver screen’s best ever Santa for his role in the 1994 remake of classic Miracle on 34th Street.The survey of over 1,200 film fanatics, conducted by the UK’s biggest cinema chain, placed Tim Allen second only to Attenborough in its definitive top five Father Christmases:
1. Richard Attenborough, Miracle on 34th Street – 62%
2. Tim Allen, The Santa Clause – 16%
3. Tom Hanks, Polar Express – 11%
4. Billy Bob Thornton, Bad Santa – 6%
5. Ed Asner, Elf – 3%
Should-be St Nicholas
When asked who they’d most like to see play St Nic on the big screen, film fanatics put larger than life Robbie Coltrane and Bob Hoskins at the top of their Christmas list with cheeky cockney Ray Winstone in third place.
Johnny Depp was a firm favourite amongst the ladies to don the red suit and beard, with over a quarter of their votes (27%). However, for any wannabe Claus it seems age and experience clearly rule, with the likes of Sir Ian McKellen winning out over Jude Law and Leonardo DiCaprio as should-be St Nicholases.
Leading lady
Behind every good Santa there’s a Mrs Claus keeping his cheeks rosy. ODEON’s study named Dame Judi Dench as the perfect lady to take on the role with two-thirds (65%) of the overall vote, leaving on-screen beauties such as Jessica Alba and Lindsay Lohan out in the cold! In hot pursuit of Dame Judi’s red robes were Kate Winslet and Susan Sarandon.
A very merry Christmas…
Hoping to win his place in the celluloid Christmas hall of fame is ‘Fred Claus’ star, Paul Giammatti. With UK box office takings for the festive film hitting over £1.9million in its opening week, Giammatti looks set to be a firm Father Christmas favourite of the future
After the Christmas festivities ODEON Cinemas around the country are preparing to welcome an estimated 27 million film fans between Christmas and the New Year to watch latest releases such as The Golden Compass, Bee Movie, Enchanted and I Am Legend.
… and a happy New Year!
2007 has proved a massive year for the film industry and ODEON Cinemas, with a record breaking weekend at the box office in the summer between Friday 27th July through to Sunday 29th July with the releases of The Simpson’s Movie and Transformers- and 2008 looks set to be yet another blockbuster year for the big screen.
ODEON asked the nation which films they’re eagerly anticipating for in 2008 and it’s no surprise that Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince came out on top in joint first place with the hotly anticipated return of Indiana Jones, closely followed by family favourite Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian and of course the return of Mr James Bond.
