Violent Night is the 2022 action-comedy that reimagines Santa Claus as a hardened, gift-sack-swinging brawler who takes on a team of mercenaries holding a wealthy family hostage on Christmas Eve. Directed by Tommy Wirkola and written by Pat Casey and Josh Miller, it was released December 2, 2022.
Quick Facts
| Title | Violent Night |
| Release date | December 2, 2022 |
| Director | Tommy Wirkola |
| Composer | Dominic Lewis |
| Lead cast | David Harbour, John Leguizamo, Beverly D’Angelo, Alexis Louder |
Score & Composer
Dominic Lewis composed the original score, released digitally the same day as the film on December 2, 2022. Lewis leans into both the film’s action-thriller mechanics and its Christmas setting, blending traditional holiday motifs with the propulsive percussion of a home-invasion thriller — matching a movie that plays Die Hard beats through a Santa Claus lens.
Cast
David Harbour stars as Santa Claus, alongside John Leguizamo, Beverly D’Angelo, Alexis Louder, Alex Hassell, Edi Patterson, and Cam Gigandet as the mercenary crew and the family they’ve taken hostage.
Where to Stream
Violent Night is available on major digital platforms. The score by Dominic Lewis can be found on Apple Music and Spotify by searching “Violent Night.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed Violent Night?
Dominic Lewis composed the original score, released December 2, 2022.
Who plays Santa Claus in Violent Night?
David Harbour plays Santa Claus.
Is Violent Night a Christmas movie or an action movie?
Both — it’s marketed as an action-comedy that uses a home-invasion thriller plot set on Christmas Eve.
Is there a Violent Night 2?
A sequel, Violent Night 2, has been reported in development following the first film’s success.
Related reading: Browse more movie soundtrack guides or the A2Z Soundtrack streaming hub.