100 Fun Facts About Jingle All the Way

Which action star plays Howard Langston, the dad hunting for a Turbo Man doll?

He was paid a reported $20 million and it was his fourth comedy lead after Twins, Kindergarten Cop and Junior.

Who plays Myron Larabee, the postal worker competing with Howard for the toy?

He improvised most of his lines, and Schwarzenegger improvised many of his replies.

Which actor did the producer originally want to play Myron?

The eventual choice was made partly because his height and build matched Schwarzenegger's.

What is the name of the must-have action figure in Jingle All the Way?

The character, his TV show, commercials and packaging were all invented and shot for the film.

Which real US metro area is the film set in?

The film treats the Twin Cities as one city, and the police cars say 'Twin Cities Police'.

Who directed Jingle All the Way?

He had made Beethoven and The Flintstones; Columbus produced and rewrote the script.

Where does the film's title come from?

Chris Columbus rewrote Randy Kornfield's script to sharpen the satire of Christmas commercialism.

Which producer rewrote the script and steered the film to 20th Century Fox?

He had failed to find a hot toy for Christmas 1995 and knew the feeling.

Which real-life toy did the film's producer fail to find for Christmas 1995, inspiring his rewrite?

Screenwriter Randy Kornfield's own inspiration was watching his in-laws queue at dawn for a Power Ranger.

Which real toy craze coincided with the film's release in December 1996?

Store mobbing for Elmo mirrored the film's Turbo Man scenes almost exactly.

What delayed Fox project freed up Schwarzenegger to make the film in early 1996?

Columbus also left the Apes project to make Jingle All the Way.

Who plays Ted Maltin, the smug neighbour with a crush on Howard's wife?

It was the last film released in Hartman's lifetime, and his third with the film's co-star after Coneheads and Houseguest.

Who plays Howard's wife, Liz Langston?

Ted tries to seduce her after the parade drop-off, and she turns him down.

Which child actor plays Jamie Langston, later famous as young Anakin Skywalker?

He waited two years and auditioned twice for The Phantom Menace before George Lucas cast him.

Which TV veteran plays Officer Hummell, the cop who keeps crossing Howard's path?

He first pulls Howard over on the way to Jamie's karate graduation, and later has a package blow up in his face.

Who plays the ponytailed KQRS radio DJ running the Turbo Man contest?

The prize turns out to be a gift certificate, not the doll itself.

What must the first caller do to win the radio station's Turbo Man contest?

Howard and Myron both know the answer and race from Mickey's Diner to the station.

What is inside the first 'bomb' package Myron threatens the DJ with?

The second package, opened by Officer Hummell, really does explode.

Where does Howard try to buy a Turbo Man from a counterfeit ring, sparking a warehouse brawl?

He escapes arrest by pretending to be an undercover officer; the warehouse fight was shot in a Pasadena furniture warehouse.

Which future WWE giant plays the Giant Santa in the warehouse fight?

He was credited as Paul 'The Giant' Wight; Verne Troyer plays an uncredited Mini Santa.

Which Saturday Night Live alumnus plays the Mall Santa?

Chris Parnell, another SNL name, appears as a toy store clerk.

What is the name of Turbo Man's archenemy, whom Myron dresses up as at the parade?

Richard Moll plays the actor who normally wears the Dementor suit; Booster is Turbo Man's sidekick.

How does Howard end up in the Turbo Man costume at the parade?

He then presents the special-edition doll to Jamie from the float.

What does Jamie ultimately do with the Turbo Man doll?

He tells his dad that his performance as Turbo Man was the best present he could get.

What is Howard's job?

Critics complained a successful mattress manufacturer would not behave like such a buffoon.

What is the film's name for the Christmas procession based on Minneapolis's real Holidazzle?

The real Holidazzle runs at night on Nicollet Mall; the film's version happens by day on 2nd Avenue.

Where was the climactic parade sequence actually filmed?

It took three weeks with 1,500 extras and three custom floats, stitched into helicopter shots of the real 2nd Avenue.

Which famous Minnesota shopping centre appears in the film and hosted its world premiere?

The premiere was on November 16, 1996, and Schwarzenegger donated memorabilia to the mall's Planet Hollywood.

At which real Saint Paul landmark does Howard stop to phone home, running on empty?

He and Myron then hear the KQRS contest there over coffee.

How long did the Minnesota shoot last, at the time the largest film production ever in the state?

Filming began April 15, 1996, in unseasonable spring weather that the studio still found suitably wintry.

Roughly how many Turbo Man toys were made as real merchandise for the film?

Columbus cited the small run to rebut claims the film was made to sell toys; only a 13.5-inch talking figure and one vehicle were produced.

What was the film's production budget, in millions of dollars?

It recouped the budget within ten days and grossed about $129 million worldwide.

Which film was number one the weekend Jingle All the Way opened fourth with $12.1 million?

Space Jam and Ransom were second and third; the film opened with $12.1 million.

In 2001 Fox lost a $19 million lawsuit connected to the film. What was it about?

The verdict was overturned in 2004 when a judge found Fox had bought Kornfield's script before anyone there had read the other one.

What was the extended director's cut released on DVD in 2007 called?

It added several minutes of footage and came to Blu-ray a year later.

Who starred in the 2014 straight-to-DVD sequel, Jingle All the Way 2?

It was a sequel in name only, with WWE's Santino Marella in the other lead role.

Which Christmas song is the DJ about to play when Howard bursts into the studio?

Bobby Helms's 1957 hit; the soundtrack album also featured new tracks by the Brian Setzer Orchestra.

The man who helmed the film received a nomination in which category?

Schwarzenegger was also nominated for Worst Actor at the Stinkers Bad Movie Awards.

Before this film, its director had made which two family hits?

He started as a writer on Happy Days and Mork & Mindy and later made Snow Dogs.

Myron's actor missed his audition because he was on a USO tour with which First Lady?

Sheryl Crow was on the same Bosnia tour; Columbus waited for him to get back.

Before comedy, what job did Myron's actor do in the US Air Force?

Born David Adkins in Benton Harbor, Michigan, he chose his stage name out of admiration for Sinbad the Sailor.

Roughly how much did Jingle All the Way gross worldwide?

It recouped its $75 million budget in the first ten days of release despite poor reviews.

How much was Schwarzenegger reportedly paid to play Howard Langston?

It was his fourth lead comedy role after Twins, Kindergarten Cop and Junior.

Who wrote the original screenplay after seeing his in-laws queue at dawn for a Power Ranger?

Kornfield was also a Fox script reader, which became central to the later copyright lawsuit.

How many extras were used in the three-week parade shoot on the Universal backlot?

The New York Street set was dressed as Minneapolis's 2nd Avenue, with three custom-designed floats.

Which musician was on the USO tour of Bosnia with Sinbad that made him miss his audition?

Producer Chris Columbus waited for him to return before casting the role of Myron.

Who composed the score for Jingle All the Way?

The 1996 soundtrack held only two of his cues; Intrada released the full 23-track score in 2008.

Which swing band contributed new tracks to the film's soundtrack album?

TVT Records released the album on November 26, 1996.

Jingle All the Way was the third and last film to pair Sinbad with which co-star, murdered in 1998?

The pair had earlier appeared together in Coneheads and Houseguest.

In which LA-area city was the brawl with the criminal Santas filmed, in a furniture depot?

Store interiors were also shot in LA, while the rest of the film was made in Minnesota.

How old is Howard's son Jamie in the film?

By coincidence his actor's next big role, young Anakin Skywalker, was also rewritten to be nine years old.

Neighbour Ted Maltin is described as what kind of man?

He harbours unrequited feelings for Liz and is forever showing Howard up in front of the family.

What is the name of Ted Maltin's son?

The role went to young actor E.J. De La Pena, who rides to the parade alongside Jamie.

How long before Christmas Eve had Liz first asked Howard to buy the toy?

Howard forgot entirely, which is why every store is sold out by the time he starts looking.

What does Myron hurl at Howard during their race to the radio station?

The postal worker's ammunition fails, and Howard reaches the station first.

In the post-credits scene, what does Howard realise he has forgotten?

Liz asks 'What did you get me?' and the screen cuts to black on his horrified face.

What does Liz catch Howard doing on Christmas Eve, leaving him home alone?

He cannot go through with the theft, but the family leaves for the parade with Ted and his son anyway.

Under what nickname is the radio DJ credited?

The credit nods to his hairstyle; his contest prize turns out to be far less than callers hoped.

Which in-show villain is played by Seinfeld’s Jackie Chiles actor, Phil Morris?

Morris is the son of Mission: Impossible star Greg Morris and first acted in a 1966 Star Trek episode.

Which Revenge of the Nerds star plays a chain-smoking actor in the sidekick costume?

He is best known as Booger, a typecasting The Simpsons once mocked him for.

Which Seinfeld actor, Mickey Abbott on that show, plays Tony the Elf?

A stand-up comedian and disability-rights activist, he has more than 150 television credits.

Which Carol Burnett Show veteran plays the actor portraying the President?

He won four Emmys on Burnett's show and played Hedley Lamarr in Blazing Saddles.

The actor inside the real superhero suit later voiced which video-game dragon?

Daniel Riordan, credited as the Turbo Man actor, gives the World-Eater his voice in The Elder Scrolls V.

The actor inside the villain suit was famous as bailiff Bull on which sitcom?

Richard Moll stood about 6 ft 9 in and later voiced Two-Face in Batman: The Animated Series.

Which company, named as a pun on its founder’s explorer namesake, co-produced the film?

Its fanfare was composed by Hans Zimmer, and the company was later renamed 26th Street Pictures.

What is the film's running time?

It is brisk even for a family comedy; the 2007 director's cut added only a few minutes.

In which country did the film top the box office on its December 6, 1996 opening weekend?

At home it had to settle for fourth place on opening weekend, yet it still recouped its budget within ten days.

On what date did the film open in US cinemas?

The world premiere came six days earlier at a Minnesota shopping mall, with a full day of events.

What grade did CinemaScore audiences give the film?

Audiences were far kinder than critics, who generally panned the film's uneven tone.

What is the film's Rotten Tomatoes approval score?

The site's consensus says it shifts wildly from a would-be satire on materialism to an antic slapstick yuk-fest.

Which outlet's critic said Howard's actor had 'the comic timing of a dead moose'?

Neil Smith nevertheless singled out the Ted Maltin performance for praise.

What rating did Roger Ebert give the film?

He liked its energy but was disappointed by its relentlessly materialistic view of Christmas.

Myron’s actor won which prize for the role?

The category was Favorite Supporting Actor – Family.

What was the title of the rival screenplay at the centre of the 1998 lawsuit?

Its author had sold the script in 1993, and it was sent to Fox and other studios the following year.

What was the day job of Brian Webster, who wrote the rival script?

He was to receive a share of the damages, but the verdict was eventually quashed on appeal.

Which company sued Fox in 1998 claiming the film's idea was stolen?

Its president, Bob Laurel, died a few months after the 2001 verdict without receiving any money.

Who first suggested Myron's eventual actor for the part?

Producers initially worried that playing a villain could hurt his clean, family-friendly comedy reputation.

Which Saint Paul green space kept its Christmas lights up for the spring shoot?

The park is ringed by the Landmark Center, the Saint Paul Hotel and the Ordway Center, and hosts the Winter Carnival.

How did the director want to shoot the parade before being overruled?

Practical concerns won, so the fictional parade runs in daylight unlike its real-life model.

Which character designer helped build the full-size hero suit for the parade climax?

Production designer Leslie McDonald worked alongside him; every prop and package was a custom one-off.

The film's composer is the son of which Hollywood composer?

He is also the brother of Thomas Newman and cousin of Randy Newman, and wrote the 1997 Fox fanfare.

Before the film, Jamie's actor played Jimmy Sweet in four episodes of which series?

He later played Mark Armstrong in the 1996 TV film Apollo 11 before his Star Wars break.

Myron's actor lettered in which sport at the University of Denver?

By his own account he later failed to make the Air Force team and kept going AWOL in protest.

Officer Hummell’s actor played a gadget-toting Secret Service agent in which 1960s series?

He did most of his own stunts on the show and once fell 12 feet onto his head filming a fight.

The DJ's actor was simultaneously playing Leon Carp, the boss, on which sitcom?

He then moved on to Sabrina the Teenage Witch as vice-principal Willard Kraft.

The diner where Howard phones home was prefabricated in which state and shipped by rail?

Built in 1937 to resemble a railroad dining car, it opened in 1939 and joined the National Register in 1983.

The mall that hosted the premiere sits in which Minnesota city?

The mall's 42 million annual visitors equal roughly eight times the population of Minnesota.

The real parade the film fictionalises was discontinued in 2013 in favour of what?

Holidazzle Village started at Peavey Plaza and moved to Loring Park in 2015.

The 1983 shopping riots that inspired the premise were over which toy?

Milwaukee DJs joked a B-29 would drop dolls on County Stadium, and two dozen people showed up with catcher's mitts.

Who directed the 2014 sequel?

He grew up in Woodstock, New York, and had already made Tooth Fairy 2 with the same star.

What is the must-have toy in the 2014 sequel?

The bear's voice was supplied by the sequel's own director.

Where was the sequel filmed?

A Langley toy store hosted the teddy-bear quest, on a reported budget of $5 million.

In the sequel, what is the name of Larry's eight-year-old daughter?

Her secretly opened letter to Santa turns out to ask for her family together, not a toy.

The director published which 2022 book about his huge toy collection?

A major collector of 20th-century toys, he relished designing the film's fake toy line himself.

Ted's actor's final theatrically released film, out after his death, was which?

That 1998 film, also about toys run amok, carries a dedication to him.

Liz's actress also appeared in which other 1996 film, directed by her husband?

Tom Hanks wrote and directed the story of the one-hit Wonders; she married him in 1988.

The Giant Santa's actor went on to play Captain Insano in which 1998 comedy?

He later starred in WWE Studios' Knucklehead and the Netflix sitcom The Big Show Show.

The uncredited Mini Santa’s actor began as a stunt double for which infant character?

He also doubled in Dunston Checks In the same year, before Men in Black and Austin Powers fame.

What are Howard and Myron reminiscing about over coffee when the radio contest airs?

The waiter tips them off that the station is nearby, and the race is on.

What was the director's first feature film?

He has answered critics by saying he makes movies for the kid he was, watching The Three Stooges on WGN.