Dear Santa is a 2024 Paramount Christmas comedy about Liam Turner, a boy whose letter meant for Santa reaches Satan instead. Robert Timothy Smith plays Liam, while Jack Black plays the devilish visitor—not Santa. Directed by Bobby Farrelly, the film premiered on Paramount+ and digital platforms on November 25, 2024.
Here is a practical guide to the confirmed cast, characters, story roles, production credits, runtime, rating, and viewing information.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
![DreamWorks 10-Movie Adventure Collection [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51fTUaDeW2L._SL160_.jpg)
|
DreamWorks 10-Movie Adventure Collection [DVD] | $22.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
![Illumination Presents: 10-Movie Collection [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51t0uvyk+nL._SL160_.jpg)
|
Illumination Presents: 10-Movie Collection [DVD] | $39.96 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Tom Cruise 10-Movie Collection | $15.32 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Harry Potter: The Complete 8-Film Collection | $29.50 | Buy on Amazon |
Dear Santa cast at a glance
| Actor | Character | Role in the film |
|---|---|---|
| Jack Black | Satan | The supernatural visitor who receives Liam’s letter |
| Robert Timothy Smith | Liam Turner | The young protagonist whose letter drives the story |
| Keegan-Michael Key | Dr. Finkleman | Named supporting character |
| Brianne Howey | Molly Turner | Member of the Turner family |
| Hayes MacArthur | Bill Turner | Member of the Turner family |
| Austin Post / Post Malone | Himself | Appears under the credit name Austin Post in some official listings |
| P.J. Byrne | Mr. Charles | Named supporting character |
| Jaden Carson Baker | Gibby | Named supporting character |
| Kai Cech | Emma | Supporting character |
| Gavin Munn | Aiden | Supporting character |
The most prominent roles are Liam and Satan. The remaining actors form the film’s family, school, and wider holiday ensemble. Official Paramount materials confirm the principal actor-character pairings, but a cast list alone does not establish every character’s exact relationship to Liam.
Jack Black as Satan
Jack Black plays Satan, not Santa Claus. That distinction is the central joke and story mechanism of Dear Santa: Liam tries to send a Christmas letter to Santa, but a spelling mistake causes it to reach Satan instead. Black’s character then arrives in Liam’s world, disrupting the boy’s ordinary Christmas expectations.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
#1 Best Overall
Calling the character Santa would misstate the premise. The film’s official synopsis and Paramount’s expanded content listing identify Black’s role as Satan.
Robert Timothy Smith as Liam Turner
Robert Timothy Smith plays Liam Turner, the young boy at the center of the film. Liam’s letter sets the plot in motion when it is incorrectly addressed. He is the viewpoint character through whom the audience encounters the film’s mixture of family comedy, Christmas sentiment, and supernatural disruption.
Some secondary descriptions identify Liam as a sixth-grade student who still believes in Santa and connect the mistaken spelling to dyslexia or a spelling difficulty. Paramount’s official materials establish the essential point—that Liam sends the incorrectly addressed letter. For that reason, the safest general description is that he is a young boy or student whose letter goes to the wrong recipient.
Keegan-Michael Key as Dr. Finkleman
Keegan-Michael Key plays Dr. Finkleman. Paramount’s official cast information confirms both the actor and the character name. Dr. Finkleman is one of the film’s named supporting roles, but the available official cast material does not by itself provide enough detail to describe his full relationship to Liam without relying on additional scene-level information.
Brianne Howey as Molly Turner
Brianne Howey plays Molly Turner. Molly is identified in the official cast information as a member of the Turner family, placing her within Liam’s immediate family circle.
Hayes MacArthur as Bill Turner
Hayes MacArthur plays Bill Turner. Like Molly, Bill is a named member of the Turner family in Paramount’s cast listings and is part of Liam’s family setting.
Post Malone as himself
Austin Post, widely known as Post Malone, appears as himself. Paramount’s movie page uses the name “Post Malone,” while Paramount Global Content uses “Austin Post,” so both forms can appear in cast references. Listing him as Austin Post (Post Malone) reconciles the two official credit styles without treating them as different performers.
P.J. Byrne as Mr. Charles
P.J. Byrne plays Mr. Charles. The role appears in Paramount Global Content’s expanded official cast information and in fuller independent cast listings. Mr. Charles is a named supporting character rather than one of the film’s central protagonists.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Jaden Carson Baker as Gibby
Jaden Carson Baker plays Gibby. Gibby is included among the named supporting characters in the expanded cast information.
Kai Cech as Emma
Kai Cech appears as Emma. Paramount+’s feature page includes Cech among the film’s featured performers, while fuller cast listings identify the character as Emma.
Gavin Munn as Aiden
Gavin Munn appears as Aiden. Like Kai Cech, Munn is included among the featured performers on Paramount+’s film page, and independent cast listings supply the character name.
How the characters fit into the story
- Liam Turner: The viewpoint character and the boy whose letter initiates the plot.
- Satan: The supernatural catalyst who appears after the letter is misaddressed.
- Molly and Bill Turner: Named members of Liam’s Turner family.
- Dr. Finkleman, Mr. Charles, Gibby, Emma, and Aiden: Supporting characters connected to Liam’s school, family, or broader holiday situation.
The film’s basic dramatic contrast is between Liam’s expectation of a traditional Santa-centered Christmas and Satan’s unexpected arrival. The official sources confirm the actor-role pairings and the broad premise. More specific claims about which supporting characters are classmates, teachers, relatives, or other acquaintances should be based on the finished film rather than inferred solely from a cast database.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Rank #3
- Tom Cruise 10 Movie Collection
- Product Type: Physical Movie
- Brand: Paramount
Who directed and wrote Dear Santa?
Bobby Farrelly directed Dear Santa. The screenplay is credited to Ricky Blitt and Peter Farrelly, with the story credited to Ricky Blitt, Peter Farrelly, and Dan Ewen.
The producers are Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly, and Jeremy Kramer. Rupert Gregson-Williams composed the music. Other listed production credits include Tom Wolfe and Manish Raval as music supervisors, Bao Tranchi as costume designer, Julie Garcés as editor, and Tim Galvin as production designer.
Release date, rating, and runtime
- Premiere: November 25, 2024
- Distributor/platform launch: Paramount+ and digital platforms
- Genre: Comedy and family
- Rating: PG-13
- Runtime: Approximately 107–108 minutes
Paramount’s movie page lists a 108-minute runtime, while the Paramount+ page displays 1 hour and 47 minutes—107 minutes. Because the official pages differ by one minute, the most accurate general wording is approximately 107–108 minutes, or the runtime shown by the specific service or edition being used.
Where to watch Dear Santa
Dear Santa premiered on Paramount+ and digital platforms. Readers can watch Dear Santa on Paramount+, although catalog access, pricing, and availability can vary by country and can change over time. Check the current Paramount+ title page or the relevant digital storefront before subscribing, renting, or purchasing.
Recommended Free Tools
The film also has an official digital soundtrack, Dear Santa (Music from the Paramount+ Original Movie), composed by Rupert Gregson-Williams and released on November 29, 2024. This is a digital music release rather than confirmation of a physical movie soundtrack, DVD, Blu-ray, or licensed collectible.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is Jack Black Santa in Dear Santa?
No. Jack Black plays Satan. Liam intends to write to Santa, but the letter’s spelling mistake sends it to Satan, making Black’s character the unexpected supernatural visitor.
Rank #4
Is Dear Santa a family movie?
Paramount classifies the film as Comedy and Family, but it carries a PG-13 rating. Families should therefore check the rating guidance and decide whether its humor and supernatural premise are suitable for younger viewers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who plays Satan in Dear Santa?
Jack Black plays Satan. He does not play Santa Claus; the mix-up between the two names is the film’s central premise.
Who plays Liam in Dear Santa?
Robert Timothy Smith plays Liam Turner, the young boy whose incorrectly addressed Christmas letter drives the story.
When was Dear Santa released?
The film premiered on November 25, 2024, on Paramount+ and digital platforms.
How long is Dear Santa?
Official Paramount pages list slightly different runtimes: 108 minutes on one page and 1 hour 47 minutes on the Paramount+ page. It is best described as approximately 107–108 minutes.
Who plays Post Malone’s role in Dear Santa?
Austin Post—better known as Post Malone—appears as himself. Official listings use both “Austin Post” and “Post Malone.”
The Bottom Line
Dear Santa centers on Robert Timothy Smith’s Liam Turner and Jack Black’s Satan, whose arrival follows Liam’s mistaken Christmas letter. The 2024 film was directed by Bobby Farrelly, premiered on Paramount+ and digital platforms, and is rated PG-13.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
