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Original painted Christmas scene, from the Cine Claus illustration set

Essential Christmas · 2023

The Bad Guys: A Very Bad Holiday

Name: The Bad Guys: A Very Bad Holiday
Released: 2023
Duration: 25 min
Cast: Chris Diamantopoulos, Mallory Low, Zehra Fazal, Keith Silverstein, Kari Wahlgren

62/100Festive FactorWhy it scores 62 ↓

UK certificate Universal25 min · TV special
Comedy · Family

A prequel to the DreamWorks hit, made for Netflix with an entirely new voice cast, and fans of the original…

Plan this film night ↓Can the kids watch? ↓

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Explore this film 5 sections

The CineClaus Christmas score

Festive Factor

Christmas all the way through.

Five ingredients make the Festive Factor.
Open an ingredient to find out more.

Christmas in the storyChristmas drives it, firmly.25/30

What we ask: Take Christmas out. Does the plot survive? Worth up to 30 of the 100 points.

A world dressed for ChristmasVisibly Christmas for most of it.15/20

What we ask: How much of the running time is visibly Christmas? Worth up to 20 of the 100 points.

The little seasonal details6 of the 10 kinds of Christmas icon we count turn up on screen.9/15

What we ask: How many kinds of Christmas icon turn up on screen: trees, lights, snow, carols and the rest? Worth up to 15 of the 100 points.

A Christmas heartHow far the ending rests on goodwill, family and belief: partly.10/20

What we ask: Does the ending depend on what Christmas means: goodwill, family, redemption, belief? Worth up to 20 of the 100 points.

A returning traditionNiche at Christmas (under 25,000).3/15

What we ask: Is it actually watched at Christmas in the UK? Worth up to 15 of the 100 points.

67/100

Cosiness Rating Rating

Mostly warm in tone. Mild threat. A content ending.

How we score →

What do these scores mean?

Festive Factor measures how Christmassy a film is. Five ingredients add up to 100: story (30), setting (20), seasonal details (15), emotional heart (20) and returning tradition (15).

Cosiness is a separate score for warmth of tone, sense of safety, visual comfort, a reassuring ending and how easily you can settle into it.

How the Festive Factor works →

The story

About The Bad Guys: A Very Bad Holiday

Some time before the events of the 2022 DreamWorks feature, a gang of animal crooks plot a citywide raid timed for Christmas morning, when everyone will be indoors with their presents. Their own mayhem gets the city's festivities called off, so to keep their scheme alive they have to win back the townsfolk's Christmas cheer, handing out gifts and building a replacement Santa, with chaotic and wintry results.

The CineClaus verdict

A prequel to the DreamWorks hit, made for Netflix with an entirely new voice cast, and fans of the original will hear the difference. What survives is the premise: crooks who need Christmas to go ahead so they can rob it, and end up saving it for entirely the wrong reasons.

That gives it more festive backbone than most spin-offs manage. Barely longer than a sitcom episode, it feels rushed, but the gags come quickly and nobody fully reforms, which is the right call. A tidy stocking filler for kids who already love the gang.

The family desk

Can the kids watch?

Our take: cartoon slapstick, a fire and a runaway snowstorm, but nothing that lingers once the credits roll, so young fans of the cinema film should be absolutely fine.

Content advice & accessibility

Our age guidance: Editorial, separate from the official U certificate, and never looser than it.

The people behind the film

Cast and crew

The faces in front of the camera, and the people who brought the story to life.

Main cast

In billing order

Portrait of Chris Diamantopoulos with dark swept-back hair and a short beard, in a grey jacket and checked shirt with a navy tie.

Chris Diamantopoulosas Mr. Snake

Mallory Lowas Ms. Tarantula

Zehra Fazalas Tiffany Fluffit

Keith Silversteinas Gary

Portrait of Kari Wahlgren with long wavy blonde hair, in a red top, seated at a panel with a microphone in front of her.

Kari Wahlgrenas DJ Trudy Tude

Behind the camera

Directed by

Bret Haaland

A little more The Bad Guys: A Very Bad Holiday

Film facts &
behind the scenes

For the fans who stay after the credits.

On set

A different director from the feature

The special was directed by Bret Haaland, who also served as an executive producer, rather than by the director of the 2022 feature it follows. Haaland came to it from earlier DreamWorks television series.

Read the story

Source: Animation World Network ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Movie magic

Built to keep moving

The makers say they aimed for a fast, non-stop rhythm and avoided long held shots, which suits a short special where the plot has to hurry through its heist.

Read the story

On your next watchCount how few shots hold for more than a few seconds.

Source: Animation World Network ↗ (opens in a new tab)