Santa Claus Conquers the Martians: 60 Years of Bizarre Fun

The spirited folks at the American Genre Film Archive are here to ensure your holiday season is packed with the most wonderfully painful nostalgia imaginable. As Santa Claus Conquers the Martians celebrate 60 years of delightfully bizarre infamy, they’ve unwrapped the ultimate gift for fans of camp and kitsch: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians & Other Holiday Hallucinations!

Prepare to deck the halls with an avalanche of mid-century oddities that promise to make your holiday dreams come true—especially if you hail from Mars. This collection brings you the cult classic Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, a colorful concoction of low-budget chaos featuring a tale of Martian mischief, Santa-napping, and out-of-this-world shenanigans.

But that’s just the beginning. Dive deeper into the frosty fun with a curated cavalcade of retro ads, trailers, and a medley of holiday-themed shorts that will leave you laughing, scratching your head, or both. Whether you’re a devoted connoisseur of weird cinema or simply in the market for a festive escape from the usual holiday fare, this collection delivers a stocking full of laughs, groans, and unforgettable memories.

Anyone familiar with Santa Claus Conquers the Martians knows it’s a visual travesty. This infamous film is a chaotic patchwork of faded, damaged footage and out-of-sync jump cuts, seemingly held together with spit and scotch tape. Often cited as one of the “worst movies ever made,” it occupies a dubious pedestal alongside Plan 9 from Outer Space in the “so bad, it’s good” Hall of Fame.

Over the years, this film has become a true oddity, largely due to its failure to secure proper copyright protection. It often pops up on obscure UHF TV stations, typically in such poor quality that it has found a second life on platforms like YouTube. Despite its technical shortcomings, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians possesses a peculiar charm, solidifying its place as a cult classic beloved by fans of campy cinema.

The movie is notable for featuring the first on-screen appearance of Mrs. Claus, played by Doris Rich. Filmed in just four days, the production took place at Michael Myerberg Studios, a converted aircraft hangar at Roosevelt Field in Long Island, New York. Adding another layer of curiosity, a young Pia Zadora made her film debut here as Girmar, a Martian girl who enjoys watching Earth television programs with her brother. It’s a role she’d probably rather forget, given her later success as a professional singer.

Interestingly, stock footage from this low-budget romp was shared in the Academy Award-nominated Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, proving even cinematic flops can leave an unexpected legacy.

So, grab your hot cocoa, dim the lights, and embrace the madness. This is one yuletide spectacle that’s as kooky as it is kitschy—and one you won’t soon forget! If someone gifts you this movie, consider it the cinematic equivalent of a lump of coal. Yet, for lovers of bizarre holiday fare, its sheer absurdity makes it oddly unforgettable.

There’s a certain kind of comfort that comes after a hearty Christmas dinner—the satisfying fullness, the slight bloat, but also that cozy, content feeling. Under the perfect conditions, it’s like being wrapped in warmth by a crackling fire, toasty and peaceful, much like a chestnut roasting in the hearth. At that point, there’s nothing better than putting on Santa Claus Conquers the Martians. Its quirky charm and nostalgic vibe make it the ideal movie to slip into a relaxed, almost trance-like state. As the film plays, you start to gently drift into a peaceful slumber, knowing you’ll wake up refreshed and ready to welcome the New Year. It’s like my sleeping pill—no prescription required. It’s become a part of my yearly tradition, a way to wind down and embrace the calm before the excitement of the new year.