Klaus

"A true selfless act always sparks another."

2019 1h 37m EN

🙌

8.2

BANGER

★8.2TMDB · 4,858

AnimationFamilyComedy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A selfish postman and a reclusive toymaker form an unlikely friendship, delivering joy to a cold, dark town that desperately needs it.

“A true selfless act always sparks another.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Jason Schwartzman
Jesper (voice)
J.K. Simmons
Klaus (voice)
Rashida Jones
Alva (voice)
Joan Cusack
Mrs. Krum (voice)
Norm Macdonald
Mogens (voice)
Will Sasso
Mr. Ellingboe (voice)
Sergio Pablos
Pumpkin / Olaf (voice)
Mila Brener
Ellingboe Girl 3 (voice)

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Sergio Pablos
Writers: Jim Mahoney, Zach Lewis, Edgar Martins
Languages: English, Northern Sami
Countries: Spain

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

Released 7 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Northern Sami.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Alfonso G. Aguilar. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Pablo García Revert shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Jason Schwartzman and J.K. Simmons and Rashida Jones carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "A true selfless act always sparks another.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt4729430 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Sergio Pablos directs. Alfonso G. Aguilar scores. Pablo García Revert cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Spain. Dialogue in English, Northern Sami.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 7 years ago.
2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Northern Sami.
3Original score by Alfonso G. Aguilar. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Pablo García Revert shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Jason Schwartzman and J.K. Simmons and Rashida Jones carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "A true selfless act always sparks another.".
7IMDB entry: tt4729430 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Classified under 16 themes, including "friendship", "small town", "island", "holiday".

The technical file

Original score: Alfonso G. Aguilar
Editing: Pablo García Revert
Production design: Szymon Biernacki
Runtime: 97 min · 1h 37m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG
IMDB: Klaus (2019)

Awards

Annie Award for Best Animated Feature

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

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Selected frames

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Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

r96sk2020-12-17
★ 9/10
A beauty. What a lovely, charming and clever film. <em>'Klaus'</em> took my interest and then some, I was locked in from the start. It's terrific, with some excellent hand-drawn animation. The cast, led by Jason Schwartzman, do very good jobs, also. I loved seeing it connect all the dots of Santa, Christmas et al. If you think about it, it's actually rather simple but it's done in a smart and pleasant way. The ending is particularly sweet. Away from the heart, it also has humour and the pacing is absolutely spot on. Schwartzman is entertaining as Jesper, with J. K. Simmons doing a very solid job as Klaus. I also enjoyed Joan Cusack as Tammy. The cast are probably down the pecking order of this film's pluses, but that's only due to its other, more noticeable positives. Always pleasing to see a great animated film away from Disney, if only to create important competition for the latter.
The Movie Mob2023-01-02
★ 7/10
Klaus reinvents the classics of Christmas with charm and creativity. It belongs on your holiday tradition list. Klaus is a surprisingly sweet and heartwarming animated Christmas story that reimagines Santa's origins. The story is unique and creative, standing out from many other Santa Christmas cartoons. The animation style creates the feel of a living storybook, and the voice actors delightfully march the lighthearted tone of the crazy little town of Smeerensburg. Klaus leaves its audience feeling cozy, nostalgic, and content. This will be on the yearly Christmas holiday watchlist in my home.
CinemaSerf2026-09-17
★ 7/10
"Jesper" is a sort of "Verruca Salt" type of character. He's spoilt and lazy and lives the life of Riley because his father indulges him. Finally, though, his Postmaster General dad decides it's time for his son to stand on his own to feet. Well more likely skis, as he's dispatched to a remote island well above the Arctic Circle - think Svalbard but without the polar bears - and told that he has one year to deal with 6,000 letters or he is done. No more living the high life. Upon arrival in this community that makes the "OK Corral" look like the "Waltons", he is soon embroiled in some local conflict and swiftly realises that nobody here cares less about the postal service. Curiously enough, amidst all this lawlessness, there is a teacher called "Alva" who sort of takes pity on him and stops him freezing to death, and then there is the enigmatic woodcutter "Klaus" who lives in the forest amidst a collection of his own hand-made toys. Now at this point, you can guess pretty much where we are heading but I didn't think that predictability really mattered. This is more of a characterful story that combines some quite innovative explanations for some of the more fantastical Christmas fairy tales with a tale of human inter-reliance; ancient grudges that have long since become pointlessly (and perilously) self-perpetuating and there is also plenty to giggle at as the snow gets into just about everywhere - as does "Jesper". Intentionally or not, this entertainingly animated adventure also reminded me of the days when we actually wrote letters, bought a stamp and then posted them. I'm not sure I've bought a stamp in a decade, much less written a letter by hand. It's that quaintness that worked here for me; a nostalgia for things past but also for things that could still be reclaimed if only we'd stop for a while and take stock. I was a little disappointed with the conclusion, but I did enjoy the journey of self-realisation on display here that left me with that mulled wine feeling - and boy must he have had enough splinters to bring a tear to the eye.