FILM · 1994 · USA
Miracle on 34th Street
23 archived facts 5 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
All facts (23)
- #001
The deaf girl Sami was actually deaf. Richard Attenborough asked Samantha Krieger not to rehearse the scene, so the look of surprise on Samantha Krieger's face when she signed the contract was genuine.
- #002
Alvin Greenman played Alfred in Miracle on 34th Street (1947).
- #003
The cinematographer decided to place a light above each actor's head to give them a distinct glow that was popular in the 1940s. The deliberately anachronistic costumes and camera angles were also a tribute to the 1940s version.
- #004
During the original theatrical release, Twentieth Century Fox offered a full refund to viewers who disliked the film. About 1,500 tickets were returned to the studio.
- #005
Actress Elizabeth Perkins and cinematographer Julio Macat met on set and married in 2000.
- #006
Bryan Bedford is the only main character whose name is completely different from the original 1947 film. He took his new name from Bedford Falls, the town where It's a Wonderful Life (1946) is set. Mrs. Walker's name was changed from Doris to Dorey.
- #007
According to an interview with Adam McKay, Twentieth Century Fox planned to give the film a small release on 800 screens until it earned a 100% perfect test screening score. The studio tripled its marketing budget and gave it a wider release, but it collapsed in 1994's crowded holiday film lineup, especially compared with The Santa Clause (1994). McKay attributed its failure to his plan to depict bureaucracy trying to disprove Santa's existence, joking, "Nobody says Santa sucks."
- #008
The Bee Gees had recorded "Miracles Happen" as the title song for the soundtrack. Fox rejected the song and instead decided to use old Christmas songs for the soundtrack. Three years later, the group released the song on their 1997 album "Still Waters."
- #009
In the original film, Santa was declared real when the post office presented the court with bags of letters addressed to Santa. John Hughes tried to find a different reason for the courts to decide that Santa was real.
- #010
A Talkboy is advertised at the entrance of Shoppers Express. This is a reference to Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992).
- #011
Jennifer Morrison played the young elf who helps Kris at Cole's.
- #012
Robert Prosky and Mara Wilson appeared in Mrs. Doubtfire (1993). Both films were released by 20th Century Fox.
- #013
Sean Connery was considered for the role of Kris Kringle.
- #014
This was the first film for both Mary McCormack and Susie Park.
- #015
As in the original film and the 1973 adaptation, this remake features a "drunk Santa" character who is scolded by Kris Kringle before the parade. However, unlike the other two versions, in which the character is unnamed, the 1994 "drunk Santa" is named Tony Falacchi and is given a character arc as a supporting antagonist.
- #016
In 1987-1988, an attempt was made to remake the film, to be directed by Tom Mankiewicz and written by Neil Cuthbert. It was never made, however, as it was shelved over the belief that the box office window for a holiday film was too narrow.
- #017
Julia Roberts, Catherine O'Hara and Geena Davis were considered for the role of Dorey Walker.
- #018
Simon Jones also played Shellhammer in Matilda (1996).
- #019
Dorey's secretary, who wears vintage-looking clothes, is named Myrna Foy, a clear reference to Myrna Loy. Although she was a very popular actress in the 1940s, she did not appear in Miracle on 34th Street (1947).
- #020
For the role of Bryan Bedford, Kyle MacLachlan, Alec Baldwin, Matthew Broderick, Charlie Sheen, Tom Cruise and John Travolta were considered.
- #021
Every actor who plays an antagonist in the film has the initials J: James Remar, Jane Leeves, J. T. Walsh, Joss Ackland and Jack McGee.
- #022
Three years after this film was released, Dylan McDermott began playing another lawyer in The Practice (1997).
- #023
Before Saturday Night Live (1975), Horatio Sanz appears as a mental hospital orderly who shares a brief scene with Dylan McDermott. Five years later, when McDermott hosted "SNL" (Dylan McDermott/Foo Fighters (1999)), Sanz played a clip of their scene during McDermott's monologue.
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