Tim Allen stars as Scott Calvin, a cynical toy company executive who is forced to take over the job of Santa Claus when he and his son Charlie witness the previous incumbent falling off a roof. Soon Scott finds himself putting on weight, growing a white beard and fulfiling his obligation to deliver presents to all the children around the world. He even finds himself reluctantly getting into the spirit of things!

In 1971, journalist Raoul Duke (Johnny Depp) and his companion Dr Gonzo (Benicio Del Toro) arrive in Las Vegas, ostensibly so Raoul can cover the Mint 400 off-track race. The duo embark on a massive drugs binge, checking into the Mint hotel before visiting the Bazzoka Circus casino while high on ether. The hedonistic weekend continues the following day, with Raoul and Gonzo meeting various way-out characters along the way. Watch out for cameos by Cameron Diaz, Christina Ricci and Gary Busey in Terry Gilliam's visually stunning adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson's cult novel.

Offbeat, grisly black comedy from the Coen brothers. Minnesota car salesman Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy), deeply in debt, arranges for the kidnapping of his wife in order to obtain a sizeable ransom from her father, to pay off both his henchmen and his debts. However, all does not go according to plan. Frances McDormand won the Best Actress Academy Award for her portrayal of the heavily pregnant Police Officer assigned to the case, while the film also won Best Original Screenplay.