'The Santa Clause' Star Exposes Surprising Residuals From Christmas Franchise: 'They're Minimal'
Just because a movie is on TV every day during the holiday season doesn't mean the cast is making money. David Krumholtz, who starred in The Santa Clause franchise, admits that his beloved role hasn't led to bursting residual checks.
The actor appeared as a panelist during press day for Are You Now or Have You Ever Been, with Page Six asking him what everyone has wanted to know lately about acting. In recent years, actors who starred in cult classic TV series or franchises have come clean about barely making any money from their hit characters over the years.
"They're minimal because the movie plays so much," Krumholtz revealed about his The Santa Clause residuals. "This is how residuals work: every time it plays, you make less. It's a grade scale."
The John Pasquin-directed Christmas comedy film was released in 1994 when the actor was roughyl 16-years-old and just starting his career. Starring alongsideTim Allen, Krumholtz played the beloved role of Bernard the Head Elf in the film and its sequel. The Santa Clause became a cult classic family Christams film that brought in $190 million upon its release.
Despite the film being aired on TV 24/7 during the winter holidays, Krumholtz says he makes $150 a year from the franchise, but it was much higher when the movie was first released. Some simple math reveals the actor makes roughly $12.50 a month from it.
During the panel, Krumholtz joked that out of all his on-screen roles, the one that makes him the most in residuals is the 2023 blockbuster Oppenheimer. He played a leading role as Isidor Isaac Rabi.
"That's none of your business! What kind of question is that?" he said, before admitting, "It's $12.73. It's enough to buy a hot dog in New York."
The Santa Clause was one of the actor's earliest leading roles in his career, with fans now recognizing him from films like 10 Things I Hate About You, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, Superbad, Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, and will appear in Supergirl as Zor-El. He also became known for TV roles like playing Charlie Eppes in Numb3rs and Harvey Wasserman in The Deuce.
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This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 1:02 PM.