Critical Santa Claus Conquers the Martians received mostly negative reviews, with most of its positive feedback coming in the form of the film being "so bad it's good". On the film review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has score, based on reviews, with an average rating of . The site's critical consensus reads, "The endearingly cheesy Santa Claus Conquers the Martians might just be so naughty it's nice for viewers seeking a sub-competent sci-fi holiday adventure." The film has since been viewed as a cult film.
Critical Santa Claus Conquers the Martians received mostly negative reviews, with most of its positive feedback coming in the form of the film being "so bad it's good". On the film review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has score, based on reviews, with an average rating of . The site's critical consensus reads, "The endearingly cheesy Santa Claus Conquers the Martians might just be so naughty it's nice for viewers seeking a sub-competent sci-fi holiday adventure." The film has since been viewed as a cult film.