Nathan Kress Shares His Experience Voicing Chuck E. Cheese in the New Christmas Movie: Reflecting on the Pressure

Nathan Kress (left), Chuck E. Cheese.
Credit: Jon Kopaloff/Getty; Chuck E. Cheese

NEED TO KNOW

• Nathan Kress voices Chuck E. Cheese in the new holiday film, A Chuck E. Cheese Christmas.
• The film follows Chuck E. and his friends trying to help Santa bounce back from holiday burnout with a fun surprise.
• Kress reflects on taking on a beloved character that has been part of childhood for many.

Nathan Kress is stepping into significant shoes this holiday season. The 33-year-old actor voices the iconic character, Chuck E. Cheese, in the festive film A Chuck E. Cheese Christmas. The film centers on Chuck E. Cheese and his friends—including Helen Henny, Jasper Jowls, Bella Brinca, Munch, and Pasqually—as they embark on a magical adventure filled with music, laughter, and holiday cheer.

In an interview, Kress described the experience of becoming Chuck E. Cheese as somewhat “daunting.” He acknowledged the weight that comes with portraying such a recognizable and cherished character. “It was a lot of pressure. And it sounds crazy thinking about, like, it’s just a cartoon character. But it’s not though! I feel like people have this weird innate expectation of what that character might actually sound like in a narrative-based cartoon environment and not just at your birthday party, kicking off a song,” he said.

Scene from “A Chuck E. Cheese Christmas”.
Credit: Chuck E. Cheese

To prepare for the role, Kress took time to reflect on the character’s energy and personality. “I had to sit with that for a while and figure out, who is this guy and what’s his energy level?” he explained. He noted that he adopted a deeper acting process to ensure the portrayal resonated authentically with audiences. He praised the heartfelt script as an asset that greatly contributed to the film’s charm.

As a father of three, Kress values the film’s family-friendly approach. “I think it’s definitely going to resonate across generations. You’ve got the slapstick humor for the kids, but then you’ve also got the steady stream of one-liners that are going to fly right over those kids’ heads, and those are for the adults,” he remarked.

Chuck E. Cheese.
Credit: Chuck E. Cheese

Kress continued that the film features memorable musical numbers. “It wraps up with all these Christmas bangers that are absolute earworms that are going to be stuck in your head for weeks,” he said. He acknowledged the challenge of defining the character’s voice, seeking to capture a blend that felt both familiar and unique without resorting to mere imitation.

He believes his character’s “infectious joy and energy” make him an ideal representative of the holiday spirit. The plot revolves around Chuck E. Cheese’s mission to restore Christmas cheer to a town facing holiday burnout, including the legendary figure of Santa, who is feeling overwhelmed. “Chuck E. takes it upon himself to bring back the Christmas spirit by throwing an epic Christmas party for Santa,” Kress described.

“A Chuck E. Cheese Christmas”.
Credit: Chuck E. Cheese

Kress expressed excitement about the character’s potential for future holiday portrayals, humorously pondering how Chuck E. Cheese would handle other celebrations. “It’s a really fun opportunity to be able to do somebody that’s just so fun and joyful,” he said. He added that the experience was a “fun and unexpected challenge,” noting that the upbeat nature of Chuck E. Cheese tends to rub off on him during performances.

As the holiday season approaches, Kress hopes viewers will make the film a festive tradition. “I hope it just becomes that thing where, especially when you need that holiday pick-me-up, that it’s just that thing that exists in the zeitgeist of mandatory Christmas watching,” he said. A Chuck E. Cheese Christmas is now streaming on Prime Video and YouTube.