Charles Dickens' 1843 novella A Christmas Carol is a timeless classic, the constant retelling of which has warmed families' hearts by the Christmas Eve fire. The story has everything: musings on charity, redemption, and family wrapped in a neat package with a festive bow on top.

There are a few elements that need to be acknowledged in any good re-telling of Scrooge's tale – a solid delivery of "Bah Humbug," an empathetic Tiny Tim that carries enough pathos to warm the coldest heart, a terrifying Marley door knocker, and a "God bless us, every one" to bring the house down. Told variously through the ages, some A Christmas Carol movies have answered that call beautifully, while others have missed the mark and left audiences colder than Scrooge's bed chamber, as reflected by audiences' ratings on IMDb.

10 'A Carol Christmas' (2003)

IMDb Rating: 5.2/10

A Carol Christmas with William Shatner and Gary Coleman

A Carol Christmas is undoubtedly the wildest version of Dickens' novella. This Hallmark Christmas movie retelling features Tori Spelling as Ebenezer Scrooge, or in this case, Carol. The ghosts of Christmas Past and Present are played by Gary Coleman and William Shatner, respectively.

The Spirit of Christmas Yet To Come must always be the most chilling specter – never speaking, always mysterious, and carrying the menace of mortals' greatest fear: the unknown future. Here, the Spirit is a chauffeur, stripping away any traditional peril that comes with this character. It's debatable whether this is the worst version of the tale, or the best, as it veers quite easily into the realm of "so bad that it's good." Clearly, for most fans, it leans more toward bad than good.

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9 'A Christmas Carol' (2009)

IMDb Rating: 6.8/10

Jim Carrey as Ebenezer Scrooge looking scared while visited by a ghost in A Christmas Carol.
Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

This animated feature by Robert Zemeckis presents Jim Carrey in the roles of Scrooge and the Spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet To Come. Carrey drew inspiration from Alastair Sim's Scrooge of 1951, a classic performance of the character, which also holds up in its animated interpretation.

The animation is a visually stunning cinematic spectacle, or at least, it was supposed to be. The 2009 adaptation of A Christmas Carol has gone down in cinematic history as one of the worst cases of uncanny valley in film. This also gives viewers the sense that some sequences are a little indulgent because of the art department's need to flex their muscles. A tip of the night-cap to this telling's Bob Cratchit, who is just as cute as a button and voiced beautifully by Gary Oldman.

A Christmas Carol
PG
Release Date
November 6, 2009
Director
Robert Zemeckis
Runtime
96 minutes

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8 'Scrooged' (1988)

IMDb Rating: 6.9/10

Bill Murray as Frank Cross in Scrooged
Image via Paramount Pictures

Setting the story around television executive Frank Cross (Bill Murray), there is much that sets this comedic interpretation apart from its peers. Some significant plot points of the original novella are cleverly addressed in the film within a film, and the contemporized version of Scrooge makes a relatable, high-stakes story.

This adaptation has far and away the most moving monologue by a reformed Scrooge, with a call to action that rouses all viewers to better themselves, even if in a small way, as Scrooge has done. Scrooged has one of the best performances and interpretations of the Spirit of Christmas Past, which is wholly unique – he's a neurotic, high-energy taxi driver played brilliantly by New York Dolls singer David Johansen. The whispered "God bless us, everyone" by the non-verbal son of Frank's assistant is a beautiful delivery of the iconic line that will surely tug at the heartstrings of even the most bitter "bah humbug" viewers.

Scrooged
PG-13
Release Date
November 23, 1988
Director
Richard Donner
Cast
Bill Murray , Karen Allen , John Forsythe , Bobcat Goldthwait , Carol Kane , Robert Mitchum , Michael J. Pollard , Alfre Woodard
Runtime
100 minutes

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7 'A Christmas Carol' (2019)

IMDb Rating: 7.3/10

Guy Pearce as Scrooge in A Christmas Carol

The bleakest retelling of the familiar story is a BBC miniseries extravaganza, which radically re-imagines the tale of Scrooge's villainy, adding deeper and darker backstories than any other telling. Opening with a young boy relieving himself on Marley's gravestone while using some choice words is the first indication that this will not be a family-friendly affair.

This iteration of the tale contains the most bone-chilling entrance of Marley, with the most terrifying door-handle apparition of any adaptation. The film also gives greater stakes to Marley's cause, with a real purpose to his haunting of Scrooge that sets up the story differently from any other. For viewers looking for a grittier version of the tale, the 2019 flick is the perfect choice for a gloomy holiday season.

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6 'Scrooge' (1970)

IMDb Rating: 7.5/10

Albert Finney as Scrooge

This fun musical movie adaptation of A Christmas Carol features Albert Finney, who was only 34 years old at the time of filming, as Scrooge. Scrooge presents its unfortunate viewers with a bizarrely flamboyant Alec Guinness as Marley, a score of excruciatingly repetitive songs, and the same twisted expression on Finney's face for the full two hours.

There's a really odd extension of the story that follows Scrooge to Hell and is an unnecessary resolution, as the events of the evening should have changed the character much sooner than his trip to Hades. Its relatively high rating on IMDb is likely owed to the fact that it's all so ridiculous that it somehow works, with its flaws and cheesiness ultimately ending up being its biggest strengths.

Scrooge
G
Release Date
1970-5-11
Director
Ronald Neame
Runtime
113 Minutes

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5 'A Christmas Carol' (1938)

IMDb Rating: 7.5/10

Reginald Owen as Scrooge in A Christmas Carol

A decidedly slow-paced retelling of Dickens' classic, this version proves that even with the greatest text, the excitement doesn't come for free. Many of the actors in the more cheerful roles play them with an unsettling level of excitement that is over the top and quite disturbing. With many omissions from the original text but also containing bizarre additions, such as Scrooge calling the cops on the ghost of Jacob Marley and an unnecessary rendition of "O Come All Ye Faithful," the 1938 version of the story is far from perfect.

Reginald Owens plays Scrooge with predictable gruffness and little nuance, but there's admittedly a charm in that same predictability. Despite its imperfections or perhaps because of them, time has been kind to 1938's A Christmas Carol, which is now fondly remembered as an entertaining film and a great attempt at bringing the story to the big screen.

A Christmas Carol (1938)
G
Release Date
December 16, 1938
Cast
Reginald Owen , Gene Lockhart
Runtime
69 Minutes

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4 'A Christmas Carol' (2018)

IMDb Rating: 7.5/10

Simon Callow in A Christmas Carol under the snow

Playing all 38 characters, Simon Callow first performed this rendition of A Christmas Carol as a live one-person show, which experienced several successful seasons on London stages. It was then adapted for film by the BBC, resulting in a masterclass in storytelling.

The sparse set, sound, and lighting effects add weight to each one used and place all the onus of translating Dickens' words on the sole performer. This deeply intimate performance is entirely engrossing and proves how well the text stands independently without needing heavy-handed bells and whistles. 2018's A Christmas Carol is a fantastic example of a big risk that paid off, and while it doesn't hit all the high marks, it's creative and engaging enough to be considered among the best.

2018's A Christmas Carol is not available to stream, rent, or purchase at this time.

3 'A Christmas Carol' (1984)

IMDb Rating: 7.8/10

George C Scott in A Christmas Carol, 1984

The 1984 rendition of A Christmas Carol was filmed in a largely preserved county town founded in the early Middle Ages in Shropshire (and, incidentally, was the birthplace of Charles Darwin). Scrooge's tombstone still lies in the medieval town, and this version makes great use of the existing architecture of its historic location.

George C. Scott's performance of Scrooge displays a refreshing variety of colors rather than presenting the same one-note grumpy miser so often seen. This particular Scrooge is one of intelligence and even, at times, humor, building a complex character who is more than a mere crank. It's an admirable and early depiction of nuance in Scrooge's character, justifying the 1984 film's high score.

A Christmas Carol (1984)
Release Date
December 17, 1984
Cast
George C. Scott , Frank Finlay , David Warner , Susannah York , Edward Woodward , Roger Rees , Liz Smith
Runtime
100 Minutes

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2 'The Muppet Christmas Carol' (1992)

IMDb Rating: 7.8 /10

Michael Caine as Scrooge with Miss Piggy, Kermit the Frog, Fozzie Bear, and Gonzo in The Muppets Christmas Carol
Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Not a lot can go wrong when mixing the Muppets and Christmas. Sir Michael Caine's Scrooge is perfectly pitched throughout, bouncing off his scene-partner puppets with remarkable ease. Caine had remarked that he would play the role as if he were acting with the Royal Shakespeare Company – this brilliant choice reads well, keeping the heart and soul of the story intact.

A particular high point of the film is the song performed with the Ghost of Christmas Present – the uplifting "It Feels Like Christmas" is rich with good cheer and key changes and could easily enter the canon of annual go-to carols. Exempting asides from Gonzo and Rizzo and omitting a couple of darker plot points, the film stays relatively true to the original text. With musical numbers with the Muppets that bring joy long after viewing and fabulous performances by man and muppet alike, this is A Christmas Carol that should not be missed.

The Muppet Christmas Carol
G


The Muppets present their own touching rendition of Charles Dickens' classic tale.

Release Date
December 10, 1992
Director
Brian Henson
Cast
Michael Caine , Dave Goelz , Steve Whitmire , Jerry Nelson , Frank Oz , David Rudman
Runtime
85 minutes

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1 'Scrooge' (1951)

IMDb Rating: 8.1/10

Alastair Sim as Scrooge in 1951 A Christmas Carol
Image via Renown Pictures

Traditional and generally faithful to the original text (with only a few additions, such as the Mr. Jorkin storyline) and featuring a wonderful performance from Alastair Sim, this rendition of A Christmas Carol is widely believed to be one of the best screen adaptations of the classic novella.

The performances, music, and lighting in Scrooge all hit the mark, and the special effects are surprisingly well-executed for a film of its age. In particular, the interaction out the window between the young boy and Scrooge on Christmas morning is delightfully performed, with Scrooge's excitement and newfound fondness for the day shining through. It's no wonder the 1951 adaptation is considered the very best among fans on the site.

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NEXT: 'A Christmas Carol' Adaptations, Ranked from "Bah Humbug!" to "God Bless Us Everyone!"