Everybody knows the story of “A Christmas Carol.” Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella has become as ingrained a part of Christmas lore as Santa Claus delivering presents or the nativity scene itself. That familiarity makes it tough for filmmakers to find new angles on the story, which first came to the screen in a 1901 silent short film.
Since then, the story of miserly Ebenezer Scrooge being visited by three spirits on Christmas Eve has provided the source material for dozens of movies and TV shows, some sticking faithfully to Dickens’ plot and characters, and others using the basic structure for modern social commentary or shaping it around pre-existing characters.
No matter how many ways Dickens’ tale may be changed or distorted, its inherent message of compassion at Christmastime always comes through. Here are my picks for the best screen adaptations of “A Christmas Carol.”
‘A Christmas Carol’
![A Christmas Carol (1951) Original Trailer [HD] - YouTube](https://img.youtube.com/vi/OMiKLk-AUpI/maxresdefault.jpg)
Also known as “Scrooge,” this 1951 version starring Alastair Sim as Ebenezer Scrooge is my choice for the definitive straightforward adaptation of Dickens’ book. Sim is far from the first actor to play Scrooge, but he brings genuine heartache to his portrayal of a man whose outer meanness hides a deep inner sadness. Sim conveys Scrooge’s emotional pain as he’s forced to revisit his life’s failures, making Scrooge into a sympathetic figure who victimizes himself as much as the people around him.
Director Brian Desmond Hurst makes the movie’s Victorian London setting feel like a real, lived-in place, full of dirt and grime. That sense of naturalism makes the story’s predictable beats more affecting, so that Scrooge’s inevitable redemption feels earned. The uplifting message is more convincing when it comes from characters who are recognizably human.
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‘Scrooged’
Bill Murray is at the peak of his 1980s comedy-star powers in this snarky modern take, which changes Ebenezer Scrooge into a heartless TV executive named Frank Cross (Murray). The sleazy Frank is not above stapling tiny antlers to actual mice so that they can appear in his network’s live broadcast of “A Christmas Carol,” and Murray is so entertainingly slimy in the role that it’s almost a shame when he has to learn to be a better person.
Director Richard Donner mixes Tim Burton-style Goth darkness with mainstream Hollywood comedy gloss as Frank is visited by the three spirits over the course of a full day, while also attempting to reconcile with his ex-girlfriend (Karen Allen). Murray’s sardonic wit cuts through the holiday sentimentality, making the familiar story feel fresh and clever.
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‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’
The great thing about “The Muppet Christmas Carol” is that it’s both a showcase for Jim Henson’s lovably goofy puppet creations and a heartfelt retelling of Dickens’ classic story. As Ebenezer Scrooge, Michael Caine brings every ounce of his considerable gravitas to the role, even though he’s acting alongside the likes of Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy. The Muppet performers match Caine’s dedication, making the story’s emotional beats land while finding plenty of room for silly comedy.
Muppet star Gonzo leads the silliness as Dickens himself, serving as the movie’s narrator and color commentator, joined by his buddy Rizzo the Rat. He brings a campy spin to excerpts from Dickens’ actual prose, providing a gentle entry point into the story for young audiences. The original songs are sweet, and the whole production is a good-natured lark that inadvertently became a holiday staple.
Watch on Disney Plus
‘Carol for Another Christmas’
“The Twilight Zone” creator Rod Serling wrote what is essentially a feature-length “Twilight Zone” take on “A Christmas Carol,” with his trademark deadpan sadism. Serling and director Joseph L. Mankiewicz stick surprisingly close to Dickens’ story beats while changing the entire context, with three ghosts visiting a rich American isolationist businessman to teach him compassion for downtrodden people around the world.
It’s a sadly relevant lesson for the current American elite, delivered in Serling’s typically blunt, sardonic fashion, with some harrowing images of poverty and war. Although the plot gets a bit outlandish, taking protagonist Daniel Grudge (Sterling Hayden) into a post-apocalyptic future to witness the implications of his policies, it’s a logical extrapolation of Ebenezer Scrooge’s perspective. Serling knows that generosity at Christmas should extend far beyond the family down the street.
Watch on HBO Max
‘Scrooge’
This 1970 musical takes a colorful, upbeat approach, while sticking with the Victorian-era setting and familiar framework of Dickens’ story. Filmed on many of the same sets as the fellow Dickens-based musical “Oliver!” from two years earlier, “Scrooge” is a lavish production with grand musical numbers. Albert Finney’s Ebenezer Scrooge is more cranky than menacing, and even the song “I Hate People” is lively and fun.
Likewise, the story’s darker moments are often played for comedy, and the movie expands on Scrooge’s romantic longing, even giving his former lady love an entire musical number of her own. Released at the tail end of the age of big-budget studio musicals, “Scrooge” is an old-fashioned spectacle with rousing set pieces. It’s more celebratory than melancholy, giving its title character plenty of reasons to be truly merry on Christmas.
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