Few stories have been adapted for the screen as frequently as Charles Dickens's timeless festive novella, A Christmas Carol. Since the very first silent film version in 1901, the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge's redemption has been reimagined countless times. With new versions, like a reported Johnny Depp-starring horror take, arriving yearly, which adaptations truly capture the spirit of Dickens? We've summoned the Ghost of Christmas Past to revisit the five very best film versions ever made.
A Tale Retold: The Enduring Legacy of Scrooge
Published just days before Christmas in 1843, Dickens's original story was an instant sensation. It found its way to the stage at London's Surrey Theatre within weeks, and by 1853, the author himself was performing public readings. The leap to cinema came swiftly with Scrooge, or, Marley's Ghost in 1901, directed by magician Walter Robert Booth. In the 180 years since its publication, the story has been a constant for stage, radio, film, and television, inspiring everyone from Alastair Sim to Ryan Reynolds. But only a select few adaptations achieve Christmas miracle status.
5. Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983)
This delightful Disney animated short may be brief at just 26 minutes, but it packs a powerful festive punch. Here, the notoriously frugal Scrooge McDuck finally lives up to his name, taking the lead role. Mickey Mouse appears as the put-upon Bob Cratchit, while Goofy provides laughs as a clumsy Jacob Marley. With Jiminy Cricket as the Ghost of Christmas Past and charming cameos like Toad from The Wind in the Willows as Fezziwig, it's a lovingly crafted, faithful condensation of the story. Its brisk runtime makes it perfect for younger viewers, and Scrooge McDuck's miserly demeanour feels oddly contemporary.
Mickey's Christmas Carol is available to stream on Disney+.
4. Scrooge (1970)
Following the success of the musical Oliver!, this 1970 film offered a song-filled take on Dickens's other great work. Albert Finney, aged just 34 but transformed by impressive makeup, won a Golden Globe for his performance as the titular miser. He delivers classic lines with venom and shines in musical numbers like the gloriously grumpy "I Hate People." The legendary Alec Guinness adds gravitas as Marley's ghost. Nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Original Song, this version balances spectacle with heart, and its recent digital remake hasn't dimmed its original charm.
Scrooge (1970) is streaming on Paramount+ in the U.S. and on Prime Video in the UK.
3. Scrooged (1988)
Bill Murray stars in this brilliantly unconventional and darkly comic 1980s update. He plays Frank Cross, a cynical TV executive who replaces Ebenezer Scrooge. The ghosts who visit him are equally abrasive, with the late David Johansen of the New York Dolls stealing scenes as a cab-driving, hard-drinking Ghost of Christmas Past. Initially panned by critics like Roger Ebert, Scrooged has aged into a cult classic, valued as an antidote to schmaltzy festive fare. Its climax—an unhinged, live television plea for Christmas spirit—is uniquely Murray and remains a bold, unforgettable moment.
Scrooged is available on Paramount+ and Prime Video in the US, and via Sky Go, Now TV Cinema and YouTube in the UK.
2. A Christmas Carol (1984)
This made-for-television film is frequently hailed by critics as the most faithful and dramatically powerful adaptation ever made. Its success is anchored by a towering performance from George C. Scott as Scrooge. Scott brings a palpable, fearsome nastiness to the role, making his eventual redemption profoundly moving. The adaptation meticulously brings Dickens's full story to screen while thoughtfully expanding Scrooge's backstory. The result is a compelling, sometimes chilling version that The Atlantic called the only "truly great" one in existence.
A Christmas Carol (1984) is streaming on Paramount+, Hulu and Disney+ in the US and can be purchased via Apple TV, Prime Video and the Sky Store in the UK.
1. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
Was there ever any doubt? This 1992 musical masterpiece combines irreverent Muppet humour with surprising reverence for the source material. Michael Caine delivers a brilliantly straight-faced performance as Scrooge, acting alongside a cast of frogs, rats, and singing vegetables without a hint of irony. The songs by Paul Williams are instant classics, and the script, narrated by Gonzo as Dickens himself, is both witty and heartfelt. It manages to be endlessly funny while delivering a genuinely emotional punch, securing its place not just as the best Christmas Carol adaptation, but as one of the finest Christmas films of all time.
The Muppet Christmas Carol is available to stream on Disney+.
