10 Best (& Most Accurate) Adaptations of ‘A Christmas Carol,’ Ranked

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Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, first published in 1843, remains consistently popular and has never gone out of print. It’s been adapted into countless films, TV shows, plays, operas, and more, making it Dickens’ most frequently adapted story. The tale follows Ebenezer Scrooge, a bitter and miserly man, who undergoes a profound change after being haunted by the ghost of his old business partner, Jacob Marley, and the Spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. Through these encounters, Scrooge learns compassion and becomes a kinder person.

Many movie and play adaptations of the story take creative freedoms. Modern filmmakers often draw more inspiration from earlier versions of the tale than from the original book. For instance, scenes found in the book—like visits to miners and lighthouse keepers—are frequently omitted. Meanwhile, new scenes—such as Scrooge visiting the Cratchits on Christmas Day—have become staples of most adaptations, even though they weren’t part of Dickens’ original story.

What versions of A Christmas Carol manage to be both enjoyable and true to the original story? Here’s a list of 10 of the best and most faithful adaptations of Charles Dickens’ beloved classic.

10
‘A Christmas Carol’ (1938)


MGM

Among the first movie versions of A Christmas Carol, the 1938 MGM film became the most beloved. Originally, Lionel Barrymore – famous for his annual radio portrayal of Scrooge – was cast in the lead role, but he had to withdraw due to arthritis (you can still hear his voice in the film’s trailer). Reginald Owen stepped in and delivered a memorable performance as Scrooge that audiences still enjoy today.

The film A Christmas Carol is exceptional in its acting, storytelling, and overall production quality, earning a rare 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It stays very true to the original story, including details often left out of other adaptations. For example, it shows the tradition of people without ovens having their Christmas turkeys cooked by local bakers. It also uniquely includes complete conversations about what people think will happen after Scrooge’s death, instead of skipping or shortening them.

Edwin L. Marin’s film isn’t perfect and has a few flaws. One noticeable issue is that Bob Cratchit doesn’t appear very poor. Also, the film shows Scrooge actually firing Bob, instead of just giving him a warning like in the original story. However, this change actually improves the plot by emphasizing the emotional struggle of a man who tries to hide his troubles from his wife to protect her Christmas spirit.

9
‘Scrooge!’ (1970)


20th Century Fox

The movie Scrooge!, starring Albert Finney, was advertised with the question, “What the dickens have they done to Scrooge?” This was a clever way to address potential complaints about the film being filled with too much singing and dancing. Finney first turned down the part of Ebenezer Scrooge, but the studio didn’t give up and continued to try and convince him until he finally agreed to play the role.

Jack Finney gave an award-winning performance as Scrooge, earning a Golden Globe for Best Actor. Even though he was in his thirties, he convincingly played the elderly man by using skills he’d learned in the theater, focusing on how he moved and spoke. The makeup was also a key part of the transformation. The movie itself was highly recognized by the Academy Awards, receiving nominations for Best Song, Art Direction, Score, and Costume Design.

This version of ‘A Christmas Carol’ stays true to the original story in many ways, and fans of the book will appreciate details like the ghostly hearse driving through Scrooge’s home – a scene often left out of movies. While the musical adds some unusual elements – as you’d expect from a musical – they actually fit the story well. For example, instead of anonymously sending a turkey to the Cratchits as in the book, Scrooge dresses up as Santa Claus to deliver toys himself.

8
‘A Christmas Carol’ (1984)


CBS

Clive Donner directed A Christmas Carol, building on his experience editing the 1951 film Scrooge. George C. Scott plays Ebenezer Scrooge in this CBS TV movie, and Roger Rees, who plays Scrooge’s nephew Fred, also narrates parts of Charles Dickens’ original story at the beginning and end.

This film from the 1980s is visually impressive thanks to its excellent sets and talented supporting actors. George C. Scott delivers a remarkable performance as Scrooge, earning him an Emmy nomination. Unlike other versions that portray Scrooge as merely selfish, Scott’s portrayal makes him genuinely unpleasant and condescending, ensuring viewers strongly dislike him. The film’s atmosphere and beautiful visuals are largely due to being filmed on location in the historic town of Shrewsbury, Shropshire.

While A Christmas Carol is excellent, the adaptation leaves out important scenes, like Scrooge’s harsh treatment of a young carol singer and the somber tavern dinner. There are also some changes to the story: Marley’s ghost becomes visible when he appears, and the meeting with the charity workers takes place at the London Stock Exchange instead of an office, as it does in the original book.

7
‘A Christmas Carol’ (2009)

As a huge animation fan, I remember being really impressed with Disney’s take on A Christmas Carol – it was their third attempt at bringing the classic story to life. What’s cool is they used motion capture, and the voice cast was incredible – Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth… seriously, a fantastic group! I recently learned that director Robert Zemeckis, after working on The Polar Express, was eager to explore digital filmmaking techniques further, and he thought A Christmas Carol would be the perfect story to experiment with. It definitely paid off!

As a huge Jim Carrey fan, I have to say he absolutely nails this role! Everything, from the way he does the accent to those little grunts, is just perfect. And honestly, the animation is stunning – it’s easily one of the best-looking animated movies from the 2000s. It’s no surprise it was nominated for a Kids’ Choice Award back in 2010. But after all the fun, I started wondering… how true to the original story does it actually stay?

Like many other filmmakers adapting the story, Zemeckis leaves out several scenes from the original book, such as those involving miners, ships, and lighthouse keepers. However, the film keeps a lot of Dickens’ original dialogue and makes it clear that it’s based on the book, even starting with a shot of the book itself and reading the prologue, including the famous line “Once upon a time…” Fans of the book might be disappointed that the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is portrayed as menacing in the movie, rather than the quiet and compassionate figure from the original story.

6
‘Scrooge’ (1935)


Paramount Pictures

Directed by Henry Edwards, who also directed The Amazing Quest of Mr. Ernest Bliss, Scrooge was the first full-length talking movie based on the classic story. It wasn’t the very first film adaptation to include sound, however – a short film from 1928, which is now lost, used sound before it. The film, shot in black and white, stars Seymour Hicks, who was well-known for playing Ebenezer Scrooge – he’d previously performed the role on stage and in a silent British film from 1913.

The film Scrooge captivates viewers thanks to Hicks’ brilliant acting and its unique, visually striking style, reminiscent of German Expressionism. Film enthusiasts will appreciate the thoughtful cinematography, which relies on suggestion and nuance. The film quickly gained recognition, even attracting the attention of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who is said to have shown it at the White House on Christmas night in 1935.

Overall, this production of Scrooge is excellent, but it has some pacing issues. It spends a lot of time on the Lord Mayor’s feast – a relatively minor event in the original story – while rushing through important scenes from Scrooge’s past. However, this focus on the banquet likely allowed the director to create a visually impressive spectacle with elaborate sets, sound, and a large cast, which would have been appealing to audiences.

5
‘A Christmas Carol’ (1971)


ABC

The animated film A Christmas Carol brought together a talented team, including director Richard Williams, known for Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Alastair Sim once again voiced Ebenezer Scrooge, a role he famously played in the 1951 live-action film Scrooge. Michael Hordern also returned from the 1951 version to voice Marley’s Ghost. Looney Tunes legend Chuck Jones served as executive producer.

What’s most striking about this version of A Christmas Carol is how much of the original story it manages to fit into just 28 minutes. It’s great that the filmmakers included details from the book that are often left out, like the Ghost of Christmas Present showing Scrooge Christmas celebrations at a lighthouse and on a ship at sea.

This animated film started as a TV special on ABC in 1971, but it was so well-made that it was released in theaters. It went on to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, which caused controversy. Some people in the film industry argued that a movie first shown on television shouldn’t qualify for an Oscar. As a result, the Academy changed its rules to prevent any future TV-first productions from being eligible. The debate over whether TV-first films should win Oscars continues even today, as seen in recent comments from director James Cameron.

4
‘A Christmas Carol’ (1997)


Nickelodon

People always say life is like a song, and for some it’s a happy one, for others, a sad one. But around the holidays, I think we all get to sing a Christmas carol – and this musical, A Christmas Carol, really captures that feeling! It originally aired on Nickelodeon and was aimed at kids, but honestly, it’s become a favorite for everyone. The voice acting is incredible, with stars like Tim Curry and Whoopi Goldberg – it’s a true cult classic, and I absolutely love it!

The movie is consistently fun to watch, thanks to its many original songs and short 70-minute length. Veteran actors Curry and Goldberg deliver excellent performances, bringing a lot of humor to the film. Even the ghost of Marley gets in on the fun, offering a classic “Boo!” to scare the audience.

While A Christmas Carol is generally excellent, Scrooge having a dog feels out of character for such a miserly man. However, this can be overlooked because the movie closely follows the book’s dialogue. It even includes a beautiful musical scene of his lonely dinner at the tavern – a moment often left out of other adaptations. This version also emphasizes the story’s moral lesson powerfully. The barmaid subtly demonstrates kindness by giving food scraps to Scrooge’s dog and letting him have the meal he ordered, highlighting the importance of compassion.

3
‘A Christmas Carol’ (1999)


TNT

Patrick Stewart stars as Scrooge in this version of A Christmas Carol, which was created after he successfully performed the story as a one-man show on stage in both London and New York. Liz Smith returns to play Mrs. Dilber, a role she first had in the 1984 film adaptation.

The Hallmark movie stays very true to the original story. It includes scenes that were left out of many other adaptations, like the journey to the mining town, the visit to the lighthouse, the time spent in jail, and the voyage on a ship. Plus, Fred’s wife plays a tune that specifically brings back memories of Scrooge’s sister, Fan – a detail taken directly from the book.

Sir Patrick Stewart is, as usual, fantastic in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol. He seemed to relish playing Scrooge’s grumpy and stingy side so much that the director let those scenes play out a bit longer than necessary. Like many Hallmark movies, the production isn’t top-of-the-line, but a strong story and Stewart’s excellent performance easily make up for any shortcomings.

2
‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’ (1992)


Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

As a huge Muppet fan, I always loved The Muppet Christmas Carol. It’s a really special film because it features Michael Caine giving a fantastic performance as Scrooge, and he’s surrounded by all our favorite Muppets – Steve Whitmire, Dave Goelz, Jerry Nelson, and Frank Oz all bring their characters to life. It was Brian Henson’s first time directing a full-length movie, and it’s cool to note that it was the first Muppet film to really center around a human lead character.

Michael Caine’s serious portrayal of Ebenezer Scrooge is a key reason why The Muppet Christmas Carol is so beloved. The film is also surprisingly accessible because Gonzo acts as the voice of Charles Dickens, narrating much of the story that couldn’t be shown through scenes alone. This allows for memorable lines, like describing Scrooge as “a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone,” to really shine.

Viewers will appreciate the creative portrayal of the Ghost of Christmas Present. The song “It Feels Like Christmas” shows the spirit moving freely and explains its power to be everywhere. This matches the description in Dickens’s story, where the spirit is said to be able to fit into any space, no matter how small. The movie visually demonstrates this by showing the Ghost as a giant in Scrooge’s room, but also shrinking down to dance inside a tiny mouse hole.

1
‘Scrooge’ (1951)


Renown Pictures

Directed by Brian Desmond Hurst, considered Northern Ireland’s best filmmaker by the BBC, Scrooge—starring Alastair Sim—is often called the best movie version of Charles Dickens’s classic story. Though it wasn’t initially well-received, it later became surprisingly popular, especially on American television, where it was a beloved holiday tradition throughout the 1950s and 60s.

Dickens’ A Christmas Carol includes many small, often overlooked details. For example, a blind beggar’s dog briefly interrupts Scrooge, Topper flirts with Fred’s relative during the Christmas feast, and the Ghost of Christmas Present makes rounds visiting the ill at a poorhouse.

The movie excels in its details, with the actor playing Sim perfectly embodying his character and the dialogue capturing the beautiful, lyrical quality of the original novel. Even the changes made from the book are well-executed, becoming influential enough to be repeated in later adaptations. A prime example is the decision to show Fan dying during childbirth while delivering Fred – an event Dickens never wrote about, but which has since become a common addition to other film and television versions of the story.

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2025-11-29 01:23