In 1843, Charles Dickens became one of the most prolific authors of all time when he released the instant hit called A Christmas Carol. Successfully reviving the Christmas spirit in England, A Christmas Carol tells the beautiful story of a hardened and lonely man who is taught to embrace his past, present, and future. On top of having a beautiful message, this classic is incredibly humorous.
This story is so dear to me that it has become a personal tradition to reread it, starting four days before Christmas. Each night I read one stanza and finish the fifth on Christmas morning. And the entire month of December is devoted to A Christmas Carol film adaptations! To say I am an expert might be a bit extreme, but I created a list regardless. Read on to see my top five favorite A Christmas Carol adaptations, ending with my number one pick!
Scrooged (1988)
A modern and comical take on the traditional A Christmas Carol story following Frank Cross played by Bill Murray. Frank is a successful television executive who is nothing short of miserly. After driving away the love of his life, Clarie Phillips, and firing a staff member, Eliot Loudermilk, on Christmas Eve, Frank is visited by three ghosts who attempt to set him on the right path. Perhaps the most inaccurate of any adaptation on this list, this adaption still makes the list because of its creativity and humorous elements.
Disney’s A Christmas Carol (2009)
The only animated adaptation on this list, Jim Carrey’s Disney’s A Christmas Carol takes the spot for good reason. Following the traditional narrative of A Christmas Carol, this film brings the story to life using motion capture. While not everyone’s favorite, I believe this film deserves a spot because of its nostalgia and animation. Each ghost was captured just how the book describes them and Scrooge in this film is the pinnacle of “a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner!” — he is downright terrifying at times!
Scrooge (1951)
Alastair Sim is perhaps one of the most well-known Scrooge actors out of any of them, and for good reason. His performance as Scrooge is one that still comes to mind for me when I first think of the character. The black-and-white film makes the story feel timeless (if you watch the colorized version, never speak to me again) while also retaining warmth in the joyous moments. I simply could not have made a list of A Christmas Carol adaptations and left out Scrooge.
The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017)
Although not a true adaptation of the 1843 classic, this film quickly jumped to the top of my list when I first watched it years ago. I have so much love for Charles Dickens and this novel he created, so getting a somewhat biographical rendition of Dickens’ process while writing was truly beautiful. This film follows Dickens as he finds himself in financial trouble following the failure of his last three books. He promises his editor he will get a book to him in six weeks, just before the holidays, and is forced to seek inspiration from those around him. There is something so satisfying about the scenes where Dickens’ characters quite literally talk to him and reveal the story to him. As an author, I found myself wishing that was how my brain worked!
The Muppet’s Christmas Carol (1992)
Anyone who knows me knows that there was no competition for the number one spot on my list. If I could only watch one more Christmas movie for the rest of my life, it would be The Muppet’s Christmas Carol. I was never a huge fan of the Muppets, but I did love A Christmas Carol and this film has an immense amount of nostalgia for me. Everything about this movie from the hopeful and catchy music to the humorous depiction of Rizzo as Charles Dickens makes this movie a truly incredible adaptation. And, believe it or not, this is the adaptation, in my opinion, that most closely follows the original novel. If you haven’t seen it yet, stop reading right now and go watch it. I’m serious! It is a true gem, timelessly magical in its storytelling ability.
From humorous adaptations to children’s retellings, each adaptation of A Christmas Carol brings something unique and mesmerizing to the table. As we get closer and closer to the holiday season, it is time for us all to remember the true meaning of Christmas: friends and family should be held dear and you should give money to a crippled boy and his family. But seriously, this story reminds us all what it is to be human; a lesson that we don’t see very often. It is one I try to hold dear. I believe Tiny Tim says it best… “God bless us, everyone!”.
Looking for a brand new book to read for Christmas this year? Look no further!
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