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A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol

In just one night, he has seen his past, his present, and his future... and they've all come back to haunt him.

TV movie199995 minPGMidcredits score: 88th percentile of all films
Director
David Hugh Jones
Starring
Patrick Stewart, Richard E. Grant, Joel Grey, Ian McNeice

Miser Ebenezer Scrooge is awakened on Christmas Eve by spirits who reveal to him his own miserable existence, what opportunities he wasted in his youth, his current cruelties, and the dire fate that awaits him if he does not change his ways. Scrooge is faced with his own story of growing bitterness and meanness, and must decide what his own future will hold: death or redemption.

Where to watch

Where can I watch A Christmas Carol?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists A Christmas Carol streaming on Shout! TV via The Roku Channel and The Roku Channel (free) and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about A Christmas Carol?

A Christmas Carol earns 7 badges, led by Universally Loved and Top 10% in Drama.

  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office
  • Cast

Reception

Is A Christmas Carol worth watching?

A Christmas Carol's Midcredits score is the 88th percentile of all films, from 24K ratings across 4 sources. 79% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

88th percentile

Better received than 88% of films

90th percentile among Drama89th percentile among 1990s
Acclaim (how much people like it)83rd
Approval (how many liked it)89th

71 /100

83rd percentile of all films

86th percentile among Drama86th percentile among 1990s

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 7.6 — solid but not unanimous.

79% liked it

89th percentile of all films

91st percentile among Drama90th percentile among 1990s
79% rated it 7–1021% rated it 1–6

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 0 wins / 5 noms overall

Reach

How many have seen it

89th percentile

24K ratings across platforms

91st percentile among Drama84th percentile among 1990s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 3% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

This is a very faithful adaptation of Dickens' original story with a strong central performance by Patrick Stewart, though it lacks the warmth and humor of classic versions.

Fans praised

  • Patrick Stewart's deeply committed performance as a Victorian miser
  • Most faithful adaptation to Dickens' original text among modern versions
  • Effective atmosphere and bleak depiction of Cratchit family poverty

Detractors panned

  • Stewart's cold, joyless performance lacking warmth and humor
  • Disappointing spectres: weak Ghost of Christmas Present, silly-looking Future ghost
  • Flat direction with jarring visual wipes and sterile sets

What stands out

ActingDivisive72

Stewart's committed but polarizing Scrooge; Grant and Grey praised

CharactersDivisive65

Cratchits feel poor and real; Fred charming; Scrooge lacks depth in some views

AtmosphereDivisive65

Oppressive Victorian London atmosphere praised by some, called joyless by others

Plot and story60

Faithful storyline but seen as overly familiar

Emotional impactDivisive55

Moved some fans; detractors found redemption scene hollow and unconvincing

Dialogue55

Mostly faithful but some modernization irks purists; lacks Dickensian humor

CinematographyDivisive55

Decent TV-level photography but sterile sets and limited budget

Effects and spectacle45

Ghost effects sometimes impressive; Future ghost widely mocked as looking like a Jawa

Preferred by

Critics vs users

Preferred by Users

Users scored it 14 points higher than critics.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 3 points apart
  • US vs non-US 4 points apart

Watch experience

What is A Christmas Carol like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Feel-good: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want something that leaves you smiling.

It takes its time and leaves you hopeful. Skip it when you want things to move fast.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Patience.

What it feels like

Feel-good.

Moods
ContemplativeHopefulMelancholic
Heaviest: middle
Register
Solemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.Warm
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film treats Dickens' moral tale with reverence and earnest sentiment.
The rideThe film balances somber reflection with a growing sense of hope; the heaviest stretch comes during the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come sequence, which is the darkest moment before the joyful turn.
StructureThe story unfolds in a linear sequence of visits from the spirits, with flashbacks embedded within the first visit.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Hopeful.

The answer rests on this: HopefulFeel-good
Why it leaves you this wayThe film leaves you uplifted and believing in the possibility of change.
How it ends · evidence
Happy ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Rebirth
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13% (this title): Redemption 3% (this title) · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Rebirth: A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed. · Redemption: Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).

13% of films fit this archetype

Why this archetypeA miser is visited by three ghosts who show him his past, present, and future, prompting a moral reawakening.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% (this title) · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16% (this title): Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% (this title) · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% (this title) · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Morality

Redemption · 6% of filmsCommunity · 14% of films: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Family bonds
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe film explores how a man can earn back his humanity by confronting his past and embracing connection with others.
StanceThe film affirms that redemption is possible through compassion and human connection, celebrating Scrooge's transformation as a triumph of the spirit.

The world

19th centuryUrbanDomesticInstitutionalStylized realism
Orchestral classicalFolkSupportive music · original score · Stephen Warbeck
SettingVictorian London at Christmastime, moving between counting-houses, humble homes, and the streets
MusicA warm, melodic score that evokes Victorian carols and underscores the emotional journey.

Content guide

Is A Christmas Carol okay for kids?

PG

A Christmas Carol is rated PG. As of March 15, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at moderate (40/100), sexual content at minimal (10/100), language at minimal (0/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (20/100) and frightening material at moderate (40/100). None has enough votes to rank yet.

Ratings in 3 other countries
  • UKPG
  • Germany6
  • IrelandPG
Overall
Mild · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Moderate
too few votes to rank (5 votes)
Sex & Nudity
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (7 votes)
Profanity
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (3 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
too few votes to rank (5 votes)
Frightening / Intense
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
too few votes to rank (5 votes)

Too few votes to rank this title overall (25 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does A Christmas Carol have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in A Christmas Carol?

Cast

1 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Patrick Stewart
as Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge
SAG nominee: Screen Actors Guild Award nomination — Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or MiniseriesTop draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Richard E. Grant
as Bob Cratchit
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Joel Grey
as The Ghost of Christmas Past
Ian McNeice
as Mr. Albert Fezziwig
Saskia Reeves
as Mrs. Cratchit
Desmond Barrit
as The Ghost of Christmas Present
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Bernard Lloyd
as Marley's Ghost
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Dominic West
as Fred (Scrooge's nephew)
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
newcomer then · star now
Trevor Peacock
as Old Joe
Liz Smith
as Mrs. Dilber

Crew

More like this

What are movies like A Christmas Carol?

Movies like A Christmas Carol include Scrooge (1970), A Christmas Carol (1951) and The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992). Of the 9 closest matches, most are Christmas films, and most are stories about ghosts.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

Charles Dickens wrote 7 of these 9. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with A Christmas Carol?

220 other films share the rarest tag below, relationship: master and servant. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.