Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

A Christmas Carol

Play trailer Poster for A Christmas Carol TV-G 1984 1h 40m Kids & Family Holiday Fantasy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
98% Tomatometer 50 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Dickens' London miser Ebenezer Scrooge (George C. Scott) meets the ghosts of Christmases past, present and yet to come.
Watch on Fandango at Home Stream Now

Where to Watch

A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol

What to Know

Critics Consensus

A Christmas Carol stands out as a beautifully atmospheric, faithfully Dickensian adaptation whose suspense, warmth, and richly shaded Scrooge make it a strong contender for the definitive screen version.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
John Leonard New York Magazine/Vulture Dec 4
As Scrooge, Scott is wonderful. Go to Full Review
Tom Shales Washington Post Dec 4
The adapter, Roger O. Hirson, and the director, Clive Donner, have reinvigorated the tale, and Scott gives Scrooge the breath of life. This version is so splendid it is likely to become the preferred edition for years to come. Go to Full Review
Carol Burton Terry Newsday Dec 4
It is a glorious tale, filled with suspense and wonder, a touch of mystery, and above all, warmth and love in jolly good measure. Go to Full Review
David Parkinson Radio Times Dec 4
3/5
Director Clive Donner laudably avoids cheap visual effects and makes atmospheric use of his Shrewsbury locations. Go to Full Review
Pam Grady Reel.com Dec 4
This is a handsome production, as well, with lavish production design and gorgeous (particularly for a TV movie) cinematography. Go to Full Review
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Michael A @Tomato547 Jan 8 Probably one of the best Christmas movies of all time! See more Alex N @awnelson17 Dec 25 The 1984 television adaptation of A Christmas Carol ranks among the finest works ever made for television. I fell in love with it the first time I saw it on TV, not because it chased spectacle, but because it honors the moral weight of Dickens. It understands that this Christmas story is not shallow sentimentality, but reckoning followed by renewal, and it trusts the audience to recognize truth when it is presented plainly. At the center, George C. Scott delivers a definitive Scrooge, severe, intelligent, and ultimately redeemable. His transformation feels earned rather than imposed. Roger Rees, as Fred, embodies warmth and moral confidence (the personification of the good side of humanity), while David Warner gives Bob Cratchit a quiet, dignified decency. What makes this version endure is its refusal to separate joy from judgment. It is emotional, tear jerking, and deeply satisfying because it insists that happiness flows from moral recognition and the choice to be better. See more Matthew B. @bromley93 Dec 24 George C. Scott's Scrooge is unforgettable See more Blu B Dec 22 This stands right with the very best adaptations of the timeless tale. Can't believe this is a TV movie. It's a sin this didn't get a Christmas release. As with all the best versions the editing and pacing are masterful here which is expected with such a timeless tale. Music is solid but it is a little forgettable. I do wish it was a bit more catchy like the Muppet one. Everything else is really well done. Scott is first rate as Scrooge and was born to play this role along with Patton. If I had to pick between Scott or Sims...man Sims by a hair. Even though it can be a little on the cheap side at times hence the TV trappings it's still very high quality all around and for most people I don't think they could tell. Great direction too but most of all it doesn't resort to adding any bells or whistles or making insulting changes/updates to a tale that's been told hundreds of times on film with many more to come. It succeeds at letting the core message shine like the best versions. See more David S. @baxter667 Dec 18 A great film that has aged remarkably well, this interesting and very dark adaptation of a Christmas Carol, is still the definitive version for me and it's my favorite Christmas film. A great George C Scott, a likeable British cast, and beautifully shot locations, it's a Christmas movie for people that like Christmas movies and I love this one!!! See more Orlando R. @ManFromAnotherPlace Dec 15 One of George C. Scott’s best performances. He plays a grouch so well that at the end it’s awkward to see Scrooge being a happy guy with a new lease on life. Haha See more Read all reviews
A Christmas Carol

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Movie Info

Synopsis Dickens' London miser Ebenezer Scrooge (George C. Scott) meets the ghosts of Christmases past, present and yet to come.
Director
Clive Donner
Producer
Alfred R. Kelman, William F. Storke
Screenwriter
Roger O. Hirson
Production Co
Entertainment Partners Ltd.
Rating
TV-G
Genre
Kids & Family, Holiday, Fantasy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 1, 2013
Runtime
1h 40m
Most Popular at Home Now