Christmas stories and movies are one of the most popular genres of films. Unsurprisingly, most people tend to watch them during the Christmas holidays, but the best Christmas movies have their charm regardless of what time of year it is. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is one of the greatest classics that mixes together a touch of horror and joy.
As such, it's been adapted multiple times, with mixed results. With so many movie adaptations of the classic tale to choose from, it's easy to get confused and miss out on some great ones. From decades-old adaptations to more recent ones, A Christmas Carol continues to captivate readers and the audience for over a hundred years now.
5 A Christmas Carol (2009)
One of the most recent and notable adaptations of A Christmas Carol came from director Robert Zemeckis. After his movie The Polar Express (2004), Zemeckis returned to the Christmas animated movie genre once again. The animated version allows for tricks and scenes that would be hard to replicate in live-action adaptations. However, some viewers pointed out that it didn't have as strong a Christmas atmosphere as several older versions of the book.
Jim Carrey stars as Scrooge and the movie has a talented voice cast overall, including known names such as Gary Oldman, Robin Wright, and Colin Firth. Zemeckis liked the story long before he made the movie, and the enthusiasm is obvious from it. Considering the fact that the movie isn't as scary as other adaptations, it's a good first version of A Christmas Carol to watch for children.
4 A Christmas Carol (1999)
Even though the visual effects are an important part of A Christmas Carol, the story is still the most important factor. As such, it translates just as well on the TV screen as it does in movies. The 1999 TV movie is a good example of that. The most important reason why to watch this adaptation is Patrick Stewart in the leading role. Besides playing the likes of Captain Picard or Professor X, Stewart is no stranger to literary classics as well, and he gives an excellent performance in the movie. Another familiar face who fits well in the story is Richard E. Grant as Bob Cratchit, Scrooge's employee.
Those who are seeking a close adaptation of the original story should pay attention to this movie since it follows Charles Dickens' work closely. It doesn't have as good visual tricks as adaptations with higher budgets, but despite that, the movie doesn't disappoint any fan of magical Christmas stories.
3 Scrooge (1970)
Can A Christmas Carol work as a Christmas musical? This movie proves that it can and the audience largely appreciated it. Albert Finney is convincing as the originally bitter and later kind Scrooge, making the character's transformation believable. Unlike other adaptations of the story, Scrooge doesn't have a close-knit narrative, which some viewers didn't appreciate. However, the overall atmosphere of the movie and the catchy songs more than make up for it.
The movie is an ideal alternative for those who have seen multiple adaptations of A Christmas Carol and are in the mood for a slightly different one. It was even nominated for an Oscar for best original song, proving the soundtrack's quality. The movie broke several records. Not only was it the first feature-length musical version of the story, but it was also the first adaptation of A Christmas Carol filmed in color, and not black and white!
2 A Christmas Carol (1938)
One of the oldest feature film adaptations of the novel has a more fairytale atmosphere to it than the original. It's not as scary, which makes it a good adaptation for families with young children to watch. What connects both the book and this movie is that they create a strong, magical atmosphere. The movie keeps a fast pace as it only runs for 69 minutes, making it one of the shortest feature live-action versions of A Christmas Carol.
Reginald Owen gives an excellent performance as Scrooge and the movie has a talented cast overall, even though most of today's viewers won't be familiar with the actors. The movie is visually beautiful, and its special effects have aged well. Overall, the audience appreciated the movie, although some objected that its story takes several creative liberties with the book.
1 A Christmas Carol (1951)
As one of the most appreciated adaptations of the story, the 1951 movie is a good option for everybody who hasn't seen any movie version yet. It's considered a Christmas classic, making it a must-watch for all fans of the genre. To this day, Alastair Sim remains impressive as the originally distant and grumpy Scrooge whose view of life changes over the course of a single night.
Just like its 1938 predecessor, the movie has a Christmas atmosphere and convincing visual effects. Some viewers pointed out that the movie has a slower pace but those who enjoy the story and the cast's performances won't notice any such thing. An interesting fact is that Alastair Sim played Scrooge again 20 years later, in the 1971 animated short Christmas movie A Christmas Carol, which also garnered positive reviews from the audience.