Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- somber
- eerie
- haunting
- christmas eve
- holiday movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Patrick Stewart's performance, the faithful adaptation, polished direction, and detailed production design, while some found the film austere and lacking warmth or fun.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Jacob Marley and the three Christmas spirits structure Scrooge's confrontation with his life and consequences.
The film emphasizes detailed 1840s London sets and period staging.
Scrooge's journey is explicitly devoted to recognizing and correcting his cruelty and selfishness.
Christmas Eve visitation and holiday celebration frame the film's ethical transformation.
Films like A Christmas Carol, and why
Scrooge
faithful literary adaptation, Victorian Christmas setting, supernatural visitation, and moral redemption
The Muppet Christmas Carol
Christmas fantasy, miserly protagonist, ghostly intervention, and sentimental transformation
A Christmas Carol
darkly atmospheric Dickens adaptation centered on social conscience and spiritual redemption
The Man Who Invented Christmas
period Christmas fantasy with supernatural encounters and an emphasis on moral change
Movie Details
- Director
- David Hugh Jones
- Release Date
- 1999-12-05
- Runtime
- 97 min
- Rating
- 7.0 / 10 (238)
Cast
- Patrick Stewart
- Richard E. Grant
- Joel Grey
- Ian McNeice
- Saskia Reeves
- Desmond Barrit
- Bernard Lloyd
- Dominic West
- Trevor Peacock
- Liz Smith
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is A Christmas Carol about?
- A stern Victorian miser is forced by ghosts to confront the human cost of his selfishness before Christmas morning.
- What is A Christmas Carol like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of A Christmas Carol as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is A Christmas Carol violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in A Christmas Carol.
- What did critics think of A Christmas Carol?
- Critics broadly praised Patrick Stewart's performance, the faithful adaptation, polished direction, and detailed production design, while some found the film austere and lacking warmth or fun.
- Which films are like A Christmas Carol?
- Films with a similar feel include Scrooge, The Muppet Christmas Carol, A Christmas Carol, and The Man Who Invented Christmas.
- How long is A Christmas Carol?
- A Christmas Carol runs 97 minutes.
- Where can I watch A Christmas Carol?
- In United States, A Christmas Carol is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
