Overview
A timeless tale of redemption unfolds on a snowy Christmas Eve, reminding us of the power of change and compassion.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- sincere
- sentimental
- gently eerie
- christmas viewing
- family holiday night
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded the film as a warmly human, straightforward, well-acted holiday adaptation whose brisk pace and selective changes from Dickens were outweighed by its charm.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Marley's Ghost and the three Christmas spirits confront Scrooge with his past, present, and possible future.
The Ghost of Christmas Past reveals the happy and painful experiences that shaped Scrooge's miserly identity.
The spirits show Scrooge how families celebrate and expose the human cost of his refusal to share his wealth.
The black-and-white cinematography and apparitions give the Dickens adaptation a restrained gothic holiday atmosphere.
Films like A Christmas Carol, and why
Miracle on 34th Street
classic Christmas fantasy centered on moral transformation, generosity, and supernatural visitors
Scrooged
family-friendly holiday fantasy with ghosts, redemption, and sentimental warmth
The Muppet Christmas Carol
Dickens adaptation combining period drama, social conscience, and Christmas redemption
Movie Details
- Director
- Edwin L. Marin
- Release Date
- 1938-12-16
- Runtime
- 69 min
- Rating
- 7.0 / 10 (155)
Cast
- Reginald Owen
- Gene Lockhart
- Terry Kilburn
- Barry MacKay
- Lynne Carver
- Leo G. Carroll
- Ann Rutherford
- Lionel Braham
- Ronald Sinclair
- Kathleen Lockhart
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- 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 miser’s supernatural Christmas Eve becomes a haunting journey toward compassion, generosity, and renewal.
- What is A Christmas Carol like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of A Christmas Carol as brisk, 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 regarded the film as a warmly human, straightforward, well-acted holiday adaptation whose brisk pace and selective changes from Dickens were outweighed by its charm.
- Which films are like A Christmas Carol?
- Films with a similar feel include Miracle on 34th Street, Scrooged, and The Muppet Christmas Carol.
- How long is A Christmas Carol?
- A Christmas Carol runs 69 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, Spectrum On Demand.
