A musical adaptation of A Christmas Carol, Spirited, starring Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds, is the brand-new holiday film. This is a contemporary and humorous retelling of the traditional story that rewrites Ebenezer Scrooge’s role in favour of the ghosts.
The novella A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens has been portrayed in scores of movies and television shows. Some of them are quite faithful to the original work, while others try to reinvent the story. These Redditors discussed which of this classic’s adaptations they thought was the greatest.
A Christmas Carol (1951)
The best holiday film in black and white is this 1951 adaptation of A Christmas Carol. This older film adaptation of the classic follows the plot and resolution quite closely to Dickens’ original writing, so it’s another one that keeps fairly true to the source material.
Another outstanding performance playing Ebenezer Scrooge makes this version stand out to viewers. “1951 Alistair Sim Version is by far the greatest of the versions out there as his change from mean to joyful is most convincing,” wrote Reddit user skinschamps2000. The Scrooge persona and his transition must be believable for viewers to fully comprehend this timeless story.
A Christmas Carol (1984)
One of the most accurate retellings of Scrooge’s tale is this one. When Ebenezer changes and becomes a new man, he performs the three significant good deeds that he did in the original story after being visited by the three spirits recognised by those names in Dickens’ novel.
The way George C. Scott portrayed Ebenezer is one of the aspects of this faithful adaptation that people have admired the most. But he plays Scrooge to perfection, a Reddit user named clwestbr added after saying, “Movie is quite nice.” Despite the fact that many adaptations closely replicate Dickens’ original work, this one is a favourite due to Scott’s convincing portrayal of the lead character.
A Christmas Carol (1999)
The adaptation of A Christmas Carol is thought to be the most authentic in terms of maintaining a tight relationship with the themes and characters, even if there are several versions that are close to the original story. This movie is many viewers’ favourite retelling of the classic, despite the fact that it was only filmed for television.
As much as I love many of the other adaptations, this is the one I like the most, according to Reddit user thenightisyoungish. These viewers thought Patrick Stewart did a fantastic job portraying Scrooge, and his work only served to enhance this realistic portrayal.
A Christmas Carol (2009)
One of the worst interpretations of A Christmas Carol, it accurately captures Scrooge’s initial villainy and presents the ghosts as genuinely unsettling figures. The happy conclusion is all the more impactful because of this grim picture.
Despite the numerous disputes surrounding this adaptation, many viewers find Scrooge’s portrayal of Scrooge’s emotions to be genuinely intriguing. “The section of the movie where he sees his past when he was a little child in a boarding school, that was genuinely deep for me,” remarked Reddit user road-hogwithanolddog. Viewers were moved by these poignant sequences, which helped them see the character as more than just a cranky old man.
Blackadder’s Christmas Carol (1988)
This is a TV special rather than a feature-length film that does a remarkable job of capturing this well-known tale. This story begins with Ebenezer being one of the kindest men in London rather than portraying him as a rapacious, cruel man. In a surprise, he turns out to be a resentful and evil character since he believes they enjoy themselves the most.
“Nice little ‘twist’ on the story (moving from good to bad, because he realises how ‘bad’ can bring you money),” a now-deleted Reddit user commented. This isn’t the choice for those seeking a true adaptation, but viewers who enjoy a comedic, unique perspective on the well-known story may find it to be an amusing watch.
Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983)
The important ideas from the original are highlighted in this vintage Disney remake, which features well-known Mickey Mouse characters all through. Surprisingly, this animated movie largely adheres to the original plot while also making the gritty topics more tolerable for younger audiences.
This is the adaption that Reddit user Tebeku grew up seeing, and they still think it’s a “great work of animation.” Although it may not be the most faithful rendition of Dickens’ novel, this adaptation is ideal for introducing the beloved tale to young viewers. This version is also popular among adults, who watch it throughout the holiday season.
Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol (1962)
This rendition was part of a brief television show with musical undertones. In this Mr. Magoo special, the persona plays the part of Scrooge. Unlike a cinematic adaptation, the Mr. Magoo rendition conveys the original plot in a shorter, snappier manner.
Although this timeless story doesn’t often feature music, fans adored the fun tunes in this brief special. Reddit user MBAMBA3 even wrote, “I’m shocked it hasn’t been produced on Broadway, the songs are that wonderful.” This adaptation is successful in paying tribute to Dickens while also producing something new and enjoyable for the whole family.
Scrooge (1970)
Another version that stays true to the original but amplifies the fun by becoming a musical is this one. In this rendition, the characters are captured through musical numbers, particularly the three ghosts, who each have a song specifically tailored to their respective missions.
I considered Albert Finney’s portrayal of Scrooge to be much more credible as a guy who was meant to be nearing the end of his life, according to Reddit user TheCountofMonteZebra. Viewers thought Finney’s Scrooge was believable given his current situation of life, despite the musical part of this version.
Scrooged (1988)
The movie Scrooged, which stars Bill Murray as a television president who is harsh to his employees and makes them work throughout the holidays, is a contemporary retelling of this tale. But it respects the original tale by having him meet three spirits and then turn around.
Another adaption where people felt the actor was perfect for the part is this one. Reddit user who has since been deleted wrote, “Just a beautiful work from Bill Murray.” Murray does a fantastic job of portraying a conventional, grouchy Scrooge with a sense of humour to match his eccentric demeanour in earlier movies.
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
The Muppets’ ability to adapt this story in a humorous manner while still honouring the original story is beloved by fans of this Christmas classic. As Reddit user res30stupid put it, “it takes a rare actor who can be both cool and collected and still ham it up with the friggin Muppets at the same time.” Viewers particularly complimented Michael Cain’s portrayal of Scrooge.
Because the Muppets can amuse the audience while retaining the themes of the original, this is a favourite rendition of this old story. The movie also succeeds in paying tribute to Dickens’ story by incorporating perceptive passages from the timeless book.