SummaryOn Christmas Eve, Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by the spirit of his former partner, Jacob Marley. The deceased partner was as mean and miserly as Scrooge is now and he warns him to change his ways or face the consequences in the afterlife.
Directed By:Edwin L. Marin
Written By:Charles Dickens, Hugo Butler
A Christmas Carol
Metascore
Generally Favorable
72
User score
Generally Favorable
8.0
My Score
Drag or tap to give a rating
Hover and click to give a rating
Not available in your country?
ExpressVPN
Get 3 Extra months free
$6.67/mth
Top Cast







Metascore
Generally Favorable
100% Positive
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
80
Though faithful to the book in many ways, this adaptation, though serious in tone, removed many of the more upsetting elements of the story, including darker aspects of Scrooge's visions of his death and his past tragic romance.
75
A decidedly sentimental American version, with much comedy (by mistake, Bob Cratchit actually knocks Scrooge's hat off with a snowball) and fortified with a Scrooge who is not so much a born-to-be-cruel wretch but a tortured soul who lost the meaning of Christmas along the way. [15 Dec 1992, p.6D]
75
A great and eternally heart-warming film that can stand an appreciative viewing every year through every decade.
75
Reginald Owen stars as Ebenezer Scrooge, the Christmas-hating curmudgeon who finally gets the spirit in this 1938 adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic. [05 Dec 2014, p.C2]
70
The wonderful British character actor Reginald Owen hits all the right notes as the ultimate miser, Scrooge. Equally fine are Gene Lockhart and his real-life wife, Kathleen, as Bob and Mrs. Crachit. [21 Dec 2000, p.F36]
67
This is padded a bit but still faithful and entertaining. [11 Dec 1992, p.AE15]
User score
Generally Favorable
71% Positive
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
29% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
Jan 26, 2026
10
This is the greatest movie of all time by far. Very, very underrated Christmas movie.
Production Company:
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
Release Date:Dec 16, 1938
Duration:1 h 9 m
Rating:TV-G
Tagline:Greater than "David Copperfield" !
Awards
Photoplay Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination




























