GoodWatchSign up

A Christmas Carol

1938·Movie
1h 9min·NR
IMDb7.5Metacritic728.0Rotten Tomatoes100%74%

Where to watch

HBO Max

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

What's your score?

Your score

A Christmas Carol fingerprint

Strong craft, striking style, a touch of humor.

Energy

Tense

  • Tension7
  • Scare6
  • Fast Pace4

Heart

Deeply moving and melancholic

  • Pathos9
  • Melancholy8
  • Catharsis8

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay4
  • Satire & Parody3
  • Dark Humor3

World

History, the mind, and faith and meaning

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion8
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Rewatchability6

Craft

Standout direction, performances, and characters

  • Direction8
  • Acting8
  • Character Depth8

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition7

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFamily Movie NightFriends NightIntergenerationalKidsPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensBackground WatchComfort WatchDrop-in FriendlyThought-Provoking

Find more like it

Melancholic moviesAtmospheric movies

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

Greater than "David Copperfield"!

Miser Ebenezer Scrooge is awakened on Christmas Eve by spirits who reveal to him his own miserable existence, what opportunities he wasted in his youth, his current cruelties, and the dire fate that awaits him if he does not change his ways. Scrooge is faced with his own story of growing bitterness and meanness, and must decide what his own future will hold: death or redemption.
Christmas ClassicRedemption StoryVictorian EraGhost StoryMoral TransformationClassic LiteratureHeartwarmingMelancholic UndertonesSpiritual Reflection

Crew

Directed by:
Edwin L. Marin
Written by:
Charles Dickens, Hugo Butler
Produced by:
Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Composed by:
Franz Waxman

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about A Christmas Carol

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream A Christmas Carol legally?

HBO Max

A Christmas Carol is included with a subscription to HBO Max in the United States. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Google Play Movies. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is A Christmas Carol worth watching?

80
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 80/100 (IMDb 7.5, Rotten Tomatoes 100%, and Metacritic 72). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is A Christmas Carol rated?

NR

It's rated NR in the United States.

How long is A Christmas Carol?

1 h 9 min

A Christmas Carol runs 1 h 9 min.

Is A Christmas Carol based on a true story?

No. It's adapted from a novel.

Do critics and audiences agree on A Christmas Carol?

Critics86
Audiences76

Not quite. Critics rate A Christmas Carol higher (86) than audiences (76). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

What language is A Christmas Carol in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch A Christmas Carol?

41ARATAUBEBGBOBRBZCACHCLCOCRDE+27

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for A Christmas Carol in 41 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does A Christmas Carol use?

Sand in My EyesWhen He SmilesJacob Marley ApparelInformed PovertyOh, Crap!One of the KidsGeorge Jetson Job SecurityRunning Away to CryNot So Above It AllInnocently InsensitiveAdaptational AttractivenessO.O.C. Is Serious Businessand 8 more

TV Tropes lists 20 storytelling tropes for A Christmas Carol, including Sand in My Eyes, When He Smiles, Jacob Marley Apparel.