There are manygreat Christmas picture , such as the well - knownHallmark characterization , but one of the most famous Christmas stories is that of Charles Dickens’A Christmas Carol . Some of its adaptation aremore accurate to the bookthan others , but there are always some good and bad picture in this accumulation .

But before we jump into the list , it ’s good to observe the 1999 TV picture adaptation starring Patrick Stewart ,   which has a 7.4 evaluation on IMDb and did n’t fit into the leaning , though it ’s still deserving a watch . Without further ado , here are The 5 Best & 5 Worst Film Adaptations OfA Christmas Carol , Ranked .

Worst: Scrooged (1988) - 7.0

Despite being in the " spoiled " family on this list , 1988’sScroogedis actually a decent cinema and a good comedy with Bill Murray in the title role . Critics did n’t like the version   ⁠ — it only has a 38 out of 100   score on Metacritic   ⁠ — but even viewer enjoy it a mint , which lead in a 7.0 rating on IMDb .

This modern retelling has the so - called Frank Cross as its main character reference instead of the original Ebenezer Scrooge . Cross is a misanthropical telecasting executive director who is claver by three ghosts of Christmas and gradually becomes a different person and changes his worldviews .

Best: Scrooge (1970) - 7.5

1970’sScroogeis by far one of the most faithful adaptations of Dickens ' novel . It manages to turn the story into a musical while sticking to the source stuff as much as possible . This , of line , led to commercial and vital success .

In fact , this motion picture was nominated for   a BAFTA , five lucky Globes , and four Academy Awards , with Albert Finney acquire the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Musical / Comedy . The score was also nominate , which is plausibly the reason why the moving-picture show was adapt into a stage melodic in 1992 .

Worst: A Christmas Carol (2009) - 6.8

Even though Robert Zemeckis ' take on the classic is rated as one of the worst adaptation , it is actually pretty beneficial in many ways . 2009’sA Christmas Carolfeatures an all - star casting of Jim Carrey , Gary Oldman , Colin Firth , and others .

What shit this adaption rightfully special is the 3D computer animation   technique used to make the film . The visuals are still awful even though the technology has become jolly outdated over time .

Best: A Christmas Carol (1938) - 7.5

Another inglorious - and - white motion-picture show on the list , 1938’sA Christmas Carolis astonishingly quite good , all thing view . It was originally mean to be release in 1939 , was hurry into output , and then fill in within a matter of week , which often result in disaster .

There is not much to say about this adaptation except that it was after colorized when it was release on VHS in 1988 . To make the motion-picture show more of a family - favorable picture , many darker vista of the story were dropped , but that did not act upon the quality of the film as much as it did with the 1935 variant .

Worst: Scrooge (1935) - 6.6

1935’sScroogeis one of the few black - and - white film on this tilt and , coincidently , one of the high-risk 1 . It stars Sir Seymour Hicks as Ebenezer Scrooge , the actor who played this character on stage since 1901 and also in the 1913 British silent motion-picture show .

There is a number of differences between the Word of God and the film which is perhaps the understanding why this adjustment is not as highly regarded as others . For instance , some characters like Scrooge ’s sister Fan are not present while other fiber like the ghosts do n’t amply appear on the screen .

Best: The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) - 7.7

If you are search for a mob - friendly adaptation of Dickens ' book , thenThe Muppet Christmas Carolis the one for you . This melodic was the fourth featureMuppetsfilm and the first to be produced after the death of their creator , Jim Henson .

This movie was also the firstMuppetsmovie produced by Disney ( which eventually bought the dealership ) , so you’re able to be certain that your tiddler will sleep with the film while you will be able to enjoy the song and express mirth at the gag .

Worst: A Christmas Carol: The Musical (2004) - 6.5

This is another musical adaptation , but this time it was not that just .

The screenplay was based on the 1994 leg musical by Alan Menken and Lynn Ahrens . The grievance to the movie has 22 songs , most of which were adapt from the stage as well . Nevertheless , this did not help the moving picture much in any way .

Best: A Christmas Carol (1984) - 7.8

1984’sA Christmas Carolis another video movie , but this one is much estimable than the melodious variant . Clive Donner , who edited the successfulScroogeway back in 1951 , study up the theatrical role of director for this project and did not let down anyone .

This adaptation is still one of the most dear of the presently be single . When it first aired on video , it quickly grew a dedicated fanbase . Later on , it was relinquish on VHS and then on DVD and even Blu - ray .

Worst: Ms. Scrooge (1997) - 5.4

By far the worst adaptation of Dickens '   novel is 1997’sMs . Scrooge . Though the movie attempted to go up the fib in a new and never - before - seen way , it failed at being original or at least pretty good . UnlikeScrooged , Ms. Scrooge is definitely something you would call a " failed experimentation . "

The role of Ebenezer Scrooge and Jacob Marley are gender - swapped into Ms. Ebenita Scrooge and Maude Marley while the location is changed from London to Providence , Rhode Island . The story   being change this much might be one of the reasons why   this adjustment was n’t that successful .

Best: Scrooge (A Christmas Carol) (1951) - 8.1

As mention sooner , 1951’sScroogewas very successful . Also known asA Christmas Carol , this movie has some differences from the original story , but these differences recreate out in a way that benefits the film rather than rive it down and decreasing its character .

For example , Scrooge ’s backstory is way more elaborate here and we actually learn about how he became such a pitiful person . This is only one of the many changes that ultimately elevated the film and made it more successful both critically and commercially .

NEXT : The 10 Best Hallmark Christmas Movies , Ranked

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The Muppet Christmas Carol

Scrooged

Scrooge 1970

Ebenezer Scrooge looks angry in A Christmas Carol 2009

A Christmas Carol 1938

Scrooge 1935

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A Christmas Carol. The Musical

A Christmas Carol 1984

Ms. Scrooge

Scrooge 1951

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A Christmas Carol