A Christmas Carol: book vs. movie
A Christmas Carol may be the most-filmed story ever written, with well over a hundred versions on film, TV and stage since the early 1900s. Some are gentle and silly, with Muppets or Mickey Mouse; others are dark ghost stories. The spooky spirits can scare young children, so the right version matters a great deal. This page helps parents choose which one to watch first with a 6–9 year old, and which to save for later.
Which version should we watch?
For a 6–9 year old, start with The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992). It is funny, full of songs and close to the book, and the scary parts are short. For the youngest or most sensitive children, Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983) is even shorter and gentler. Reading a retelling first helps, because children who know Scrooge turns out well are much less frightened of the ghosts.
Save Disney’s A Christmas Carol (2009) for children who love a good scare, usually 9 and up, and the 1984 George C. Scott and 1951 Alastair Sim films for when they are ready for a slower, more serious version. Scrooged is for teens and adults.
The film and TV versions
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
FilmRated GMostly faithful
Michael Caine plays Scrooge seriously among the Muppets, with Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit and Gonzo as Charles Dickens telling the story with Rizzo the Rat. It is funny, musical and surprisingly close to the book.
For families: A great first version for 6–9s. Marley’s ghosts and the silent Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come can be a little spooky for very young viewers, and there is a sad moment for the Cratchit family. Runs about an hour and 25 minutes.
Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983)
Animated filmMostly faithful
A short Disney cartoon, under half an hour, with Scrooge McDuck as Scrooge, Mickey Mouse as Bob Cratchit and Goofy as Marley’s ghost. It tells the whole story quickly with lots of gentle humor.
For families: The easiest start for younger children. The future scene, with a grave and a fiery pit, is briefly scary, so you may want a hand ready to hold.
Disney’s A Christmas Carol (2009)
Animated filmRated PGVery close to the book
Robert Zemeckis made this motion-capture film, with Jim Carrey playing Scrooge and all three ghosts. It uses a great deal of Dickens’s own language and has thrilling flying and chase scenes.
For families: Rated PG for scary sequences and images, and many parents find it too frightening for children under 8. The ghosts, a chase by a ghostly hearse and two very thin, haunted children are intense.
A Christmas Carol (1984)
FilmVery close to the book
A TV film starring George C. Scott as a stern, believable Scrooge, with David Warner as Bob Cratchit and Edward Woodward as the Ghost of Christmas Present. It was filmed in the old English town of Shrewsbury and is a favorite holiday broadcast.
For families: Serious and atmospheric, with a creepy Marley and a dark graveyard scene. Good for confident 8–9 year olds watching with a parent; younger children may find it slow or scary.
Scrooge (1951)
FilmVery close to the book
A black-and-white British film, released in the US as A Christmas Carol, starring Alastair Sim. Many people consider Sim the finest Scrooge of all, especially in his joyful Christmas morning scene.
For families: Gloomy in places, with eerie ghosts and old-fashioned pacing. Best for older children who already know the story.
Scrooged (1988)
Modern retellingRated PG-13Modern retelling
Bill Murray plays a selfish TV boss in New York who is visited by three ghosts while his network puts on a live Christmas Carol show. It is a dark comedy for grown-ups.
For families: Not for 6–9s. It has strong language, some frightening and violent comic moments and adult jokes. Save it for teens and adults.
How the movies differ from the book
- Two Marleys and a singing narrator
- The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) gives Scrooge two ghostly partners, Jacob and Robert Marley, played by Statler and Waldorf. Gonzo appears as Charles Dickens and narrates, often using Dickens’s own words.
- Fozziwig’s rubber chicken factory
- In the book, young Scrooge works for jolly Mr. Fezziwig, a warehouse owner. In the Muppet film he becomes Fozziwig, played by Fozzie Bear, who runs a rubber chicken factory.
- Songs that are not in the book
- The Muppet film adds songs by Paul Williams, starting with a cheerful number in which the townspeople sing about how mean Scrooge is. Dickens’s story is called a carol, but it has no singing at all.
- A softer future
- The Muppet film keeps the visit to Scrooge’s grave but makes it shorter and less frightening than in the book. Disney’s 2009 film goes the other way and makes the ghosts and the future even scarier, adding a chase.
- Mostly kept: the words
- Both the Muppet film and Disney’s 2009 film use a surprising amount of Dickens’s own language, including “Bah! Humbug!” and Tiny Tim’s blessing. That makes either one a good partner for reading the book.
Questions about A Christmas Carol movies
- Is The Muppet Christmas Carol OK for kids?
- Yes. It is rated G and is a favorite family film, though the ghost scenes and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come can be a little spooky for very young or sensitive children.
- Is Disney’s A Christmas Carol (2009) too scary for kids?
- It is rated PG for scary sequences and images, and many parents find it too intense for children under 8. Children who enjoy spooky stories may love it at 9 or older.
- What is the best A Christmas Carol movie?
- For families, The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) is the most popular choice. Many grown-ups consider the 1951 Alastair Sim film and the 1984 George C. Scott film the best straight versions.
- Is The Muppet Christmas Carol the same as the book?
- It is surprisingly close and uses a lot of Dickens’s words, with Gonzo narrating as Dickens. It adds songs, Muppet jokes and two Marley brothers instead of one.
Ratings are shown only where we could confirm them. Check current ratings and streaming details before watching.