Spirited (2022)
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2025-09 to 2026-08
The story
For nearly two centuries, a team of spirits led by Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet-to-Come have worked to find and redeem one human soul every Christmas. The Ghost of Christmas Present, who has been eligible for retirement for decades, refuses to leave his post despite the temptation of a second chance on Earth. When the spirits encounter Clint Briggs, a callous and manipulative media consultant, the Ghost of Christmas Present argues that Clint's redemption could have a ripple effect on humanity. The team begins a year of research on Clint in preparation for the annual haunt as Christmas approaches.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
The Ghosts begin a year of research on Clint Briggs, a callous media consultant. During the haunt, the process is complicated when Clint's executive, Kimberly, becomes able to see the Ghost of Christmas Present. The haunt derails when Clint interrupts the proceedings, and Present eventually reveals his own past as Ebenezer Scrooge to convince Clint of the possibility of redemption. Present takes Clint through various memories, including his relationship with his sister Carrie. Ultimately, Clint convinces Present to take retirement and try life on Earth. After a series of events where Clint faces his fears and eventually dies, he is taken to the afterlife by his sister. In a twist, Clint becomes the new Ghost of Christmas Present, while the original Present becomes mortal and marries Kimberly. The film ends with a new status quo for the spirit team.
- First release year
- 2022
- Runtime (minutes)
- 127
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Sean Anders
- Writers
- Sean Anders · writer; John Morris · writer
- Cast and characters
- Will Ferrell · Ebenezer Scrooge, the current Ghost of Christmas Present; Ryan Reynolds · Clint Briggs; Octavia Spencer · Kimberly Parks; Sunita Mani · Bonnie, the Ghost of Christmas Past; Patrick Page · Jacob Marley; Andrea Anders · Carrie Briggs; Marlow Barkley · Wren / Young Carrie; Tracy Morgan · the voice of Yet to Come
- Genres
- comedy; musical
- Themes
- redemption; sacrifice
- Tone and mood
- comedy; musical
- Premise and plot tags
- Christmas; supernatural; reimagining
- Source material / true-story basis
- A Christmas Carol
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics, with the songs and performances and chemistry of Ferrell and Reynolds receiving praise.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 55 · scale: 100 · review count: 25
- Production trivia
- The film marks the final appearance of Judi Dench before her retirement from acting in 2022.; The production budget was increased to $75 million.; The film was shot in Boston, which stood in for Manhattan.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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