The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
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A greedy, lonely moneylender in 19th-century London is visited by three spirits on Christmas Eve to help him change his ways.
The story
Narrated by Charles Dickens (Gonzo) and Rizzo, the film follows Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly moneylender in 19th-century London. On Christmas Eve, Scrooge rejects his nephew's invitation to dinner and ignores those seeking charity. After his clerk, Bob Cratchit, is granted time off, Scrooge is visited in his bedchambers by the ghosts of his former business partners, who warn him of the consequences of his greed. They inform him that three spirits will visit him during the night to show him the truth of his life and the importance of the holiday, potentially leading him to a path of redemption before the new year begins.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Narrated by Gonzo and Rizzo, the story follows Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly man in 19th-century London. On Christmas Eve, he rejects his nephew's invitation and ignores charity seekers. That night, the ghosts of his partners, Marley, warn him of his fate. He is then visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past, showing him his lonely childhood and his failed romance with Belle. Next, the Ghost of Christmas Present shows him the joy of the holiday, including the humble life of Bob Cratchit and his family. Finally, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come shows him a future where his death is met with indifference, and he sees his own name on a neglected grave. Terrified, Scrooge vows to change. On Christmas Day, he becomes a generous man, reconciling with his family and providing for the poor. The film concludes with a celebration where he ensures Bob Cratchit's well-being and the survival of Tiny Tim.
- First release year
- 1992
- Runtime (minutes)
- 86
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Brian Henson
- Writers
- Jerry Juhl · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Michael Caine · Ebenezer Scrooge; Dave Goelz · Muppet performer; Steve Whitmire · Muppet performer; Jerry Nelson · Muppet performer; Frank Oz · Muppet performer; Meredith Braun · Belle; Robin Weaver · Clara; Steven Mackintosh · Fred
- Genres
- Christmas musical; musical film
- Themes
- Redemption; Greed; Charity; Family
- Tone and mood
- Heartwarming; Whimsical
- Setting
- 19th-century London
- Premise and plot tags
- Adaptation; Musical; Fantasy
- Source material / true-story basis
- A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
- Franchise connections
- The Muppets
- Reception
- The film received generally favorable reviews and has grown in critical acclaim over the years, often being cited as one of the best Christmas films of all time.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 77% · scale: percentage · review count: 56; Metacritic · score: 64 · scale: 100 · review count: 27; CinemaScore · score: A · scale: A+ to F
- Awards and nominations
- Grammy Award · Best Spoken Word Album for Children · 1994 · Nominated
- Production trivia
- It is the first Muppet film where a human is the main protagonist.; The film was the first Muppet film to be produced following the deaths of creator Jim Henson and performer Richard Hunt.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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