Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol, Ti West’s gothic, darkly funny take on the Dickens story with Johnny Depp as Scrooge, opened in US theaters on Friday, November 13, 2026. It is rated PG-13 for frightening material, runs 116 minutes and holds 53% on Rotten Tomatoes. Thursday previews made about $1.5 million, and Boxoffice Pro forecasts a $20 million to $25 million opening weekend. This page has the cast with photos and characters, the review verdict, a parents’ guide, the trailer and where to watch. It is spoiler-free.
Last updated on November 14, 2026. We will update the box office after the opening weekend.
Ebenezer Quick Answers
- Cast: Johnny Depp is Scrooge, with Rupert Grint, Ian McKellen, Andrea Riseborough, Tramell Tillman, Sam Claflin and Daisy Ridley. See the cast with photos.
- Review verdict: mixed to positive. 53% on Rotten Tomatoes, with Depp’s Scrooge the most praised part. See the reviews.
- Rating: PG-13 for frightening material. See the parents’ guide.
- Box office: $1.5 million in previews, $20 million to $25 million forecast for the weekend. See the box office.
- Streaming: no digital or streaming date announced. See where to watch.
Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol at a Glance
| Detail | Ebenezer |
| US release | Friday, November 13, 2026, in theaters |
| Director | Ti West |
| Screenplay | Nathaniel Halpern |
| Based on | Charles Dickens’s 1843 novella A Christmas Carol |
| Studio | Paramount Pictures |
| Runtime | 116 minutes |
| Rating | PG-13, for frightening material |
| Genre | Gothic dark fantasy comedy |
| Streaming | No digital or streaming date announced |
What Is Ebenezer About?
Ebenezer follows the story everyone knows. A bitter Ebenezer Scrooge is forced to confront his past, present and future on Christmas Eve. This version leans into Victorian gothic horror and dark comedy, spends more time on Scrooge’s family and his failed romance than most earlier versions, and includes ghosts beyond the usual three spirits, according to Attractions Magazine. But Why Tho describes it as both a supernatural thriller and a dark comedy.
Ebenezer Cast and Characters
Here is who plays whom in Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol.
Johnny DeppEbenezer Scrooge- Rupert GrintBob Cratchit
- Ian McKellenJacob Marley
- Andrea RiseboroughThe Ghost of Christmas Past
- Tramell TillmanThe Ghost of Christmas Present
- Sam ClaflinFred, Scrooge’s nephew
- Daisy RidleyClara, Fred’s wife
- Ellie BamberBelle
- Arthur ContiYoung Ebenezer
| Actor | Character |
| Johnny Depp | Ebenezer Scrooge |
| Arthur Conti | Young Ebenezer |
| Rupert Grint | Bob Cratchit |
| Ian McKellen | Jacob Marley |
| Andrea Riseborough | The Ghost of Christmas Past |
| Tramell Tillman | The Ghost of Christmas Present |
| Robert Strange | The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come |
| Sam Claflin | Fred, Scrooge’s nephew |
| Daisy Ridley | Clara, Fred’s wife |
| Ellie Bamber | Belle |
| Freddie Lee-Grey | Tiny Tim |
| Zac Wishart | Peter Cratchit |
| Eva Wishart | Martha Cratchit |
Charlie Murphy and Henry Lloyd-Hughes are also in the cast. Photo credits are at the bottom of the page.
Ebenezer Box Office
- Thursday previews (November 12): about $1.5 million, according to The Numbers and Wikipedia.
- Opening weekend forecast: $20 million to $25 million, according to Boxoffice Pro, and over $20 million according to Box Office Theory.
- The competition: Godzilla Minus Zero is forecast at $12 million to $17 million in its second weekend and The Cat in the Hat at $10 million to $15 million, according to Boxoffice Pro.
We will add the actual opening weekend figure once the studios report it.
What Are the Reviews Saying?
Critics are divided. Rotten Tomatoes has the film at 53% from about 115 reviews, and its critics consensus praises the production design and Johnny Depp’s performance but says the film plays things too safe to stand out among the many versions of the story.
| Source | Verdict |
| Rotten Tomatoes | 53%, praises Depp and the production design, says it plays too safe |
| But Why Tho | 9/10, calls it possibly the best film adaptation so far |
| Attractions Magazine | Positive, recommends it for fans of gothic ghost stories |
| Early reactions (via ComicBasics and Variety) | Split on the film, mostly agreed on Depp’s Scrooge |
The most common praise is for Depp’s lively, playful Scrooge, the gothic atmosphere and the score. Tramell Tillman as the Ghost of Christmas Present gets singled out as a scene-stealer by both But Why Tho and early reactions, and But Why Tho calls Andrea Riseborough as the Ghost of Christmas Past phenomenal. The most common criticism is that there is little new here for anyone who knows the story.
Is Ebenezer Scary? Parents’ Guide
The MPA rated it PG-13 for frightening material. Attractions Magazine says it is spooky, with jump scares and some disturbing imagery of death and decay, balanced by humor and Christmas cheer, and does not recommend it for families with younger or easily frightened children. But Why Tho calls it chilling and bleak in tone. It works as a bridge between Halloween and Christmas, but it is not a gentle family Christmas film.
Ebenezer Trailer
The video above is Official Trailer 2 from the Paramount Pictures YouTube channel.
Where to Watch Ebenezer
Ebenezer is playing in US theaters now. Check your local cinema chain or ticketing app for showtimes, and check listings in the UK, Canada and Australia if you are watching there. Paramount has not announced a digital or streaming date, and the film is not on Netflix. We will update this page when a date is confirmed.
More Christmas Movies to Watch
For more festive viewing, see our list of new Christmas movies and where to watch them. If you are choosing something for younger kids this weekend, our The Cat in the Hat guide covers the PG family option.
Ebenezer FAQ
When did Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol come out?
It opened in US theaters on Friday, November 13, 2026.
Who plays Scrooge in Ebenezer?
Johnny Depp plays Ebenezer Scrooge. Arthur Conti plays young Ebenezer.
Who directed Ebenezer?
Ti West, from a screenplay by Nathaniel Halpern.
Who plays Jacob Marley in Ebenezer?
Ian McKellen.
Who plays Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim?
Rupert Grint plays Bob Cratchit and Freddie Lee-Grey plays Tiny Tim.
Who plays the three ghosts?
Andrea Riseborough is the Ghost of Christmas Past, Tramell Tillman is the Ghost of Christmas Present and Robert Strange is the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.
What is Ebenezer rated?
PG-13 for frightening material.
Is Ebenezer scary?
It is spooky, with jump scares and some disturbing imagery, and Attractions Magazine does not recommend it for younger or easily frightened children.
Is Ebenezer good?
Reviews are mixed to positive. It holds 53% on Rotten Tomatoes, with Depp’s Scrooge and the gothic look the most praised.
How long is Ebenezer?
116 minutes.
How much did Ebenezer make on opening weekend?
Previews made about $1.5 million. Boxoffice Pro forecast $20 million to $25 million for the opening weekend. We will update this with the final figure.
Is Ebenezer based on A Christmas Carol?
Yes. It is based on Charles Dickens’s 1843 novella.
Is Ebenezer streaming?
Not yet. It is in theaters only, and no digital or streaming date has been announced.
Sources: release date, credits and cast are from Wikipedia, Rotten Tomatoes, DirecTV and Yahoo Entertainment. The rating and runtime are from Rotten Tomatoes, The Numbers and Attractions Magazine. Box office is from The Numbers, Boxoffice Pro and JoBlo. Reviews are from Rotten Tomatoes, But Why Tho, Attractions Magazine, ComicBasics and Variety. This page is not affiliated with Paramount.
Image credits, all via Wikimedia Commons and cropped: Johnny Depp, Canal22 (CC BY 3.0); Rupert Grint, Harald Krichel (CC BY-SA 4.0); Ian McKellen, Raph_PH (CC BY 2.0); Andrea Riseborough, GabboT (CC BY-SA 2.0); Tramell Tillman, Gabriel Hutchinson (CC BY-SA 4.0); Sam Claflin, Ibsan73 (CC BY 2.0); Daisy Ridley, MTV International (CC BY 3.0); Ellie Bamber, John Sears (CC BY-SA 4.0); Arthur Conti, Harald Krichel (CC BY-SA 4.0). The featured image combines cropped photos of Johnny Depp, Rupert Grint and Ian McKellen on an original ReadersFusion background. No stills from the film are used. If you are a rights holder and would like anything changed, see our terms of service or contact us.
