Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol returns to the big screen this weekend in a darker form. Ebenezer, starring Johnny Depp as Ebenezer Scrooge, opens in U.S. and U.K. theaters today, Friday, November 13, from Paramount Pictures.
Before you buy tickets for the whole family, here is what parents should know, plus a look at what else is playing.
About the movie
The film is directed by Ti West, a filmmaker best known for horror, from a screenplay by Nathaniel Halpern based on Dickens’ 1843 novella. It is set in early Victorian London and has been described as a Gothic, dark-fantasy take on the familiar story.
The cast includes Rupert Grint as Bob Cratchit, Ian McKellen as Jacob Marley, Andrea Riseborough as the Ghost of Christmas Past, Tramell Tillman as the Ghost of Christmas Present, Sam Claflin as Scrooge’s nephew Fred, Daisy Ridley and Arthur Conti as young Scrooge. Filming began in January 2026, with locations including Dublin, London and The Historic Dockyard Chatham in Kent. The film’s budget is about $38 million, according to its Wikipedia entry.
Parents’ guide: rated PG-13
Ebenezer is rated PG-13 for “frightening material,” as Bloody Disgusting reported. That fits a director known for scary films and a marketing campaign built around supernatural chills. Early footage shown to theater owners in April mixed supernatural horror with humor.
- Young children: this is not the cozy, singing version of the story. Families with younger kids may prefer a gentler adaptation at home.
- Tweens and teens: fans of spooky stories may enjoy it; consider watching a trailer together first.
- Talk about it: the heart of Dickens’ tale, a hard man changed by mercy and second chances, is a great conversation starter for the drive home.
Early reviews have been mixed. ShowbizJunkies praised Depp’s performance in a “chilling Gothic take,” while Fiction Horizon reported a rough start on Rotten Tomatoes. Opening-weekend numbers will show whether audiences agree.
What else is in theaters
Ebenezer faces a strong holdover. Last weekend, Japan’s Godzilla Minus Zero opened at No. 1 with about $31 million, the biggest debut ever for a foreign-language film in North America, according to North State Journal. Directed by Takashi Yamazaki, who made Godzilla Minus One, it is distributed in North America by GKIDS.
Warner Bros.’ animated The Cat in the Hat, with Bill Hader voicing the Cat, opened second with about $20 million, according to the same report and box-office tracker The Numbers. It is the more natural pick for families with young children. Angel Studios’ Drummer Boy was third in its debut weekend.
For more family-movie planning, see our parents’ guide to Disney’s PG-rated “Hexed,” which opens Nov. 25, and our look at Nat Geo’s family-friendly “Expedition: Saving Our Seas.”
Why it matters for families
Holiday movie season is one of the busiest times for theaters, and ratings matter more than usual when grandparents and little cousins come along. A quick check of a film’s rating and reason, plus a trailer, can save a scary night for a young child. For a classic story like A Christmas Carol, families have many versions to choose from, from gentle animated takes to this new, frightening one.
What is your family’s favorite version of A Christmas Carol? Tell us in the comments.
Read more: Disney’s ‘Hexed’ is rated PG: a parents’ guide
Sources: Wikipedia, “Ebenezer (film)” (accessed November 13, 2026); Bloody Disgusting, “‘Ebenezer’ Starring Johnny Depp Gets PG-13 Rating for ‘Frightening Material’” (2026); North State Journal, “‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ stomps to record-setting $31.6M debut” (November 2026); The Numbers, “Weekend Domestic Box Office November 6, 2026”; ShowbizJunkies, “Ebenezer Review” (2026); Fiction Horizon, “Johnny Depp’s ‘Ebenezer’ Debuts on Rotten Tomatoes” (2026)
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