Charles Dickens’s classic novel, A Christmas Carol is one of the most adapted works of literature in human history, plain and simple. So it should come as no surprise that there are dozens of versions of its lead character, Ebeneezer Scrooge.
Scrooge has become a part of the holiday season just as much as Rudolph, Frosty, or Santa Claus, and just like jolly old St. Nick, there are as many versions of the miserable miser scattered across media. Audiences certainly have more than their fair share to choose from, but the question is, which ones truly represent the version envisioned by the author all those centuries ago?
Scrooge McDuck
Although Mickey’s version of the novel definitely takes more than a few liberties for the sake of time, Scrooge McDuck is usually the first version of the character viewers are introduced to.
But should it come as any surprise? Even before the short film aired, Scrooge got his namesake and persona from his Dickensian counterpart in comics, making his debut in 1947. This characterization is perhaps not the most accurate, but it’s a pretty solid entry on the list.
Mr. Magoo
Don’t let the near-sighted old man mislead you, Mr. Magoo actually provides a rather remarkable performance as Ebeneezer Scrooge, especially for an animated feature.
Despite his appearance, being just the character portraying Scrooge in a Broadway-style play, Mr. Magoo checks all the boxes for an adequate version of the character. It’s quite a different version of the otherwise comical and quirky character viewers have come to know. Color us impressed.
Albert Finney
Although this musical film is entirely live-action, to say that Albert Finney’s portrayal of Ebeneezer Scrooge is more cartoonish than some would be putting it lightly.
Despite being a solid performance, Finney’s version is over-the-top and even comes off as a caricature, at times. With his voice and pinched face, it almost reaches ridiculous status in some scenes. That being said, he’s still a prominent favorite for many fans of the original story.
Michael Caine
If the Muppets were replaced by real human actors and Michal Caine was left in the role of Scrooge, the result would be an almost entirely accurate adaptation of the novel.
Caine’s version of the character is almost too perfect for a film featuring Jim Henson’s furry friends and it’s almost like he’s from an entirely different movie altogether. That being said, he is probably the most memorable feature of the movie.
Jim Carrey
Love it, loathe it, or simply put it on the pile with the other adaptations of A Christmas Carol, Jim Carrey’s version is an almost verbatim adaptation of the book, taking inspiration from the text, original illustrations, and other influences from Dickens’s work.
This also includes the spidery, sinister, almost entirely villainous Ebeneezer Scrooge. That being said, it still feels like a Jim Carrey character: over the top and animated (in more ways than one).
Reginald Owen
One of the first feature film adaptations of the book, Reginald Owen plays a solid yet basic Scrooge in the 1938 adaptation.
His appearance might be a bit of an odd duck compared to some of the rest on this list, but for those viewers graduating from the animated versions of the character, Owen’s performance is more than serviceable, taking as much from the book as many others and definitely not skipping the character’s cruelty.
Alistair Sim
Alistair Sim’s version of Scrooge essentially set the bar upon which all versions that followed were based. 1951’s Scrooge gave viewers a much meaner and more despicable version of the character, mainly due to Sim’s prowess as an actor.
Scrooge is not a nice guy, and the film makes it painfully apparent from the get-go. Sim’s performance was such a smash, that he would later reprise the role in Chuck Jones’s Oscar-winning animated version, years later.
Christopher Plummer
Although not technically an adaptation of A Christmas Carol, The Man Who Invented Christmas makes the brilliant call of casting the legendary Christopher Plummer as Ebeneezer Scrooge.
Although Scrooge mainly interacts with Charles Dickens as sort of an imaginary frienemy, Plummer’s performance is near-perfection. He looks, acts, and reacts just as any true version of the character would, even if he is conversing with his creator. He’s still cold, cruel, and definitely unforgettable.
George C. Scott
Alistair Sim set the bar, but George C. Scott reinvented the role. Scott’s portrayal from the 1985 TV version should be the exact image that comes to mind when one hears the name “Ebeneezer Scrooge.”
From the tip of his top hat to the tails of his coat, Scott becomes the character seamlessly. He’s cold, he’s unfeeling, he’s downright despicable, he’s everything one could expect from Scrooge himself. Dickens would certainly be proud.
Patrick Stewart
There’s only one version that could possibly compete with George C. Scott’s version, and that’s the incomparable Sir Patrick Stewart. Stewart’s version not only pulls directly from the novel but also the actor’s own one-man-show version of the character.
His version of Scrooge comes with a certain brand of cruelty that most versions strive for, even coming off as scary at times – all the more reason fans love seeing him redeemed at the end of the film.
