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Parents' Guide to

A Christmas Carol (2019)

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Grim, violent adaptation of Dickens classic brings no cheer.

TV FX Drama 2019
A Christmas Carol (2019) Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

  • A Christmas Carol (2019) TV Movie: Scrooge.
  • A Christmas Carol (2019) TV Movie: The Christmas Spirit.
  • A Christmas Carol (2019) TV Movie: The ghost of Jacob Marley.

Community Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 5 parent reviews

bea78
bea78 Parent of 10 and 14-year-old
December 23, 2022
age 16+

NOT for KIDS: very interesting take on the classical take, but it’s for adults

I forgot to check common sense media before beginning to watch this, my husband saw the 9+ rating on Disney+(what the heck, Disney?) and thought it would be ok…. I had to jump up for the remote and turn it off about 20-30 minutes in. My 10 year old was terrified, and cried for a while afterwards. It’s extremely dark and gory. We didn’t even get to the nude scenes described by other viewers… It’s not the first time Disney shows an inappropriate/erroneous age rating on a movie or show. I hope to finish watching it but without the kids. It’s definitely meant for adults. My almost 15 year old even said it was more violent than many Marvel movies our 10 year old has not been allowed to watch.
Kat H.
Kat H. Adult
December 25, 2020
age 16+

Not for Little Ones

Definitely not for little ones. The whole story is dark and kind of depressing. Sexual exploitation in several ways as well as rear female nudity. Really good for adults though!
See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

From the creator of Taboo and Peaky Blinders comes A CHRISTMAS CAROL (2019), a dark adaptation of Charles Dickens' iconic 1843 novella. It stars Guy Pearce as Ebenezer Scrooge, the stingy, cold-hearted money lender who despises Christmas. It's Christmas Eve, and Bob Cratchit (Joe Alwyn) is hoping to leave work early to be with his wife Mary (Vinette Robinson) and his children, including Tiny Tim (Lenny Rush). After spending the day unwilling to allow himself, or anyone around him, to enjoy the holiday, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his late business partner Jacob Marley (Stephen Graham), who warns him that three spirits will visit him that night. Scrooge remains unfazed until he is forced to face his horrible past, his miserable present, and what could become his terrible future.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (5 ):
Kids say (1 ):

This gritty remake of the iconic tale delivers a cold, depressing story that offers little to celebrate about. The three-part series is visually dark, which helps create the grim story world it features, and the dark themes just keep on coming. References to sexual exploitation, gruesome imagery, and child abuse only add to its already depressing nature.

Unlike the original novella, nothing good really happens, and the characters express little hope for a happier future. But the performances are solid, and some may find this somber adaption of A Christmas Carol to be a creative departure from previous holiday versions. Nonetheless, if you're looking something uplifting to get you into the holiday spirit, you will not find it here.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the lessons Ebenezer Scrooge learned on Christmas Eve. Why is he the way he is? Does he change?

  • Why has A Christmas Carol been adapted so many times? What is it about the story that makes it appealing today, even thought it was written so long ago?

TV Details

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