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Disney's new 3-D animated film, A Christmas Carol, starring Jim Carrey as the voice of miserly Scrooge, topped the box office this weekend -- even though Christmas is, oh, 46 days away. Come on, people, we haven't even gotten to Thanksgiving yet!
Guess there's just no stopping holiday cheer, whenever it chooses to arrive. And A Christmas Carol really is a Christmas story with universal appeal. The 19th-century Charles Dickens novel has literally been adapted into dozens of movies and TV specials. Here's a short list of our favorites:
Scrooged (1988) - A modern comic take on the story, with Bill Murray as a greedy TV executive who's visited by ghosts (most memorably Carol Kane as the cheeky Ghost of Christmas Present).
A Christmas Carol (1999) - Star Trek: The Next Generation's dashing captain Patrick Stewart performed a one-man show of A Christmas Carol on Broadway in 1988. Ten years later, he played the starring role for this TV adaptation -- also the first Christmas Carol to feature digital special effects. A precursor to the new Disney film?
Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol (1962) - Turning '60s cartoon character Mister Magoo into Scrooge was a silly idea, but it makes for a surprisingly great movie. This TV classic has recently been rediscovered by audiences for the lovely hand-drawn animation and memorable songs.
A Christmas Carol (1984) - For loyal fans of the original story, this super-faithful adaptation has some very creepy ghost scenes and a wonderful Scrooge in George C. Scott.
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) - Muppets can make anything more fun, including Dickens. Michael Caine plays Ebenezer, Kermit the Frog is good-hearted Bob Cratchit, and the rest of the Muppets all make appearances -- including Gonzo as the author himself.
What's your favorite version of A Christmas Carol? Chime in below!
