Johnny Depp's A Christmas Carol film Ebenezer first reactions are finally in

Hardly a festive season goes by without a new adaptation of Charles Dickens's classic yuletide yarn A Christmas Carol in one form or another – and this year's entry to the canon is Ti West's Ebenezer.

The movie stars Johnny Depp as the titular miser and boasts a starry ensemble cast including the likes of Rupert Grint, Andrea Riseborough, Sam Claflin, Daisy Ridley, Tramell Tillman, and Ian McKellen.

Ahead of the film's release this week (Friday 13 November) the first screenings of the film have now taken place and some early critical reactions have started to filter through, although an embargo for full reviews is still in place.

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As is often the case with these early reactions, the verdicts so far have veered mostly positive – although it's worth noting that this doesn't necessarily mean the same will be true of later reviews.

"I loved Ti West’s Ebenezer," wrote journalist Scott Menzel. "We all know this story, but what I loved the most about West's take is that he treats it like a true ghost story."

Meanwhile, critic Phil Roberts called it "a bold spin on Dickens's classic", further describing it as "a sincere period piece infused with heart and despair."

Another critic, Tom Chatalbash, said he was "pleasantly surprised" by the film, which he said was "a wickedly fun holiday treat and strong comeback vehicle for its star."

There was also plenty of praise for Depp's central performance, with Roberts calling the actor "magnetic" and Chatalbash writing that he delivered a "lively performance that thankfully balances the goofy charm and emotional gravitas that has been sorely missed."

However, there were other more muted – and in some case downright negative – responses, with critic Ren Vieira saying that there was nothing "distinct or unique about this version" and writer MaryAnn Johanson describing it as "utterly superfluous."

Although Depp has appeared in some smaller films in recent years, this is his first major Hollywood role since his 2022 trial against ex-wife Amber Heard– which saw them accuse each other of domestic abuse and defamation.

Depp was awarded $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages from Heard, while Heard was awarded $2 million in compensatory damages.

Ebenezer is released in UK cinemas on Friday 13 November.

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Authors

Patrick Cremona is the Senior Film Writer at Radio Times, and looks after all the latest film releases both in cinemas and on streaming. He has been with the website since October 2019, and in that time has interviewed a host of big name stars and reviewed a diverse range of movies.