A real Humbug-dinger? (CREDIT: Paramount Pictures)
Starring: Johnny Depp, Rupert Grint, Andrea Riseborough, Tramell Tillman, Robert Strange, Daisy Ridley, Ian McKellen, Sam Claflin, Arthur Conti, Ellie Bamber, Nicholas Day, Charlie Murphy, Henry Lloyd-Hughes
Director: Ti West
Running Time: 116 Minutes
Rating: PG-13 for Spooky Specters
Release Date: November 13, 2026 (Theaters)
What’s It About?: You know that crotchety old businessman Ebenezer? He’s quite the scrooge, isn’t he? In fact, he’s the namesake for a grumpy and stingy person of the anti-Christmas persuasion. He was introduced to us by Charles Dickens in the 1843 novella A Christmas Carol, which has been adapted pretty much endlessly in the 200 years since. In the 2026 movie Ebenezer, Johnny Depp takes up the cane of the title character, as he goes on his usual Christmas Eve adventure of three ghosts showing him the error of his ways, with his late partner Jacob Marley (Ian McKellen), employee Bob Cratchit (Rupert Grint), and nephew Fred (Sam Claflin) also doing their parts to help him see the light.
What Made an Impression?: How Depp is Your Love?: Ebenezer‘s marketing has positioned itself as Johnny Depp’s reintroduction to the highest echelons of movie stardom. In the past decade or so, he’s been more famous for his personal troubles (particularly those related to accusations of spousal abuse) than any character he’s played. He has appeared in other recent movies, but this is definitely the most high-profile one since 2018. I have mixed feelings about Depp trying to make a comeback. He was never my favorite actor, but he’s definitely given some performances I’ve loved. So I can’t really watch this movie without feeling conflicted, although ultimately even if this part were played by an oddball without any baggage, it would still feel tepid. The character design is more garish than most Scrooges, for sure, but emotionally it’s pretty straightforward, especially by Depp’s standards. It’s more than adequate, but not much more.
Where’s the Caroling?: The fact that this flick is named after its main character instead of the book it’s based on might lead you to wonder if this version explores Scrooge’s backstory more than usual. But that origin is already baked into the visit from the Ghost of Christmas Past (a notably spooky Andrea Riseborough). So, yeah, this is more or less the same old Christmas Carol that so many of us revisit this time every year. (If we get any more of any significance from any character, it’s probably Marley.) Ebenezer has always been right at the center of his own story. In conclusion, there’s nothing particularly new here, except maybe the production design.
Hi, Ti: While I felt uneasy about Ebenezer‘s Ebenezer, I was intrigued by its director, as Ti West is the helmer behind the X trilogy, one of my favorite horror series of this century. So I wondered if he might accordingly deliver a more frightening sensibility. The verdict in that regard is that he certainly does, although not overwhelmingly so. There’s a striking body horror approach with the Ghost of Christmas Present (Tramell Tillman), and in the most emotionally intense moments, it feels like the set is going to be overwhelmed by pure blackness. But the gentleness at the core of the story remains resolute. Maybe West just wanted to show us his gooier side. And if that was his goal, it helps that the most memorable characters are the incessantly optimistic Fred and his lovely wife Clara (Daisy Ridley), who don’t always get their fair showcase in Christmas Carol adaptations. But they do here, so don’t ever give up on your family, I guess
Ebenezer is Recommended If You Like: It when the holiday season make you feel conflicted
Grade: 3 out of 5 Humbugs
