The Man Who Invented Christmas

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2:21

The Man Who Invented Christmas

PG

2017

1h 44m

Holiday

History

Drama

Biography

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

79%

Tomatometer

170 Reviews

78%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

In 1843 London, author Charles Dickens finds himself in financial trouble after writing three unsuccessful novels in a row. Desperate for a hit, Dickens relies on real-life inspiration and his vivid imagination to bring Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim and other classic characters to life in A Christmas Carol, forever changing the holiday season into the celebration known today.

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Critics Consensus

The Man Who Invented Christmas adds holiday magic to the writing of A Christmas Carol, putting a sweetly revisionist spin on the story behind a classic yuletide tale.

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Wenlei Ma

News.com.au

The Man Who Invented Christmas isn't a barnstormer but it's exactly the kind of holiday fare that will cure a bout of humbugness. Bring the family.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 7, 2017

Full Review

Dan Jolin

Empire Magazine

A lightweight, tinselly film with some nice touches and appealing performances, though it never lands its darker moments.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 3, 2017

Full Review

Simran Hans

Observer (UK)

There are a few bright spots, like Christopher Plummer's Scrooge, but with its too-bright visuals and laboured dialogue, at best, the film belongs on television.

Rated: 1/5

Dec 3, 2017

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

A warm PG-rated feature for families with older kids who won't grow restless with its adult preoccupations and leisurely pace.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 31, 2021

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Joanne Laurier

World Socialist Web Site

The simplistic, unnecessarily slight film makes only insubstantial, passing references to poverty among children-a major issue then as it is today.

Feb 21, 2021

Full Review

Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

A festive film, a movie for the holidays that reminds us of the spirit of the season. No "Bah! Humbugs" here.

Rated: 3.5/5

Feb 3, 2021

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Patrick

I’m so glad this was brought back to the big screen for Christmas ‘22! I missed its original run in 2017 and had forgotten all about it. A compelling film based on a true story, and it was such a heartwarming tale.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/13/22

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brian C.

Enjoyable and interesting movie. Watch it as Christmas gets closer.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/15/25

Full Review

Bronwyn F

I love this film. As something of a Dickens scholar, I like the way it fairly accurately characterized Dickens' financial situation, his relationship with his awful father, his terrible time at the blacking factory, how his characters were as real -- or even more so -- than the people in his life, and the horrors of the publishing business (still accurate today). It even captured Dickens' habit of walking fast up to 20 miles a day, his pet raven, and so much else. While I wasn't smitten with Stevens' portrayal of Dickens, I think the character of Scrooge by the incomparable Christopher Plummer was absolutely brilliant. I've seen it 3 times now, and it just gets better every time. The ending is too sappy, but hey, it's a Christmas movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/25/24

Full Review

Steven K

Very enjoyable and captivating. Did not see a single flaw with this film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/22/24

Full Review

Cody H

This film was an interesting view on the visual world of Charles Dickens. But somehow you wish it was more. Maybe there is missing character development or things rush too quickly, but it still has this kind of magic inside. I think by far that this Scrooge is one of the best Scrooges I have ever seen and it is sad he wasn’t in any Christmas Carol films I know of.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/19/24

Full Review

David K

I came to this film via a recommendation of Gary Jive who spent a year watching Christmas movies and writes about it in his blog 365 Days of Christmas Movies. It's a fun watch of an imagined development of the book "A Christmas Carol". If you're looking for something out of the mainstream of Christmas movies and the Hallmark schlock, this might be it.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/03/24

Full Review

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Bharat Nalluri

Director

Dan Stevens

Charles Dickens

Christopher Plummer

Ebenezer Scrooge

Jonathan Pryce

John Dickens

Justin Edwards

John Forster

Morfydd Clark

Kate Dickens

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64%

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The Man Who Invented Christmas: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

In 1843 London, author Charles Dickens finds himself in financial trouble after writing three unsuccessful novels in a row. Desperate for a hit, Dickens relies on real-life inspiration and his vivid imagination to bring Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim and other classic characters to life in A Christmas Carol, forever changing the holiday season into the celebration known today.

Director: Bharat Nalluri
Producer: Robert Mickelson, Ian Sharples, Susan Mullen, Niv Fichman, Vadim Jean
Screenwriter: Susan Coyne
Distributor: Bleecker Street Media
Production Co: Parallel Films, Ingenious Media, Rhombus Media
Rating: PG (Thematic Elements|Some Mild Language)
Genre: Holiday, History, Drama, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 22, 2017, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 13, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.7M
Runtime: 1h 44m

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