Early Reactions Praise Depp in Gothic Christmas Carol

The first audience reactions to Ebenezer, Johnny Depp’s new take on A Christmas Carol, are largely favorable, though some viewers called the film forgettable and unoriginal. Paramount has held press screenings, while full reviews are due November 12. The film premiered in New York on November 1 and debuted in London at Leicester Square on Monday evening.

Directed by Ti West, the movie casts Depp as Ebenezer Scrooge, the miserly Victorian businessman whose encounters with three spirits set him on a path toward redemption. The adaptation takes a black-comedy approach to Charles Dickens’ 1843 story and features Daisy Ridley, Sam Claflin, Andrea Riseborough, Rupert Grint and Ian McKellen, among others.

Several critics praised Depp’s lively portrayal and West’s gothic visuals, saying the film adds fresh elements to the familiar tale. Others felt it followed the story’s usual beats without offering enough that was distinctive. One critic called it “utterly superfluous,” while another described it as technically polished but boring.

The film marks Depp’s first Hollywood studio feature since his highly publicized 2022 legal battle with his former wife, Amber Heard. He has had few acting roles in recent years, including the 2023 French film Jeanne du Barry. Ebenezer is scheduled to open globally on November 13. Depp is also set to appear in Lionsgate’s supernatural thriller Day Drinker in 2027.