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Bill Murray, Karen Allen, John Forsythe, John Glover, Bobcat Goldthwait ... see more see more... , Carol Kane , David Johansen , Robert Mitchum , Nicholas Phillips , Michael J. Pollard , Alfre Woodard , Mabel King , John Murray , Jamie Farr , Buddy Hackett , John Houseman , Brian Doyle-Murray , Mary Lou Retton , Selma Archerd , Susan Barnes , Roy Brocksmith , Peter Bromilow , Henry Brown , Ralph Bruneau , Jay Byron , Larry Carlton , Harvey Fisher , Delores Hall , Stella Hall , Alvin Hammer , Amy Hill , Damon Hines , Jean Speegle Howard , Bruce Jarchow , Sanford Jensen , Stephen Kahan , Regina King , Kathy Kinney , Wendie Malick , Bill Marcus , Pat McCormick , Dick McGarvin , Jack McGee , Kate McGregor-Stewart , Lisa Mende , Joel Murray , Peter Onorati , Sachi Parker , Anne Ramsey , Logan Ramsey , Maria Riva , Tony Steedman , Ryan Todd , Mary Ellen Trainor , Paul Tuerpé , Miles Davis , Mitch Glazer , Bill Hart , Michael O'Donoghue , David Sanborn , Paul Shaffer , Lester Wilson , Dick Blasucci , Rebeca Arthur , June Chandler , Cal Gibson , Raphael Harris , Jeffrey Joseph , Gilles Savard , Norm Wilson , Jeanine Jackson , Jennie Lew Tugend , Susan Isaacs

A darkly comic and surreal contemporization of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, this effects-heavy Bill Murray holiday vehicle from 1988 sees the former SNL funnyman assuming the role of televisio... read more read more...n executive Frank Cross, the meanest and most depraved man on earth. Cross will stoop to unheard of levels to increase his network's ratings -- even if it means mounting outrageous programs to retain an audience, such as "Robert Goulet's Cajun Christmas" and Lee Majors in "The Night the Reindeer Died," with an AK-47-toting Santa. Cross plots his foulest move, however, for the Christmas holiday, when he will force his office staff to mount a live production of A Christmas Carol on national television -- and thus work through Christmas Eve. Cross's life is turned upside down with visits from three ghosts: a craggy-faced cabbie known as The Ghost of Christmas Past (David Johansen); the sugar-plum fairy Ghost of Christmas Present (Carol Kane) (who gets her jollies by bonking Frank across the face with a toaster oven); and, eventually, the caped, headless Ghost of Christmas Future, who will send Frank sliding into a crematory oven -- just before he gives the sleazoid one last chance to redeem himself. Along the way, the spirits carry Frank to scenes from his past, present, and future (per Scrooge) and impart a glimpse of how he became so thoroughly rotten. The radiant Karen Allen co-stars as Frank's girlfriend, Claire Phillips, and the film packs in cameos from countless celebrities -- among them, Mary Lou Retton, John Houseman, Jamie Farr, and, in a truly grisly and tasteless bit, John Forsythe. Richard Donner directs, from a script credited to the late Michael O'Donoghue and Mitch Glazer. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

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67% liked it

72,906 ratings

Critics

64% liked it

39 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 41 min.

Directed by: Richard Donner

Release Date: November 23, 1988

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DVD Release Date: November 9, 1999

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Flixster Reviews (2,725)

  • fb100001493964409
    December 13, 2011
    fb100001493964409
    Charles Dicken's classic has gotten more than a few treatments over the years. I'm willing to be that there's a statistic out there that in some way shape or form, "A Christmas Carol" is the most adapted to television and film novel of all time. There are an ungodly number of the... read morese films. So, why would an obscure Bill Murray comedy adaption of the story earn 5 stars from me? Easy. Because it's one of the best (if not the best) modernization of the tale, with a darkly cynical edge. The story involves a TV exec named Frank Cross who is in charge of a live TV performance of "A Christmas Carol". Cross is a modern day Scrooge, with no compassion of any kind and a hatred for Christmas as a concept. But his dead business associate- I think you know where this is going. But what makes this so much fun is the fact that the events of the film (the ghosts visits) are timed with the performances of "A Christmas Carol" for television. Plus, the humor is usually really funny, with a particular standout being Bobcat Goldthwaith. This tale has been done to death, but I enjoy this version the most, along with "A Muppet's Christmas Carol."
  • blkbomb
    December 7, 2011
    blkbomb
    Lew Hayward: I don't mind you shooting at me, Frank, but take it easy on the Bacardi.

    "The spirits will move you in odd and hysterical ways."

    Scrooged is at times funny, but not as funny as it needs to be, or as funny as I expected it to be. Still I managed to get a certain sat... read moreisfaction out of watching Bill Murray play the "Scrooge" character of Frank Cross. With anyone else in that role, I don't think I would have been able to like the film at all. With Murray, the movie is at least entertaining because watching Murray is always entertaining.

    The film follows the same plot as A Christmas Carol, just modernizing it and switching the characters to fit into the modern storyline a little better. Frank Cross is a selfish TV executive. He is a jerk in every way possible; forcing a mother to stay late when she has to take her mute son to the doctor and declining his brothers Christmas dinner invitation yearly. He then is met by the ghost of his old boss that tells him that three ghosts are going to visit him. The two ghosts that talk are pretty annoying and in no way help the movie at all, which they should have.

    You could do a lot worse when it comes to Christmas movies and this one deserves a look. It merits a watch ever two or three Christmas's, but in no way is it ever going to become a holiday tradition in my household. It's a decent retelling of a story that, I guess, needs to be told a million times. This isn't the best version of it, but it certainly isn't the worst either.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    December 1, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Scrooged is a fun comedy starring Bill Murray. This is along with Christ Vacation and Planes, Trains and Automobiles the best holiday film. Director Richard Donner directs a great cast here, and with a cast like this, it makes Scrooged a very good film. The film is one of the mus... read moret see holiday films and with the antics of Bill Murray, your sure to be amused. I really thought the cast was the best part about the film, that and the fact that Donner directed this cast and made a memorable holiday film, one that belongs on the short list of classics. Over the years, there have been countless holiday comedies, but very rarely do they succeed at being very funny, and entertaining. Scrooged on the other hand, though far from perfect, is a memorable film with plenty of jokes that are quite memorable. Scrooged may not be for everyone, but for those who enjoy Billy Murray, this is a film worth seeing. This is a good film that lots of great performances, and though it's imperfect, the film does manage at being nonetheless an entertaining holiday film that the entire family can enjoy. If you forgive its imperfection, you're sure going to enjoy Scrooged for what it is. I very much liked it and it one of the few holiday films that's pretty smart in its conception. The film uses a man's dark side for its gags, and it works well enough to make this worth watching.
  • ajv2688
    February 28, 2011
    ajv2688
    A fantastic modern take on the old Christmas Carol story. Murray is brilliant in this movie, and I loved the rest of the cast as well. There are a few dull scenes, but overall, it's hilarious and a lot of fun. I highly recommend it.
  • movieguru12
    December 15, 2010
    movieguru12
    A great update of A Christmas Carol :) Bill Murray is hilarious & wonderfully odd as Frank Cross, the heartless television executive :) Love this movie :)
  • TheMachinist
    November 14, 2010
    TheMachinist
    "All day long, I listen to people give me excuses why they can't work... 'My back hurts,' 'my legs ache,' 'I'm only four!' The sooner he learns life isn't handed to him on a silver platter, the better!"

    Richard Donner is known most of his 'Lethal Weapon' and 'Superman' films. Hi... read moregh level actions films in other words. So I was a bit surprised when the end credits started to roll and there came Donner's name out. Director and producer. Well, this tale of Charles Dickens' novel 'A Christmas Carol' has been adapted sooo many times on film and television. Donner's outlook is a bit more "modern" (the film was released back in '88) with Bill Murray in the lead. But Murray is not the one that caught my attention and high praise... I'll reveal the name later on.

    Francis Cross (Murray) is a egotistical executive at a television company. He's got everything a man wants. Fame and fortune. But along with that he has become cold-hearted and cruel. His concentration on his work has made him lose his "one true love" and alienated him from his family. He overworks his staff and fires people on Christmas day. So he ain't such a nice guy. It's time for three ghosts (well four if you count his former boss) to appear and teach him a lesson.

    'Scrooged' has not aged well, that's for sure. The effects and the makeup ain't that good looking anymore but in my opinion, this movie don't need 'em that much per se. It' more about the story. And the basic idea hasn't changed a bit since Dickens wrote his last words for the novel.

    Bill Murray, who was in his (first) prime in the 80's ('Stripes', 'Ghostbusters'), lost himself in the 90's (with the exception of 'Groundhog Day') and made a comeback in 2001 ('The Royal Tenenbaums'), is acting a bit on overdrive here. I've seen this film maybe 3-4 times by now and on this last viewing, I found him a bit annoying at times. But there are several scenes where he gives good performances, funny or dramatic.

    BUT (and that's a big but) the one performer that steals the show, eventhough she's seen for maybe 1 minute in total, is Anne Ramsay. I've loved her performances in 'The Goonies' and 'Throw Momma From the Train'. This film was one of her last, as she died of throat cancer in 1989. Her unusual speech is caused by the fact, that some parts of her tongue and jawbone had to be removed in eary 80's when she had cancer for the first time. What a wonderful momma she was.

    As a curiosity, I saw that this film also had "Free South Africa" posters on some locations. I'm a fan of the 'Lethal Weapon' series and I remember from the 2nd film that there were similar posters shown there. The film had a South African baddy so I'm starting to think that Donner wanted to give his own part in the fight against apartheid. In 1991 it ended in South Africa...

    Well back to the film. 'Scrooged' still guaranteed several laughs, eventhough my multiple viewings. Dickens' novels story will never die and this is a somewhat different adaptation and in my opinion, a successful one. Now when Christmas is just behind the corner, I'd recommend 'Scrooged' as a Christmas film for the more mature audience.
  • smith44
    April 4, 2010
    smith44
    Corny
  • ythelastman89
    March 24, 2010
    ythelastman89
    The greatest interpretation of Scrooge to ever exist. It's slightly modified to fit the 80s yuppie lifestyle, but it even becomes more powerful in doing so. Bill Murray is at the top of his game, giving Scrooge a very humanistic and sadistically charming feel. The sarcasm works s... read moreo well with all the bizarre elements. Richard Donner really made this into a gothic epic with some incredible visuals and oddball lighting. It's also kind've more powerful than every other adaption because you actually care about the character and want to see him succeed instead of just learning his lesson. The supporting characters work well with this too because you have such sympathy for their tragic lives.
  • DragonEyeMorrison
    December 21, 2009
    DragonEyeMorrison
    My favorite movie version of the story, mostly for Bill, but the rest of the cast is quite good too.
  • SirPant
    September 28, 2009
    SirPant
    It's one of Murray's funnier films and certainly one of the better Christmas movies around (not that that's a hard thing to achieve!)

View All Scrooged Reviews

Critic Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum
November 27, 2007
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

Tacky in the extreme, this self-congratulatory 1988 film is an exercise in hypocrisy, indulging every form of Christmas exploitation that it pretends to attack, and many of the laughs are forced. Full Review

Variety Staff
November 27, 2007
Variety Staff, Variety

An appallingly unfunny comedy, and a vivid illustration of the fact that money can't buy you laughs. Full Review

Vincent Canby
May 20, 2003
Vincent Canby, New York Times

In spite of the jokes at the expense of television-network censors, there's very little in the film, aside from naughty words, that wouldn't be perfectly acceptable on prime-time television. Full Review

Joe Brown
January 1, 2000
Joe Brown, Washington Post

This is not a 'good movie' -- in fact, it's a sprawling mess -- but I like it. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

It was obviously intended as a comedy, but there is little comic about it, and indeed the movie's overriding emotions seem to be pain and anger. Full Review

Hal Hinson
January 1, 2000
Hal Hinson, Washington Post

If Donner and his team had any interest in the story's message, they've picked a puzzling way to show it. Full Review

John J. Puccio
November 4, 2011
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis

It's got Bill Murray, and that's always a good thing. Full Review

Tim Brayton
December 13, 2009
Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy

A meaningful Christmas Carol this is not, but a perfectly entertaining yuletide comedy this certainly is. Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
August 20, 2009
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

Bill Murray is the one of the greatest screen Scrooges in this 1980s updating. Full Review

November 27, 2007
TV Guide's Movie Guide

A number of talented actors appear, but only a few are able to make much of a mark given their limited screentime. Full Review

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    • Claire Phillips: Taxi, can you get me to IBC in three minutes?
    • Ghost of Christmas Past: Which floor?
    • Frank Cross: The Bitch hit me with a Toaster.
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Scrooged : Watch Free on TV

Scrooged Trivia

  • Where is this Bill Murray quote from? "You got an ad with americas favourite old fart, reading a book, in front of fireplace! Now I have to kill all of you!"   Answer »
  • what movie is this from: you've gotta work late! if i work late, you work late, if you can't work late, i can't work late!  Answer »
  • Who was the director of "Scrooged" (1988) starring Bill Murray and Karen Allen?  Answer »
  • In which Bill Murray film did Eliot Loudermilk get to "leave early today"?  Answer »
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