Scrooged

Name: Scrooged
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Comedy
Released: November 23, 1988
Duration: 101 min
Rating: 38
Cast: Bill Murray, Karen Allen

1988

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 14 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 117 Ratings

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8.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 117 Ratings

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Scrooged

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Movie Details & Credits

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: November 23, 1988 | PG-13

Starring: Bill Murray, Karen Allen

Summary: High-spirited high jinks on Christmas Eve put Frank Cross in a ghostly time warp in this take-off of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." Cross, who has made the meteoric rise from the depths of the mailroom to TV network president, is mean, nasty, uncaring, unforgiving and has a sadistic sense of humor - perfect qualities for a modern-dayHigh-spirited high jinks on Christmas Eve put Frank Cross in a ghostly time warp in this take-off of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." Cross, who has made the meteoric rise from the depths of the mailroom to TV network president, is mean, nasty, uncaring, unforgiving and has a sadistic sense of humor - perfect qualities for a modern-day Scrooge. Before the night is over, he'll be visited by a maniacal New York cab driver from the past, a present-day fairy who's into pratfalls and, finally, a ghoulish seven-foot-headless messenger from the future. (Paramount Pictures)… Expand

Director: Richard Donner

Genre(s): Drama, Fantasy, Comedy

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 101 min

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Critic Reviews

Jay Carr

Scrooged is that rarest of contemporary Hollywood phenomena -- a Christmas movie with Christmas spirit. [23 Nov 1988, p.21]

Mick LaSalle

Scrooged doesn't pack the wallop of "A Christmas Carol" - you won't cry or walk out resolving to become a better person - but it's a funny and imaginative high-class effort. Best of all, it stars Bill Murray, who has only to raise an eyebrow to get laughs. [23 Nov 1988, p.E1]

Gene Siskel

The film works very well, providing lots of laughs, in its first half, setting up the Bill Murray character and his callousness. For a Christmas Eve special he wants to staple antlers on a mouse. [25 Nov 1988, p.A]

Donna Britt

Scrooged is so monumental a mess that even rabid Bill Murray fans - the ones who'll stand in line to see it despite critics' inevitable bashings - will wonder how it went so wrong. [23 Nov 1988, p. 9D]

Jay Scott

In Scrooged, a sub-Saturday Night Live re-make parody of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Ghostbuster Bill Murray busts up two of the festive ghosts (Christmas Past and Future) and mugs more than Mr. Magoo. [24 Nov 1988, p.C19]

Roger Ebert

Scrooged is one of the most disquieting, unsettling films to come along in quite some time. 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. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

Scrooged is an appallingly unfunny comedy, and a vivid illustration of the fact that money can't buy you laughs. Its stocking spilling with big names and production values galore, this updating of Dickens' A Christmas Carol into the world of cutthroat network television is, one episode apart, able to generate only a few mild chuckles. Read full review

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User Reviews

RonnyG

Jan 28, 2009

This is a Christmas classic. For the millionth time, this only proves that Critics stick their noses so high in the air, they can't even watch the movies the review. I never have, nor never will, have ANY respect for movie Critics. Some of the best movies get the worst reviews, all This is a Christmas classic. For the millionth time, this only proves that Critics stick their noses so high in the air, they can't even watch the movies the review. I never have, nor never will, have ANY respect for movie Critics. Some of the best movies get the worst reviews, all because the Critics are too busy receiving bribes to give horrible movies great reviews, and great movies horrible reviews. They also lack the ability to say WHY it's a bad movie. New York Times and Los Angeles Times = Epic Fail.… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful

mcduck

Jun 6, 2014

Exceeded expectations, especially given the middling reviews and cheesy trailer. Solid Christmas flick, even though I watched it over the summer. It's hard to say what makes a movie good, but it works. It's not hilariously funny, and you shouldn't go into it looking for belly laughs, butExceeded expectations, especially given the middling reviews and cheesy trailer. Solid Christmas flick, even though I watched it over the summer. It's hard to say what makes a movie good, but it works. It's not hilariously funny, and you shouldn't go into it looking for belly laughs, but it does make you smile and give you a few feels along the way.… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

DavidG.

Aug 21, 2009

A 38 rating? Seriously? This is one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. For the first half of the film, the jokes are fast, sharp, and timeless. It's dark humor at its best, and Bill Murray's best role by a landslide. The critics were out of their damned minds.

5 of 5 users found this helpful

DylanP.

Dec 6, 2007

What were the reviewers smoking? Scrooged is one of the true modern Christmas classics. Bill Murray is pitch-perfect as Frank Cross--nasty and Scrooge-like while still charming and hilarious. Great cameos from everyone from Brian Doyle Murray to Lee Majors to Bobcat Goldwait, and a genuine What were the reviewers smoking? Scrooged is one of the true modern Christmas classics. Bill Murray is pitch-perfect as Frank Cross--nasty and Scrooge-like while still charming and hilarious. Great cameos from everyone from Brian Doyle Murray to Lee Majors to Bobcat Goldwait, and a genuine emotional ending make this one to watch every year.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful

ERG1008

Sep 3, 2010

Late 80s version of A Christmas Carol with Bill Murray as the President of a TV network.
Not as good as some of Murray's other stuff but certainly some funny moments here & there.
I'd also forgot how awful that Annie Lennox/Al Green song was.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

GeraldSpray

Jan 26, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It's refreshing to watch a Christmas movie not on the basis of tradition, but on the basis of actually wanting to see it! The reason that this movie got lukewarm reviews is the same reason I like it - because it deviates from the standard holiday formula. Although I admit that Bill Murray looks uncomfortable when he ad-libs his dialogue, he also delivers lines that highlight his career as a comedy actor. Not enough credit goes to the direction, with creepy visuals and a whimsical score by Danny Elfman. The ending is easily the weakest part of the film, with a wacky alcoholic going on a shotgun rampage. As nonsensical as some of its choices are, the fact that "Scrooged" takes risks makes it one of the most memorable holiday films.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Tss5078

Jun 7, 2019

A Christmas Carol has been done to death on both television and the big screen. Back in the 80s, Bill Murray teamed up with Richard Donner to make this wildly successful version of the tale. The films these two were a part of, defined the 1980s, so I was expecting magic. instead I gotA Christmas Carol has been done to death on both television and the big screen. Back in the 80s, Bill Murray teamed up with Richard Donner to make this wildly successful version of the tale. The films these two were a part of, defined the 1980s, so I was expecting magic. instead I got something that was the definition of overrated. Frank Cross (Bill Murray) is a television executive, one that's known for never being happy and quick to the pull the trigger on his employees. While planning a big Christmas spectacle, things aren't going his way and he is on the war path, until he fall asleep in his office and those three ghosts pay him a visit. This film begs to be raunchy, the whole story is designed around this outrageous man, but Scrooged never seems to pull that trigger. The story we know, it's easy to predict what is going to happen, but when you add an uneven performance by Murray, infantile jokes, and a cast that doesn't quite fit their roles, the result is a film that's just lame. Was this supposed to be for adults or children? That question is never answered and we end up with a film that really isn't suitable for either. I like Bill Murray, I love Richard Donner, but the film Scrooged, simply misses the mark on so many different levels.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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