Scrooged

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

1988 1h 41m EN

👍

6.8

SOLID

★6.8TMDB · 1,768

FantasyComedyDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Frank Cross is a wildly successful television executive whose cold ambition and curmudgeonly nature has driven away the love of his life. But after firing a staff member on Christmas Eve, Frank is visited by a series of ghosts who give him a chance to re-evaluate his actions and right the wrongs of his past.

“The spirits will move you in odd and hysterical ways.”

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Cast

Bill Murray
Francis Cross
Karen Allen
Claire Phillips
John Forsythe
Lew Hayward
John Glover
Bryce Cummings
Bobcat Goldthwait
Eliot Loudermilk
Robert Mitchum
Preston Rhinelander
David Johansen
Ghost of Christmas Past
Carol Kane
Ghost of Christmas Present

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Richard Donner
Writers: Mitch Glazer, Michael O'Donoghue
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

38 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Richard Donner, shot by Michael Chapman. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Danny Elfman. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Fredric Steinkamp shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Bill Murray and Karen Allen and John Forsythe carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

FACT

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0096061 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Richard Donner directs. Michael Chapman behind the camera. Danny Elfman scores. Fredric Steinkamp cuts. Profitable at the box office. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

138 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Directed by Richard Donner, shot by Michael Chapman. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Danny Elfman. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Fredric Steinkamp shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Bill Murray and Karen Allen and John Forsythe carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "The spirits will move you in odd and hysterical ways.".
7IMDB entry: tt0096061 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Michael Chapman
Original score: Danny Elfman
Editing: Fredric Steinkamp
Production design: J. Michael Riva
Makeup / hair: Thomas R. Burman
VFX supervisor: Eric Brevig
Sound: Les Fresholtz
Stunt coordinator: Mic Rodgers
Runtime: 101 min · 1h 41m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $32,000,000
Box office: $60,300,000
Return: 188% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG-13
IMDB: Scrooged (1988)

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Richard Donner

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Community reviews

What people are saying

John Chard2015-12-27
★ 8/10
Put a little love in your heart. This is a perfect vehicle for Bill Murray, his brand of sarcastic and caustic delivery is nailed on perfect for Frank Cross, the modern day scrooge in this tale. I have often found him to be an acquired taste, I mean don't get me wrong here, I'm a big fan and can repeatedly watch his best offerings, but it's not hard to understand why his style is not universally loved. Scrooged is pure and simply the modern spin of the story we all have grown up with, that isn't to say that the film loses anything as regards Christmas spirit, because it doesn't, the message is still the same, and in this ever changing world of ours the core essence of the story is one the world should heed. This version is a blast, it's loud, it's brash, but boy is it damn funny, and I personally watch it every Christmas without fail. And yes, I watch it alongside the glorious Alistair Sim version, for although they are poles apart in class, they both entertain for very different reasons. Joining Murray in this festive romp is the delightful Karen Allen, while luminaries such as former New York Dolls front man David Johansen and Mr. Laconic himself, Robert Mitchum, add some weight to the cast list. It all works really rather well with the exception of Carol Kane's Ghost Of Christmas Present, where to me she comes off as being more annoying than funny, but that of course is a personal opinion and I know as fact that many others adore her energetic performance. With quips aplenty and of course with a simple heartfelt message at the core, Scrooged is truly a sharp and enjoyable film to be enjoyed at the festive period. Thanks boys, get the nurse! 8/10
r96sk2022-12-22
★ 6/10
Surprisingly, I didn't enjoy <em>'Scrooged'</em> all that much. I never really clicked with this 1988 release whilst I was watching it. Bill Murray is fine, the Ghost of Christmas Past is good and the bits of the plot involving Alfre Woodard's character are decent. That's all I have for noteworthy positives, though. The vibe of the film felt off to me. I didn't connect with Murray's Frank at any point, whether it be the past, the present or the future version of him. I get, as Scrooge, you're supposed to dislike him, but I've seen a fair few versions of <em>'A Christmas Carol'</em> and I feel like the Scrooge character is usually moreso cowardly bad, as in he'll be horrid to people behind their back or under his breath - as opposed to Frank Cross, who is in your face, over the top, overtly mean. Perhaps I'm misremembering or it just stuck out to me more here as I didn't like much else from the 100 or so minutes. For an Xmas flick, also, it doesn't hit the Christmassy spot either. It could've done with more warmth, or at least some entertaining and/or funny moments; I did minorly chuckle a few times, I will say, but not nearly enough. I still wouldn't describe this as a 'bad' film, but it is quite far adrift of being a positive in my books. I thought this would've be a good'un, many think it is which is fair, but for me I unfortunately didn't particularly like it.
GenerationofSwine2023-12-25
★ 10/10
Does Bill break the 4th wall or is he talking to the TV audience? I mean, this movie and the argument my parents had after it was how I learned what the 4th wall was... and for the record, I side with Mom, he was clearly breaking it. You already know the plot, which is nice about these movies, you know what is going to happen, it's all about how they are going to present it, and the presentation was pretty hysterical. It is very 80s, very 80s comedy, playing with the offensive and the inoffensive in a family friendly way, and at the end of the day, you get a good laugh over a Christmas tale. There isn't that much to say, you already know everything about it without actually needing to watch it, just that this presentation is funny and heart warming... heart warming like all the others, save for the remake made for "Modern Audiences" that ends on a note of spite and hate.