Johnny Depp’s return to a Hollywood studio film is drawing a divided early response, with critics praising his performance as Scrooge in Ebenezer while others question whether the latest adaptation of A Christmas Carol offers enough to distinguish itself.
The first reactions, collected by Variety, highlight the gothic visual style brought by director Ti West and the energy of Johnny Depp’s lead performance. They also include assessments that describe the film as unnecessary or too familiar.
Paramount is scheduled to release Ebenezer in theaters on November 13. The comments circulating ahead of that opening are individual critics’ initial responses, not an established review consensus or evidence of how paying audiences will receive the film.
Depp’s Scrooge wins early supporters
FilmSpeak chief film critic Tom Chatalbash called the movie a “wickedly fun holiday treat” and a strong comeback vehicle for Depp, according to Variety’s roundup. He praised a performance that combines comic energy with emotional weight.
UK critic Phil Roberts also responded positively, saying West puts a bold spin on Charles Dickens’ story. His reaction singled out Depp’s presence and the emotional effect of Scrooge’s journey toward redemption.
Critics Choice member Clarence Moye described the film as a pleasant surprise and praised West’s gothic approach. Tony Mosello similarly highlighted an energetic central performance, haunting imagery and the supporting cast.
These comments suggest that, for the film’s early admirers, its appeal comes from the combination of a familiar redemption story with a distinctive visual atmosphere. They do not, however, establish that all critics agree the treatment is sufficiently new.
Gothic imagery becomes a central talking point
West’s direction is a recurring theme across the favourable reactions. Chatalbash credited the filmmaker with balancing macabre thrills and the emotional core of Dickens’ tale, while Mosello pointed to the use of gothic horror imagery.
The premise provides an obvious meeting point for those approaches: A Christmas Carol follows a miser confronted by supernatural visitors and forced to reconsider his life. The early responses focus on how West presents that journey rather than on an entirely different underlying story.
Even some critics who disliked the film found strengths in its craftsmanship. Ren Vieira praised its sets, production and sound design while arguing that the finished result did not stand apart from earlier versions.
Other critics question the need for another adaptation
Vieira’s central objection was familiarity. In the reaction quoted by Variety, the critic said the film follows the expected beats but offers little that is distinct or unique, and questioned whether Depp’s interpretation went beyond familiar mannerisms.
MaryAnn Johanson offered a similarly negative assessment, calling the film “utterly superfluous.” Robert Ortiz described it as technically accomplished but forgettable, arguing that it did not justify another return to a story audiences already know.
The disagreement therefore concerns more than whether Depp looks convincing as Scrooge. It turns on whether the performance, atmosphere and production design give viewers a meaningful reason to revisit the material.
An ensemble surrounds the familiar Christmas character
Ebenezer features Rupert Grint, Andrea Riseborough, Sam Claflin, Daisy Ridley, Arthur Conti, Ellie Bamber, Henry Lloyd-Hughes, Charlie Murphy, Tramell Tillman and Ian McKellen alongside Depp, Variety reported.
The film’s promotional description, “The name you know, the story you don’t,” positions it as a fresh encounter with an established character. The early split shows how differently critics can respond to that promise: supporters see a reinvigorated interpretation, while detractors see an adaptation that remains too close to familiar territory.
A studio comeback ahead of release
Variety describes Ebenezer as Depp’s first Hollywood studio film since his highly publicised 2022 defamation trial involving former wife Amber Heard. That context has made the project a focus of attention beyond the usual discussion of a seasonal literary adaptation.
A studio comeback is not the same as an absence from all filmmaking, and the early reactions do not establish the project’s commercial outcome. Whether the renewed attention translates into ticket sales will only become clearer after its theatrical opening.
For now, the emerging picture is mixed: several critics praise Depp and West’s visual approach, while others regard the movie as an unnecessary retelling. The November 13 release will bring a wider set of reviews and audience responses to that debate.
