A Christmas Carol (2009 film)

Disney's A Christmas Carol
A man in a night gown and hat, flying through the sky. In the background is a clock tower covered in scaffolding.
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRobert Zemeckis
Screenplay byRobert Zemeckis
Based onA Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyRobert Presley
Edited byJeremiah O'Driscoll
Music byAlan Silvestri
Production
companies
Distributed byWalt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Release dates
  • November 3, 2009 (2009-11-03) (London)
  • November 6, 2009 (2009-11-06) (United States)
Running time
96 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$175–200 million[2][3]
Box office$325.3 million[4]

Disney's A Christmas Carol (or simply A Christmas Carol) is a 2009 American animated Christmas film produced, written for the screen and directed by Robert Zemeckis. Produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Zemeckis' ImageMovers Digital, and released by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is based on Charles Dickens's 1843 novel A Christmas Carol. The film was animated through the process of motion capture, a technique used in ImageMovers' previous animated films including The Polar Express (2004), Monster House (2006), and Beowulf (2007), and stars the voices of Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Bob Hoskins, Robin Wright Penn and Cary Elwes. It is Disney's third adaptation of the novel, following Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983) and The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992).

A Christmas Carol was officially released in Disney Digital 3D, RealD 3D, and IMAX 3D on November 6, 2009.[5] Its world premiere in London coincided with the switching-on of the annual Oxford Street and Regent Street Christmas lights.[6][7] The film grossed $325 million on a $175–200 million budget and received mixed reviews from critics, who criticized its dark tone and script, but praised its visuals, Alan Silvestri's musical score, and the performances of Carrey and Oldman. The film and Mars Needs Moms (2011) were the only ImageMovers Digital projects made, before the studio was shut down by the Walt Disney Company for unsatisfactory box office results. Despite this it was nominated for Favorite Animated Movie and Jim Carrey won Favorite Voice From an Animated Movie at the 2010 Kids' Choice Awards.[8]

  1. ^ "A CHRISTMAS CAROL (PG)". British Board of Film Classification. October 7, 2009. Archived from the original on November 20, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2012.
  2. ^ Barnes, Brooks (October 26, 2009). "Disney Hopes Christmas Carol Lives Up to Its Blockbuster Marketing". New York Times. Archived from the original on November 25, 2011. Retrieved October 25, 2009.
  3. ^ "A Christmas Carol (2009)". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on November 29, 2009. Retrieved November 28, 2009.
  4. ^ "A Christmas Carol". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  5. ^ McClintock, Pamela (February 7, 2008). "Studios rush to fill '09 schedule". Variety. Archived from the original on June 22, 2018. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
  6. ^ "Dickens theme for festive lights". BBC News. September 13, 2009. Archived from the original on September 8, 2017. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  7. ^ Hall, James (September 12, 2009). "Disney's A Christmas Carol will be theme for London's Christmas lights". Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on September 12, 2009. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  8. ^ "Disney to shut ImageMovers Digital studio". Los Angeles Times. March 13, 2010. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2021.