A Carol Christmas
Where to watch
United States4 ways
United Kingdom2 ways
Rent
Via 
JustWatch · can change anytime.
The premise
An ego-maniacal TV talk show host is determined to destroy the festive fun in the studio.
How unusual is it?
Very. Ghosts/spirits, Santa himself, an actual miracle and a second-chance romance all turn up in one movie — the strangest 3% of everything we've logged.
A rare specific
Tap to find the other Hallmark movies that share it.
Who’s in it
Behind the camera
ShowHide
Directed by
Written by
Wait, what?
The quirks and curveballs that make this one a little weirder than your average Hallmark. No spoilers, promise.
- The Ghost of Christmas Past is played by Gary Coleman, who makes meta-references to his child star past.
- The Ghost of Christmas Present is played by William Shatner as a self-help TV doctor named Dr. Bob.
- Carol's recurring gift of 'soap' to her entire production crew as a holiday bonus.
- The future vision of the 'Carol Show' involves her hosting a trashy Jerry Springer-style show where guests scream 'I hate you' at their parents.
Every trope, all in one place
Here’s everything this one has going on, from the setting to the way it wraps up. Tap any of the 31 to find more movies that do the same thing.
Setting2
Time & season3
Characters6
Romance5
Why we’d put this one on
Weirdness 9 and a true cult curiosity. Tori Spelling plays a ruthless TV talk-show host visited on Christmas Eve by her late aunt and three spirits in a campy spin on A Christmas Carol. The casting is the headline: Gary Coleman is the Ghost of Christmas Past, making meta nods to his child-star days, and William Shatner shows up as a self-help TV doctor named Dr. Bob. Her idea of a holiday bonus is gifting her entire crew bars of soap. At a 5.2 rating it is gloriously uneven, but that cast and that energy make it a perfect bad-movie-night pick. Round up friends who appreciate a chaotic Carol.
How it all plays out
Already seen it, or just can’t wait? Open this up for the whole story, ending included.
Full story (spoilers)
The film opens at the studio of 'The Carol Show,' where host Carol Cartman is preparing for a live Christmas Eve broadcast. Carol is established as a 'Queen of Mean,' insulting her assistant Roberta, dismissing her sister Beth's dinner invitation, and mocking her ex-boyfriend John Joyce for his work with the homeless. She lives by the cynical mantras of her late Aunt Marla, who taught her that fame and power are more important than people. While napping before the show, Carol is visited by the ghost of Aunt Marla, who appears in chains and warns Carol that she must change her ways to avoid a miserable afterlife. Marla announces that three spirits will visit her. The Ghost of Christmas Past, a former child star, takes Carol back to her childhood to show how Marla manipulated her into choosing acting over her parents and later choosing her career over a marriage proposal from John. The Ghost of Christmas Present, appearing as the TV personality Dr. Bob, shows Carol the secret struggles of her assistant Roberta, who is facing a custody battle for her daughter Lily, and the modest but happy life of her sister Beth. Finally, the Ghost of Christmas Future shows Carol a terrifying reality where her show has become a low-rent 'freak show,' her career has ended in obscurity, and she dies completely alone. Carol wakes up just before the live show, transformed by the experience. She immediately gives Roberta a massive raise and a rent-free house, invites foster children onto the set to receive gifts, and announces that the profits from her brand will go to John's homeless shelters. The film concludes with Carol arriving at her sister's house for dinner, where she reconciles with Beth and reunites with John, finally embracing the holiday spirit.
Beat by beat
Opening
Carol Cartman is introduced as a cynical, mean-spirited talk show host who treats her staff like servants and rejects her family's holiday invitations.
Inciting Incident
The ghost of Carol's late Aunt Marla appears in chains to warn Carol that she is headed for a miserable fate unless she changes.
Midpoint
The Ghost of Christmas Past reveals how Carol's ambition, fueled by Marla, led her to abandon her first love, John Joyce.
Midpoint
The Ghost of Christmas Present shows Carol that her assistant Roberta is living in poverty and fighting a custody battle.
Climax
The Ghost of Christmas Future shows Carol her own lonely death and the failure of her career, leading to her desperate vow to change.
Resolution
Carol wakes up and uses her live TV special to give back to her crew, foster kids, and John's charity before reuniting with her family.
Did you know?
A few things that make this one stand out once you stack it up against every other Hallmark movie.
At a weirdness score of 9, it lands among the strangest 3% of Hallmark movies we've scored.
Top 3% weirdest
Out of every Hallmark movie we've scored, this one lands among the strangest 3%.
The backstory
- Based on A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.
- Music by Roger Bellon.
A Carol Christmas is a TV movie starring Tori Spelling, Dinah Manoff, William Shatner, Jason Brooks and Gary Coleman. It premiered on the Hallmark Channel in 2003. The film is an adaptation of Charles Dickens' 1843 novella A Christmas Carol.
How it stacks up
Where this one’s rating lands against every other rated Hallmark movie.
Among the lower-rated Hallmark movies — the median is 6.4.
Where this one fits
The corners of the catalog A Carol Christmas belongs to — handy if you’re after more of the same.
- Weirdest Hallmark MoviesScores 9/10 on our weirdness scale — comfortably in the strange end.
- Craziest Hallmark MoviesWild enough in premise to make the all-time list.
- Best Hallmark Christmas MoviesIt is, of course, a Christmas movie.
- Weirdest Hallmark Christmas MoviesA Christmas movie strange enough to make the weird list.
- Hallmark Supernatural MoviesHas a supernatural element.
- Hallmark Ghost MoviesA ghost plays a part.
Lines worth quoting
The lines that stuck with us — the ones you’ll be repeating after the credits roll.
“Always keep them waiting. That's what you taught me Aunt Marla. You got to show them who's boss.”
— Carol CartmanCarol explaining her management philosophy to herself. “I'm here to warn you, Carol Cartman, and to spare you a similar fate.”
— Aunt MarlaMarla's ghost appearing in chains to Carol. “May that be truly said of us, and of all of us. And so, as Tiny Tim observed... God Bless us. Everyone.”
— Carol CartmanThe final lines of the movie, quoting the original Dickens text.
Meet the characters
Who’s who before you press play. Nothing here gives the ending away.
Carol Cartman
LeadTalk Show Host
VainRuthlessAmbitiousRedeemedJohn Joyce
Love interestCharity Director
Ex-boyfriend
KindPrincipledForgivingAunt Marla
AntagonistDeceased Talent Manager
Aunt and former manager
CynicalManipulativeRegretfulRoberta
SupportingPersonal Assistant
Employee
HardworkingLoyalStrugglingGhost of Christmas Past
SupportingSpirit
Supernatural guide
SarcasticDiminutive
Questions people ask about A Carol Christmas
Where can I watch A Carol Christmas?
A Carol Christmas is available via UP Faith & Family Apple TV Channel, UP Faith & Family Amazon Channel , and Fawesome. Streaming options change often, so check current availability before settling in.
Is A Carol Christmas based on a book?
Yes. A Carol Christmas is based on A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.
How long is A Carol Christmas?
A Carol Christmas runs about 1 hour and 32 minutes, and was released in 2003.
Is A Carol Christmas a Christmas movie?
Yes. A Carol Christmas is a Hallmark Christmas movie, set during the holiday season.
More like this
Browse all moviesIf you liked this one, you’ll probably like these. The chips show what they have in common.
Five More Minutes
7.52021 · Christmas
- Christmas
- Supernatural
- Second Chance Romance
Take Me Back for Christmas
7.12023 · Christmas
- Christmas
- Big City
- Supernatural
A Kiss Before Christmas
7.02021 · Christmas
- Christmas
- Big City
- Supernatural
The Christmas Wishing Tree
8.42017 · Christmas
- Christmas
- Supernatural
- Cute Kid
Signed, Sealed, Delivered for Christmas
7.52014 · Christmas
- Christmas
- Big City
- Supernatural
The Good Witch's Gift
7.12010 · Christmas
- Christmas
- Supernatural
- Cute Kid
Talking Hallmark
Love talking about these as much as watching them?
So do we. Come hang out on the Talking Hallmark channel, where we dig into movies just like this one, episode after episode.
Watch the latest episode
“I watched Hallmark’s WORST Christmas movie (so you don’t have to)”
Data and sources
Curated by the Talking Hallmark team.Last updated .