A Carol Christmas

Name: A Carol Christmas
Genre: Christmas, Big City, Ghosts/Spirits, Supernatural, Second Chance Romance
Released: 2003-01-01
Duration: 1 h 32 min
Rating: 5.5
Cast: Tori Spelling, Dinah Manoff, William Shatner, Gary Coleman, Michael Landes

5.5/10 · 1,375 ratings20031h 32mChristmasWeirdness 9/10Bingo card

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The premise

An ego-maniacal TV talk show host is determined to destroy the festive fun in the studio.

Themes:Redemption Family over Fame Second Chances The Corrupting Nature of Ambition

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.

Talk Show Host as the lead1 of only 2

Who’s in it

Our Girl

Tori Spelling

as Carol Cartman

Our Guy

Jason Brooks

as John Joyce

Alongside them

Show all 10 cast

Behind the camera

Show

Directed by

Matthew Irmas

Written by

Tom Amundsen

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.

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.

From Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

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.

BINGOThe leads start out at oddsA snowball fight, sledding or skatingA classic Hallmark meet-cuteOld flames reuniteA calendar reminder raises the stakesAn assistant quietly faces a custody battleA walk-and-talk through townA big public romantic gestureA class or family reunionThe leads clash over their jobsA diva talk show host belittles her crewA cosy interior full of warm lighting★A toast at a celebrationA late aunt's ruthless mantras get repeatedSet in a big cityA handwritten note or letterA shared meal around a crowded tableSanta Claus appearsA family reconcilesA scenic spot becomes their meeting placeA famous celebrity character appearsA meaningful look held a beat too longA former child star plays a spirit guideA live Christmas Eve broadcast looms

Hallmark Bingo

Your A Carol Christmas card is dealt.

Twenty-four squares pulled from this movie’s own quirks — the cosy classics, a few only-in-this-one curveballs, and a couple of decoys. Mark them as you watch.

Open your card

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
Lead
Talk Show Host
VainRuthlessAmbitiousRedeemed
John Joyce
Love interest
Charity Director
Ex-boyfriend
KindPrincipledForgiving
Aunt Marla
Antagonist
Deceased Talent Manager
Aunt and former manager
CynicalManipulativeRegretful
Roberta
Supporting
Personal Assistant
Employee
HardworkingLoyalStruggling
Ghost of Christmas Past
Supporting
Spirit
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.

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