Scrooged

Movie Details:

Cast & Characters:

• Bill Murray as Frank Cross
• Karen Allen as Claire Phillips
• John Forsythe as Lew Hayward
• John Glover as Brice Cummings
• Bobcat Goldthwait as Eliot Loudermilk
• David Johansen as the Ghost of Christmas Past
• Carol Kane as the Ghost of Christmas Present
• Robert Mitchum as Preston Rhinelander
• Nicholas Phillips as Calvin Cooley
• Michael J. Pollard as Herman
• Alfre Woodard as Grace Cooley
• Mabel King as Gramma
• John Murray as James Cross

Storyline:

A selfish, cynical television executive is haunted by three spirits bearing lessons on Christmas Eve.

About Scrooged Movie:

Scrooged is an American Christmas fantasy black comedy film directed by Richard Donner and written by Mitch Glazer and Michael O’Donoghue. It serves as a modern retelling of Charles Dickens’s classic novella A Christmas Carol, featuring Bill Murray as Frank Cross, a cynical and selfish television executive.

Plot Summary

The film opens with Frank Cross (Murray), who is the president of IBC television, preparing for a live Christmas Eve broadcast of A Christmas Carol. Despite his success, he is cold-hearted and dismissive of the holiday spirit. On Christmas Eve, he is visited by the ghost of his former mentor, Lew Hayward (John Forsythe), who warns him that he will be visited by three spirits that night to help him change his ways.

The first ghost, the Ghost of Christmas Past, takes Frank back to his childhood and early adulthood, revealing how his ambition and selfishness have alienated him from love and family. The second ghost, the Ghost of Christmas Present, shows him the struggles of his overworked assistant Grace Cooley (Alfre Woodard) and her mute son Calvin, illustrating the consequences of his greed. Finally, the Ghost of Christmas Future presents a bleak vision of Frank’s life if he does not change—one where he dies alone and unloved.

After experiencing these revelations, Frank awakens on Christmas morning with a newfound appreciation for life. He interrupts the live broadcast to express his transformation and publicly apologize to those he has wronged. The film concludes with Frank reuniting with Claire Phillips (Karen Allen), his long-lost love, and embracing the true spirit of Christmas.

Production Notes

Scrooged was filmed on a budget of $32 million over three months in New York City and Hollywood. Bill Murray returned to acting for this film after a brief hiatus following Ghostbusters. The production faced challenges due to differing visions between Murray and director Donner; Murray later described his experience as “misery.”

The film features numerous celebrity cameos and utilizes humor alongside darker themes, making it both a comedic and poignant retelling of the classic story.

Reception

Released on November 23, 1988, Scrooged grossed over $100 million worldwide. While it received positive responses from test audiences, critics had mixed reactions upon its release, with some finding it either too mean-spirited or overly sentimental. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Makeup but lost to Beetlejuice.

Since its release, Scrooged has become a staple during the holiday season, often regarded as an alternative to traditional Christmas films. It has developed a cult following and is frequently included in discussions about the best Christmas movies.

Overall, Scrooged combines humor with heartfelt moments, showcasing Bill Murray’s comedic talent while delivering a relevant message about redemption and the importance of embracing the holiday spirit.

Budget & Box Office Collection: