10 Sci-Fi Versions of ‘A Christmas Carol’

ChristmasMagicWitches
Written By Chris Well

A sci-fi and fantasy look at one of the most adapted books of all time

The new Christmas comedy Spirited is just the latest in many, many adaptations of Charles Dickens’ classic seasonal fantasy book A Christmas Carol. Starring Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds and Octavia Spencer, they bring an inventive modern musical update to the classic story. (I love how they flipped the script to show us the office operation—and showed us why this same kind of story has been told so many times.)

A novella by Charles Dickens published in 1843, A Christmas Carol tells of elderly miser Ebenezer Scrooge, who has a dark heart and a poor attitude toward the needs of others. The night of Christmas Eve, he is haunted by the ghost of his former business partner, as well as the spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. By the end of the night, Scrooge has transformed into a new man.

As with much of Dickens’ works, A Christmas Carol was written as social commentary. Dickens was devoted to helping the underserved—inspired by his own family’s experiences.

Buy Dickens’ original novella The Christmas Carol from Amazon (affiliate link)

In the decades since it was first published, A Christmas Carol has been adapted many, many times—onstage, on screen, and in every other kind of media. Rather than sort through like a hundred movies or even two dozen TV episodes, here’s a special list just for you…

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10 Sci-Fi and Fantasy Adaptations Of A Christmas Carol

  1. Doctor Who—“A Christmas Carol” (Doctor Who Christmas special) In this 2010 Christmas special starring timelord the Doctor, his friends Amy and Rory—who are on their honeymoon—are trapped on a crashing space liner. The only way the Doctor can rescue them is to save the soul of a lonely old miser. But what is lurking in the fogs of Christmas Eve? Viewers can find this special episode on Amazon or watch it on HBO Max or watch it on BBC One.

  2. Real Ghostbusters—“Xmas Marks the Spot” (Episode 1.13) In the animated series based on the movies, the fate of Christmas depends on the Ghostbusters filling in for the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future—while Egon attempts to retrieve the real ghosts from the containment unit. Watch this episode on Amazon Prime or buy the show on DVD.

  3. Six Million Dollar Man—“A Bionic Christmas Carol” (Episode 5.12) On this sci-fi action show starring Lee Majors, Steve Austin is an astronaut who was seriously injured in a crash, and his body is repaired with cyborg parts—which makes him a superhero that works for the government. In this Christmas episode, Steve is investigating a case of possible space-program sabotage, and must use his bionic abilities to teach the meaning of Christmas to the gruff, penny-pinching head of the company. Watch the episode free on the NBC website or on the NBC app.

  4. Bewitched—“Humbug Not to Be Spoken Here” (Episode 4.16) On this fantasy sitcom, a witch named Samantha (played by Elizabeth Montgomery) marries a mortal named Darrin (played by Dick York), and she chooses to lead the life of a typical suburban housewife. In this Christmas episode, a miserly old advertising client demands that Darrin work late on Christmas Eve. Samantha uses her powers to take the old man to meet Santa Claus. Watch this free on the Roku Channel or get the episode from Amazon.

  5. Highway to Heaven—“Another Song for Christmas” (1.13) This fantasy drama TV series starred Michael Landon as an angel assigned to help people in need. Victor French co-starred as a retired policeman who helps the angel with his assignments. In this Christmas episode, the two must bring holiday joy into the heart of a crooked used car dealer. Watch this episode free on a number of streaming services or get the episode from Amazon.

  6. The Jetsons—“A Jetson Christmas Carol” (Episode 2.23) Animated sitcom The Jetsons followed a family living in the distant future with crazy inventions, amazing mechanical contraptions, and more futuristic things. The show’s first season ran in the 1960s, but the second season didn’t run until the 1980s. This Christmas episode finds George Jetson forced by his boss, Mr. Spacely, to work late on Christmas Eve. This inspires three ghostly visits from Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Future. You can find this episode on Amazon or watch it on HBO Max or watch it on Boomerang.

  7. Quantum Leap—“A Little Miracle” (3.10) The original version of Quantum Leap (1989-1993) starred Scott Bakula as a man trapped in a time travel situation, regularly taking the place of other people to correct historical mistakes. In this Christmas episode of the show, he must alter the attitude of a rich man who wants to tear down a mission and build a high rise. Find the third season of the original Quantum Leap show on Amazon.

  8. Aqua Teen Hunger Force—“Cybernetic Ghost of Christmas Past from the Future” (Episode 1.18) An animated television series, this followed the odd adventures and antics of three anthropomorphic fast food items. In this Christmas episode, a robot that claims to be a ghost from the future (or possibly the past) arrives to lecture about how Christmas was celebrated in the past (or possibly the future). Watch the episode on HBO Max or find it on Amazon.

  9. Xena: Warrior Princess—“A Solstice Carol” (Episode 2.9) Xena is a reformed warrior princess who travels around during ancient times fighting evil. Her friend Gabrielle helps her stay on the path of good. In their holiday episode—set in a historical period that predates Christmas—Xena and Gabrielle impersonate The Fates in order to change a king’s selfish ways and save an orphanage. Find this pre-Christmas episode on Amazon.

  10. Be Cool, Scooby-Doo—“Scroogey Doo” (episode 2.10) In a hilarious episode that moves our main characters back into the past, it’s 1843 when three ghosts come to scare Ebeneezer Scrooge. Sure, the ghosts bother him, but they also lead the Velma of that era to question her dedication to a life of mystery solving. Find this surprising mystery from my favorite version of Scooby-Doo on HBO Max or on Amazon.

Chris Well

Chris Well been a writer pretty much his entire life. (Well, since his childhood.) Over the years, he has worked in newspapers, magazines, radio, and books. He now is the chief of the website Monster Complex, celebrating monster stories in lit and pop culture. He also writes horror comedy fiction that embraces Universal Monsters, 1960s sitcoms, 1980s action movies, and the X-Files.

https://chriswell.substack.com/
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