Johnny Depp’s ‘Ebenezer’ Debuts on Rotten Tomatoes to Disastrous Reviews

Johnny Depp’s big-screen comeback opens this week. In ‘Ebenezer,’ he plays Ebenezer Scrooge in a darker take on Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ from horror director Ti West. It’s Depp’s first major studio role since 2018.

Expectations were high going in. West is best known for his horror trilogy ‘X,’ ‘Pearl’ and ‘MaXXXine,’ and the cast is packed with stars, including Rupert Grint, Andrea Riseborough, Sam Claflin, Daisy Ridley, Tramell Tillman and Ian McKellen. Paramount’s tagline promises “The name you know, the story you don’t.”

Now that the review embargo has lifted, the early critical response isn’t great. ‘Ebenezer’ has debuted on Rotten Tomatoes with a 45% Tomatometer score based on 20 reviews. The PG-13 film runs 1 hour and 56 minutes and opens in theaters on November 13.

Oddly enough, the score is higher than some had expected. Before reviews arrived, Kalshi traders were predicting a 36.8% Rotten Tomatoes score, which would also have been firmly “Rotten.” With so few reviews counted so far, the number could still move in either direction.

Think you know his story? Think again. Johnny Depp is Ebenezer Scrooge. The spirits arrive in the official new trailer for EBENEZER – only in theatres November 13. https://t.co/cb6p9JBq9C

— Ebenezer (@ebenezermovie) October 1, 2026

Several critics praised Depp. MovieWeb called the film his best showcase in years and argued it could become a new Christmas classic, while noting the role doesn’t ask him to do anything new. FlickDirect said Depp owns the role and offers a unique but familiar version of Scrooge.

West’s horror influence also got attention. One critic described the film as the darkest adaptation of the story they had seen. Another said its PG-13 scares are both fun and genuinely frightening, especially for kids watching with their parents.

Not everyone was convinced. Screen Rant called the film far from a total flop, but said it never finds anything new to say about the classic story. That review also argued the supporting cast is underused.

He has one night to change a lifetime. #EbenezerMovie – the spirits arrive in theatres THIS FRIDAY. Get tickets now! https://t.co/I98jROeKsR

— Movies (@Movies) November 11, 2026

Some reviews were harsher. Geek Vibes Nation praised the visuals but said Depp’s over-the-top performance sinks the film, with some attempts at humor clashing with the more serious tone. The same review argued the film doesn’t live up to its marketing, retelling the story beat for beat.

Mixed reviews might not hurt the box office much. Box Office Theory has projected a domestic opening between $17 million and $24 million. Box Office Pro’s long-range forecast was more optimistic, at $25 million to $35 million.

Theater owners are watching closely. Some have suggested the film’s box office will say more about its quality than about Depp’s star power. Reports also say Depp took a smaller $5 million salary for the film.

The stakes go beyond one holiday release. ‘Ebenezer’ is Depp’s return to big Hollywood productions after his highly publicized 2022 trial with his ex-wife, Amber Heard. It’s also the largest film West has directed. Early test screening results were reportedly strong, which suggests audiences may be more forgiving than critics. Opening weekend will show whether that’s true.

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