Johnny Depp’s ‘Ebenezer’ Gets PG-13 Rating

Director Ti West (X, Pearl, MaXXXine) previously promised to make his upcoming movie Ebenezer a “spookier version” of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol than ever before. But how frightening will the Johnny Depp-starring ghost story actually be? While West is known for pushing the boundaries of horror, his latest film appears to be taking a somewhat more restrained approach.

Paramount’s Ebenezer has officially received a PG-13 rating for “frightening material,” offering an early indication of the kind of scares audiences can expect when the film arrives in theaters.

Depp stars as Ebenezer Scrooge in West’s new adaptation of A Christmas Carol, reimagining the classic Charles Dickens tale as a supernatural ghost story. Given West’s horror credentials, the project promises a darker spin on the familiar Christmas tale.

Paramount will release Ebenezer in theaters on November 13, 2026.

The film features an impressive ensemble cast, including Ian McKellen as Jacob Marley, Tramell Tillman as the Ghost of Christmas Present, and Rupert Grint as Bob Cratchit. The supporting cast also includes Andrea Riseborough (Possessor), Daisy Ridley (Star Wars franchise), Sam Claflin (The Hunger Games), Charlie Murphy (Peaky Blinders), Arthur Conti (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice), and Ellie Bamber (Willow).

Nathaniel Halpern wrote the adaptation, with West directing.

‘A Christmas Carol’ Has a Long History of Ghostly Adaptations

First published in 1843, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol has been adapted for the screen countless times. Among the most notable versions are Scrooge (1951), starring Alastair Sim; Scrooge (1970), starring Albert Finney; A Christmas Carol (1984), starring George C. Scott; Scrooged (1988), starring Bill Murray; The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992), starring Michael Caine; and Disney’s A Christmas Carol (2009), starring Jim Carrey.

Although the story is often associated with Christmas cheer and redemption, its supernatural elements have always given it a distinctly eerie edge. At its heart, A Christmas Carol is a ghost story, complete with disturbing visions, unsettling spirits, and a frightening glimpse of what awaits those who refuse to change their ways.

As previously explored in horror discussions, Dickens’ original tale can even be viewed as an early influence on the popularity of Victorian ghost stories and spiritualism.

With West behind the camera and Depp taking on one of literature’s most recognizable characters, Ebenezer could offer a darker take on a familiar holiday classic. Its PG-13 rating for “frightening material” suggests that audiences can expect some scares, though the full extent of the film’s horror remains to be seen.