Christmas movies usually wait for December, but this year one of them has jumped the queue. Paramount’s Ebenezer, a darker take on A Christmas Carol directed by Ti West, opened with around $6.7 million on Friday and is tracking toward an $18 to $20 million weekend. That puts it comfortably ahead of its competition, including The Cat in the Hat and Godzilla Minus Zero.
Part of the appeal is the star power. Johnny Depp’s turn as Scrooge has drawn curiosity from audiences who want to see how a familiar miser looks through the lens of a filmmaker known for atmosphere and dread. The result seems to be a seasonal story that feels fresh without abandoning the ghostly spirit of the original.
The timing matters too. Mid-November is a quiet corridor for big releases, and families and date-night crowds are looking for something with a holiday feel before the December rush. By arriving early, Ebenezer has the stage almost to itself and can build word of mouth for several weeks.
Of course, an opening weekend is only the start. The real test is how the film holds in its second and third frames, when audiences compare it with bigger tentpoles. Strong reviews from viewers could keep it running well into the holidays, while a steep drop would cool the early excitement.
For the full numbers and the competitive picture, read the complete weekend box office report on Xaldris. Here, the takeaway is simple: a darker Christmas story has found an eager audience, and the season has officially started at the cinema.
Studios will certainly watch the result closely. If a gothic holiday tale can win in November, expect more unconventional seasonal projects to follow in future years.
