It has been a very long year, and it is almost Christmas. Let’s take a moment and give thanks for a wonderful piece of public domain literature that doesn’t know how to stop giving.

Charles Dickens had no idea what he was creating at a farthing per word. Nor that he would feed undeserving families for what is approaching two centuries. So without further ado, here are my favorite adaptations of his classic, A Christmas Carol.

Scrooge (1970)

Listen!! Albert Finney is a “G.D.” musical treasure. Between this and his role as Daddy Warbucks in Annie, we should all be thankful. Plus, this is the one I remember most from kidhood, so it has to go on the list.

An American Christmas Carol (1979)

There was a time when Henry Winkler wanted to be an actor and stretch his talents. He made some interesting acting choices coming off of his Happy Days fame. This is my favorite of the bunch, right up there next to Night Shift. This is the scarier of the two, tho, set in depression era New Hampshire.

Scrooged (1988)

I love this movie with a love that has no end. This is by far my favorite Bill Murray performance. And the supporting cast is killerdiller. Track down all of his brothers that appear in it. And Ghost of Christmas Futures is the scariest ghost of all the adaptations ever made.

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

This is the best post Jim Henson Muppet movie. And it is masterful. It not only gives us Michael Caine in a musical (giving Albert Finney a scratchy old English voice run for his money), but it gives us the first paring of Gonzo and Rizzo. The only other Post Jim movie to come close is Muppets From Space (which has a better soundtrack).

Rich Little’s Christmas Carol (1978)

I have a firm unshakeable belief that our world is partially in the mess that it is because the last couple of generations didn’t get to grow up with Rich Little. He is like the Anti-Anti-Christ. Who is our next Rich Little?