Johnny Depp’s ‘Ebenezer’ Test Screening Scores Stun Hollywood: One of the Highest Lead Ratings in Years Signals a Comeback Few Saw Coming

Johnny Depp’s relationship with Hollywood has been one of the most closely watched stories in the industry for years. After a very public legal battle and his exit from a major franchise, the actor spent a long stretch working on smaller, mostly international projects, while the studios kept their distance.

That is why ‘Ebenezer‘ has become such a curious test case. Paramount’s gothic take on Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ has been marketed as a return for Depp, who plays Ebenezer Scrooge, and it marks his first major studio lead since 2018. Director Ti West, known for ‘X’, ‘Pearl’ and ‘MaXXXine’, brings a horror sensibility to the classic ghost story, with a script by Nathaniel Halpern.

Now the first real data point on how audiences feel about that comeback is in, and it is eye-catching. According to Puck News, Paramount tested the film on August 11 in Paramus, New Jersey, where Depp scored an 86 for his performance, against a typical lead norm of 67. The film itself scored an 80, compared with a historical test screening norm of 72, and women over 35 rated Depp at 90.

Depp outscored his own movie, which is the part that has the industry talking. The reporting notes that only the top 10% of movies hit 93 or better, so an 80 is solid, but an 86 for a lead performance is remarkable for any star. Puck’s Matthew Belloni says he confirmed the numbers with three sources, though Paramount and a representative for Depp declined to comment.

Studio heads Josh Greenstein and Dana Goldberg reportedly traveled to the screening, and they were said to leave the theater elated. The film carries a reported $40 million budget, which makes it a relatively modest bet for a studio.

Perhaps the most striking detail is who responded best. Women over 35 rated the movie most favorably of any group, which many might not have expected given the headlines surrounding Depp’s past. Reporting on the numbers has noted that test audiences seemed largely unbothered by the legal saga.

A score of 90 from that group is a meaningful signal for a Christmas movie aimed at a broad audience. It suggests that Depp’s appeal as a performer, rather than the controversy, was what stuck with viewers in the room.

Paramount has leaned into the idea of a return. At San Diego Comic-Con, Depp showed up in full Scrooge costume and makeup, and the first trailer introduced him as the “Master of Misfits,” even nodding to his past roles before landing on the line, “It’s good to be back.” The tagline promises “The name you know. The story you don’t.”

The supporting cast is stacked as well. Ian McKellen plays Jacob Marley, Andrea Riseborough is the Ghost of Christmas Past, Tramell Tillman is the Ghost of Christmas Present, Rupert Grint plays Bob Cratchit and Sam Claflin is Fred. Fan reaction to the trailer has been mixed, with some excited to see Depp back in action and others questioning the film’s marketing.

Bringing Ebenezer Scrooge to life, in a way only Johnny Depp can. #EbenezerMovie – only in theatres November 13. https://t.co/iDWJ1AWz1R

— Ebenezer (@ebenezermovie) October 21, 2026

It is worth keeping the scores in perspective. A test screening is a single room of people, and Puck itself flagged the small sample size. Strong numbers measure early audience enthusiasm, not box office results or critical reception.

Even so, the report arrives at a busy moment for the actor. Lionsgate has his action thriller ‘Day Drinker’ dated for March, and Puck reports that Disney is in talks to bring him back as Jack Sparrow in another ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ movie, though nothing about ‘Ebenezer’ confirms that. Industry watchers are treating this film as a test of whether audiences are ready for a Depp revival.

‘Ebenezer’ arrives in theaters on November 13, and the real test begins when ticket sales come in. If the audience response holds, Paramount may have found that Depp’s appeal had gone dormant and not disappeared.

For now, the early numbers give the studio something to feel good about and give Depp a rare piece of good news from an industry that spent years keeping its distance.

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