Audiences Embrace Johnny Depp’s ‘Ebenezer’ With a Strong CinemaScore, and the Comeback Is On

Every few years, Hollywood tests whether a famous face can still pull people into theaters. This holiday season, that test belongs to Johnny Depp and Paramount’s ‘Ebenezer‘. The film is a darker take on Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’, and it has carried unusual weight for a movie with a modest price tag.

The stakes were as much about perception as money. Paramount cautiously spent $38 million to produce the Dickens tale, and Depp was paid $5 million, a fraction of what he’s earned on prior studio movies, with bonuses tied to box office performance. The project marks his first major Hollywood studio production in eight years.

Now the first hard audience data is in. Moviegoers who saw ‘Ebenezer’ on opening day gave it an A- CinemaScore, a solid grade for a PG-13 dark fantasy comedy. That puts it on par with ‘Wonka’ and ‘Red One’, which also earned A- grades, and slightly under the A earned by ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’.

Audiences have spoken!!! #2 And #JohnnyDepp still got it, once again delivering a crowd pleaser, as #Paramount’s PG-13 dark fantasy comedy #EBENEZER, his return to Hollywood after 8 years, received a solid A- #CinemaScore from moviegoers, on par with #Wonka & #RedOne’s A-, slightly under #TheMuppetChristmasCarol’s A, over #Scrooged’s B+, #OfficeChristmasParty & 2009 #AChristmasCarol’s B. Also a step up from his last major Hollywood film #FantasticBeastsTheCrimesOfGrindelwald’s B+ Good news for potential legs at the #BoxOffice!

— Luiz Fernando (@Luiz_Fernando_J) November 14, 2026

The comparisons are favorable. ‘Ebenezer’ lands above ‘Scrooged’, which earned a B+, and above both ‘Office Christmas Party’ and the 2009 ‘A Christmas Carol’, each of which scored a B. It is also a step up from Depp’s last major Hollywood film, ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald’, which got a B+.

CinemaScore grades matter because they are often read as an early signal of word of mouth. A strong grade suggests that people who buy tickets are leaving happy, which can help a film hold up in the weeks ahead. For a holiday release, that staying power is crucial.

Going in, expectations for the film’s box office were measured. Box Office Pro had the movie opening in a range of $20 million to $25 million, and the studio and handicappers saw it bowing to around $40 million globally. TheWrap pointed out that the projected opening highlights how far expectations have fallen for a star whose films once grossed over $4 billion worldwide. Final opening-weekend numbers had not been reported at the time of writing.

The film also arrives with a strong creative team. Ti West directed ‘Ebenezer’ from a screenplay by Nathaniel Halpern. Depp leads a cast that includes Andrea Riseborough, Tramell Tillman, Ian McKellen, Rupert Grint and Daisy Ridley.

Hollywood’s reaction to Depp has been warm in the lead-up to release. At CinemaCon, he received huge applause from distributors, and the star was noticeably moved by the reception. Test screenings were also described as encouraging, a sign that general audiences may be more forgiving than industry commentary assumed.

Not everyone loves the movie as much as ticket buyers. First reactions praised Depp’s performance and the film’s gothic atmosphere, though not everyone was convinced the film offers something new. One critic called the performance layered, while another found the film itself forgettable.

That split is common for Christmas Carol adaptations, since viewers arrive with decades of familiar versions in mind. Reviewers can easily feel that they have seen it all before. Audiences who simply want a seasonal, spooky night out may be more open to a fresh coat of gothic paint.

The film’s tone also seems to be part of the appeal. One review described it as working both as a supernatural thriller and a dark comedy, and praised Depp’s dry, deadpan timing. That mix of chills and humor may explain the A- from regular moviegoers.

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

If the strong audience response holds, the impact could extend beyond one weekend. Depp’s next project, the action thriller ‘Day Drinker’, is set to hit theaters on March 26, 2027. Studios are watching closely, since a solid hit for ‘Ebenezer’ could shape how Hollywood views his box office drawing power.

For now, the early signs are encouraging but not conclusive. A CinemaScore is just one data point, and the competition during the holiday season will be heavy. The following weekends will show whether the good word of mouth translates into ticket sales.

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