Coming in at # 20 on the list The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992). Charles Dickens’ beloved tale gets a dose of Muppet magic in what has become one of the most acclaimed retellings of A Christmas Carol

Gonzo the Great steps in as the narrator (a.k.a. Charles Dickens himself), Kermit is a sympathetic Bob Cratchit, and Michael Caine, in a stroke of genius casting, plays Ebenezer Scrooge absolutely straight, acting as if he’s in the Royal Shakespeare Company despite being surrounded by frogs, pigs, and furry creatures. The combination is “laugh-out-loud hysterical and achingly sincere” all at once

Paul Williams’ original songs like “One More Sleep ’Til Christmas” and “Thankful Heart” are tuneful and warm, adding to the film’s charm. As irreverent as it is faithful to Dickens’ text, the movie somehow captures the Victorian heart of the story while adding Muppet humor, striking a perfect tonal balance.

Many fans (and even some critics) argue that this is “quite possibly the best Christmas Carol adaptation of all time,” period.

Whether or not you agree, it’s hard not to smile at the Muppets’ earnest take on “joy to the world”. Thirty years on, Brian Henson’s lovingly crafted film has firmly taken its place in the holiday pantheon, a reminder that there’s room for a little felt and fur alongside the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future.

Father Christmas of the Three Mountains