Quick summary
- Johnny Depp stars as Ebenezer Scrooge in Paramount’s “Ebenezer”, his first major-studio film in eight years, according to TheWrap.
- The film is projected to open to around $20 million in the United States this weekend, with a similar overseas launch.
- TheWrap reports a net budget of $38 million plus about $50 million in marketing.
- Depp’s next studio project is reportedly Lionsgate’s “Day Drinker” opposite Penelope Cruz.
Johnny Depp’s Johnny Depp Ebenezer box office test arrives this weekend, and early tracking suggests a quiet start. According to TheWrap, Paramount’s gothic take on Charles Dickens’ Christmas story is headed for a domestic opening of about $20 million, with a similar figure overseas. For an actor who once anchored billion-dollar franchises, it is a sober number.
A comeback built around one face
“Ebenezer” retells Charles Dickens‘ “A Christmas Carol” with Depp as the miser. He joins a list of Scrooges that includes Alastair Sim, Michael Caine, Patrick Stewart and Jim Carrey, TheWrap notes. Horror director Ti West makes it his first film since finishing his “X” trilogy at A24.
The pitch is to give Scrooge more depth as his old business partner and three ghosts urge him to change. Yet TheWrap argues the marketing leans almost entirely on Depp himself. The Conversation describes a darker version in which the ghosts become zombies and Scrooge is shown as a man scarred by bullying and abuse.
What the numbers say
TheWrap sets the forecast against Depp’s peak. Between 2006 and 2011, three “Pirates of the Caribbean” films and an “Alice in Wonderland” remake together grossed more than $4 billion worldwide, the outlet reports. A $20 million opening sits far below that.
The slide was gradual. “The Lone Ranger” in 2013 grossed $260 million against a $225 million budget. “Mortdecai” took $37.3 million against $60 million. The fifth “Pirates” film, in 2017, made $794.8 million worldwide, compared with $1.04 billion for “On Stranger Tides” in 2011. “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” earned $655 million in 2018, down from $816 million for the first film.
TheWrap also notes that Depp has been outside Hollywood since 2018, amid domestic abuse allegations and a long legal battle with his former wife Amber Heard. It adds that his fanbase stayed loyal through the trial.
Why the budget matters
The cost side is kinder. TheWrap reports a net budget of $38 million, below the $50 to $60 million spent on some of his 2010s misses, because Depp took a smaller salary than in his prime. A reported $50 million marketing push includes his appearance at San Diego Comic-Con, where he stayed in character as Scrooge.
On those figures, the outlet says, “Ebenezer” could still be a modest success for Paramount if word of mouth carries it through December. A holiday title can also keep earning if nostalgia builds. For more on the forecasts and early reactions, see our earlier coverage of the Ebenezer opening forecasts and Depp’s return as Scrooge.
What happens next
TheWrap says the 63-year-old has another Hollywood film lined up, Lionsgate’s “Day Drinker” with Penelope Cruz. It also reports that “Pirates” producer Jerry Bruckheimer has said in interviews that Depp has been in talks with Disney about playing Captain Jack Sparrow again. Neither is confirmed by the studios in the sources we read. Everything we publish on the actor is gathered on our Johnny Depp page.
Frequently asked questions
What is Ebenezer about?
It is a Paramount adaptation of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” directed by Ti West. It expands on Scrooge’s backstory as he is visited by his former partner and three ghosts.
How much is Ebenezer expected to make on opening weekend?
TheWrap reports tracking of about $20 million domestically and a similar amount overseas.
How much did Ebenezer cost?
TheWrap reports a net budget of $38 million and roughly $50 million in marketing.
Is this Johnny Depp’s first Hollywood film in years?
TheWrap calls it his first film from a major studio in eight years. He has recently worked on independent and foreign productions.
