Johnny Depp’s Ebenezer: Test Screening Sparks Hope Worldwide

They laughed. They shivered. Then they handed over scores. A test screening in Paramus quietly turned into the kind of industry whisper that either fades or grows into a roar.

According to a Puck News report, Paramount’s gothic take on A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer, posted an overall test score of 80 out of 100 — above the usual 72. The real headline, though, is Johnny Depp. Audience members rated his turn as Ebenezer Scrooge an 86, well past the typical 67 for lead performances. Women over 35 gave him a striking 90.

Matthew Belloni of Puck says he verified those numbers with three separate sources. Paramount and Depp’s representatives declined to comment for now. Still, studio executives Josh Greenstein and Dana Goldberg were reportedly on hand for the August 11 screening in Paramus, New Jersey, and were said to be pleased with the audience reaction. The film’s budget is estimated at roughly $40 million.

Make no mistake: this Ebenezer is not the holiday confection you remember. Director Ti West pushes Dickens into darker, Gothic corners, with a script by Nathaniel Halpern that leans into menace as much as memory. The supporting cast reads like a curated reunion: Ian McKellen as Jacob Marley, Andrea Riseborough as the Ghost of Christmas Past, Tramell Tillman as the Ghost of Christmas Present, Rupert Grint as Bob Cratchit and Sam Claflin as Fred.

This marks Depp’s first leading role in a major studio picture since 2018. After a prolonged and highly public legal battle he gravitated toward smaller and international projects. That context makes Ebenezer’s early reception feel less like a single vote and more like a potential turning point.

Test screenings are a particular beast. They reflect the impressions of a limited, curated audience and don’t necessarily predict critic consensus or ticket sales. Still, early word matters. Studios listen. Audiences chatter. Momentum can build long before reviews land.

If those numbers hold, Ebenezer could mark a genuine studio comeback for Johnny Depp.

Paramount has dated the wide release for November 13, 2026. Will the wider world echo that favorable first verdict? Time — and the box office — will tell.