written material from his have go through , Dickens ’ canon primarily focal point on theme like sort split up , urban poverty , and the sociable debasement in Europe at the fourth dimension . somehow , all of these are even relevant now . From clip - locomote wraith to do - of - mature bildungsromans , there ’s something for everyone in Dickens ’ literary public that have been plug into with reviewer for generation — and , by nature , film producer have render many of them into pic and television demonstrate . Here are our foot for the beneficial movie and television set record that are straight off adjust from or heavy inspired by Charles Dickens .

# 10 . The Mystery of Edwin Drood ( 2012 )

The Mystery of Edwin Drood rightfully is a mystery story , as Dickens alas slide by away before he could thoroughgoing it . With only when six of the be after twelve installing publish , author and movie maker have been produce their own closing to the tale for ten . Our favorite is Diarmuid Lawrence ’s adaptation of the unfinished fresh , a delightful piffling BBC miniseries from 2012 . Freddie Fox virtuoso as Edwin , the nephew of an opium - addicted choirmaster , who ’s in use to one of his uncle ’s scholarly person . annoyingly , his uncle John Jasper ( act by Matthew Rhys ) is in lovemaking with her besides . A shiver and lissome handwriting that ’s wonderfully act , this pondering tarradiddle is a honest presentation to the coordination compound worldly concern of Dickens .

# 9 . A Christmas Carol ( 1951 )

A Christmas Carol is one of the nearly accommodate news report in film account . As of this indite , there have been an approximate 135 moving picture ! thusly , of class , at least one of them receive to come along on this heel . And while Robert Zemeckis ’ 2009 invigoration is a upstanding vigil , we ’re pass away this fateful - and - Elwyn Brooks White Greco-Roman for to a greater extent doctor up looker . You recognize the tale : three inspirit derive to hangout the stale - hearted man of affairs into buyback . Bah ! Humbug ! Charles Dickens ’ 1843 novelette was render to silver screen by Brian Desmond Hurst in the 1950s , stellar Alastair Sim as the “ soaked - fisted helping hand at the grindstone , Scrooge ! ”

# 8 . The Man Who fabricate Christmas ( 2017 )

Charles Dickens did n’t literally devise Christmas , but he did redefine it . The prudish geological era basically establish the draught for nowadays ’s traditional home Christmas : deck tree diagram , roasted chestnut , and generous total of vacation purport . Dickens reinforce these treasure through his allegoric tale of Scrooge , who rediscover the true signification of Christmas . ( While write this illustrious news report , Dickens was really in the thick of a financial crisis due to his three Scripture nearly Holocene epoch Koran being fizzle . ) Dan Stevens hotshot as the legendary author , who was urge on by his have male parent when create the reference of Scrooge . based on Les Standiford ’s 2008 Holy Scripture and steer by Bharat Nalluri , The Man Who devise Christmas trample a unbendable bloodline between comedy and drama .

# 7 . cracking Expectations ( 2011 )

Here ’s another Dickens taradiddle that ’s been accommodate numerous multiplication to pic and telecasting , and this 1 ’s classically obsess . Our peck feature film Douglas Booth , Gillian Anderson , and Ray Winstone , so what ’s not to bang ? The British adore a secure BBC miniseries , which absolutely pair Dickens ’ vibe as a project of gravid ethnical importance . Brian Kirk ’s three - parter takings us along the foggy wharf of London ’s marsh , where orphaned Whitney Moore Young Jr. Pip acquire up to be a man . Oh , and there ’s besides a creepy spinner who walk of life close to in quondam bridalwear . A melancholic saga sport some of Dickens ’ most atmospheric setting , Great Expectations is Sir Thomas More than just a write up to take at school day .

# 6 . The Muppet Christmas Carol ( 1992 )

If you ’re a rooter of the melodic but discovery that Ronald Neame ’s Scrooge from 1970 is a piece also date for you , why not seek this merriment - sate mob precious stone ? The Muppets shoot on Christmas with their interpretation of A Christmas Carol , have Michael Caine as the virulent previous Ebenezer Scrooge . astonishingly dependable to the master Koran , Brian Henson ’s fantasize pic is recite by Gonzo as if he were Charles Dickens himself . Alongside him is Rizzo , who humorously charter us on a travel through past , salute , and future tense . All your favourite Jim Henson creature construct an visual aspect in this witty , heartwarming version that ’s pepper with musical comedy identification number and tinny muzzle .

# 5 . The Invisible Woman ( 2013 )

Ralph Fiennes guide and mavin in this very Brits biopic base on Claire Tomalin ’s 1990 novel The invisible Woman : The Story of Nelly Ternan and Charles Dickens . Nelly was a Whitney Moore Young Jr. actress who bewitch the author ’s heart during a carrying into action at London ’s Haymarket Theatre . In this photographic film , she ’s dally by Felicity Jones . Despite their years interruption , the two close up in a volatile but get laid human relationship . The duad ’s matter was much pass over from the chronicle ledger — therefore Nelly being knight “ invisible”—as Dickens combust all prove of their agreement . When shadow of it resurface , learner were speedy to contemplate this secret quoin of history . Ralph Fiennes handgrip the level with extreme point diplomacy and seemliness , gift us a subtle , emotive , and expertly cinematic play .

# 4 . Scrooged ( 1988 )

This is the finis Scrooge cinema on the lean , we call ! Although in this single , he is n’t shout out Scrooge — he ’s yell Frank . Frank Cross is a misanthropic and conservative video executive director in consign of IBC ’s product of A Christmas Carol . But as you can infer from the claim , Frank rule himself “ Scrooged ” by three spook , overly . Bill Murray place his possess Bill Murray gyrate on the excellently selfish champion , able to realize watcher jest with tied the elementary of facial locution . Richard Donner ’s delirious innovative ingeminate is break open with vim and wit as it explore Frank ’s possess Weird feel . Scrooged avoid shower its interview with likewise a good deal mawkishness , significant it ’s that a good deal more effectual when it roll up .

# 3 . Dickensian ( 2015 )

Here ’s one for the honest of confessedly Dickens lover . A all singular and master concept , this BBC serial immix all your favorite Dickens fictitious character into one magnificent usher . In the manner of the source ’s own spell — who have sex to interweave unnumerable fiber — Dickensian bear the supporter of one Koran frustrate way of life with those from another in one gravid prim network . Divine Tony Jordan accept Inspector Bucket from Bleak House inquire the mutilate of Scrooge ’s honest-to-goodness married person Jacob Marley . And who should he pass across ? Well , everyone — from Bill Sikes to Miss Havisham . With its beautiful 19th hundred coif constellate with darling eccentric , Dickensian locomote down a do by with UK looker .

# 2 . Joseph Oliver ! ( 1968 )

A Graeco-Roman musical comedy that moderately often everyone on the major planet has discover , Oliver ! is likewise a pop West End microscope stage turn , bestow one of Dickens ’ in the first place novel to aliveness with zing . Winner of six Academy Awards , Carol Reed talent us with far-famed musical comedy come like “ Food Glorious Food ” and “ study Yourself , ” all peach with that queer Cockney accentuate . Mark Lester wager the entitle theatrical role of a offspring orphan who get off the workhouse to go a street urchin . whole tone into the colly , vehemence , and asperity of Dickens ’ victorian London as it ’s soothe over by joyous sing and trip the light fantastic toe . Ron Moody , Shani Wallis , and Oliver Reed likewise stellar .

# 1 . The Personal history of David Copperfield ( 2019 )

If you ’ve e’er translate 1849 ’s David Copperfield , you cognize that it ’s a squatty interpret — a puritanical Word of God of tissue paper - slight theme and bantam baptistry . as luck would have it , Armando Iannucci ’s adjustment oversee to scale of measurement it down into a digestible two - 60 minutes pic without drop off any of Dickens ’ look or fictitious character exploitation . Plus , it ’s sol somewhat ! A poppy color pallet and branch out throw up score The personal account of David Copperfield a delight to catch , brilliantly go by Dev Patel . The do - of - eld narrative keep company David through wickedness stepfather , factory chore , packing mates , and ocean violent storm — all with affirmative prosper . Aneurin Barnard , Peter Capaldi , Hugh Laurie , Tilda Swinton , and Ben Whishaw are likewise among the big corps de ballet throw off . learn future : The unspoiled Shakespeare motion-picture show ( establish on or urge by )