If you loved
Spirited
Sean Anders · Film · 2022
If you loved the way Spirited uses sharp, comedic subversion to explore deep emotional redemption, these picks will resonate with you.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Scrooge
Brian Desmond Hurst · Film · 1951
Adaptation
Mickey's Christmas Carol
Burny Mattinson · Film · 1983
Books on the same thread
Good Spirits
B.K. Borison · Book
Explores: destined connection, redemption arc, afterlife.
Like the dynamic in Spirited, this story features a supernatural entity forced into a transformative encounter, using a holiday setting to explore the potential for deep, meaningful redemption.
The Christmas Spirit
Debbie Macomber · Book
Explores: life swap, second chance at love, seasonal comfort.
Just as the characters in Spirited must reexamine their lives through a sudden shift in perspective, this story uses a life swap to guide its protagonists toward personal growth.
Series on the same thread
SPY x FAMILY
Series · 2022
Explores: Found Family, Secret Identity, Fish Out of Water.
You will appreciate the blend of satire and found family found here, which mirrors the unexpected bonds and comedic heart that made the characters in Spirited so compelling.
Schmigadoon!
Ken Daurio · Series · 2021
Shares a thread with Spirited: Musical Comedy.
Fans of the musical comedy format in Spirited will enjoy this journey into a fantasy world, where the structure of performance helps characters navigate complex relationship problems and nostalgia.
Slow Horses
Series · 2022
Shares a thread with Spirited: Redemption.
While the tone is grittier than Spirited, this series features a similar focus on redemption and cynicism, anchored by a dysfunctional team navigating their own complicated pasts.
The Chosen
Dallas Jenkins · Series · 2019
Shares a thread with Spirited: Redemption.
If the focus on transformation and redemption in Spirited resonated with you, this historical drama offers a deeper, more grounded look at the process of spiritual and personal change.
Podcasts on the same thread
SmartLess
Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett · Podcast · 2026
Explores: camaraderie, spontaneity, shared life experiences.
The organic hilarity and camaraderie found in this podcast provide the same sense of spontaneous, shared connection that drives the comedic rapport between the leads in Spirited.
Morbid
Ash Kelley & Alaina Urquhart · Podcast · 2026
Explores: macabre humor, skepticism, human mortality.
This podcast balances dark history with macabre humor, capturing the same spirit of finding levity in heavy, supernatural themes that defined the tone of the movie Spirited.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Spirited based on A Christmas Carol?
Yes, Spirited is a modern musical adaptation of the classic Charles Dickens story, A Christmas Carol. While the 2018 book version of A Christmas Carol provides the foundational narrative, Spirited reimagines the traditional tale by focusing on the perspective of the Ghost of Christmas Present.
How does Spirited compare to the 1951 movie Scrooge?
Both Spirited and the 1951 film Scrooge are adaptations of the same source material. While Scrooge remains a faithful traditional retelling of the classic story, Spirited serves as a contemporary, comedic musical variation that flips the narrative by having the ghost reexamine his own life.
Should I watch Mickey's Christmas Carol before Spirited?
You do not need to watch Mickey's Christmas Carol before viewing Spirited. Both films draw from the same literary source, but Spirited functions as a standalone musical comedy. Watching other versions like Mickey's Christmas Carol can provide context on how different filmmakers interpret the original ghost story.
What is the premise of the movie Spirited?
In Spirited, the Ghost of Christmas Present selects a dark soul named Clint Briggs for reformation. The plan backfires when Briggs turns the tables on the ghost, forcing Present to reexamine his own past, present, and future instead of completing the traditional haunting process.