10 Reasons Why The Muppet Christmas Carol Is The Best Christmas Movie

One of the few sizeable changes from Dickens' book is Jacob Marley being split into two characters.

The brothers Jacob and Robert both worked with Scrooge before their deaths, and this change to the source material is clearly made for one reason and one reason only - so Statler and Waldorf can bring their particular brand of grouchy to an otherwise jolly film.

The cantankerous pair of hecklers show Scrooge the path he is destined to go down if he doesn't change his ways, and do so with a suitably grim song and dance. Their entrance is phenomenal, their singing gleeful, and their whole sequence is oddly chilling in spite of the pantomime feel that Statler and Waldorf bring to the film. The whole sequence is memorable, fun and full of the behaviour that has made this pair such legendary figures in Muppets lore.

They get a second chance to shine during Fozziwig's Christmas party, where they return to their classic balcony seats and criticise the party affairs from up high. When the old geezers continue to deliver the wisecracks and cutting humour like they always do, you wouldn't have it any other way - least of all at Christmas.