本（尼古拉斯•凯奇NicolasCage饰）一个是贫困潦倒的编剧，终日借酒消愁，被公司开除后，郁郁不得志的他变卖了所有的家当，前去拉斯维加斯开始了他慢性自杀的计划。他打算在几周的时间内，喝酒至死。在光怪陆离的拉斯维加斯，醉醺醺的他遇见了妓女莎拉（伊丽莎白•苏ElisabethShue饰）。莎拉过着同样不幸的生活：被皮条客控制自由，屡次出逃不遂。本和莎拉共度了一夜，这夜他们互相倾诉，同是天涯沦落人。二人很快同居，但莎拉并不阻止本继续狂饮。本在自己的世界里沉溺得越来越深，直到有一天和另一个女人躺在莎拉床上，莎拉怒不可遏，将本赶出家门。本在酒精的折磨下奄奄一息，他打电话给莎拉，能否让生命和感情重生。 三年前，外星机器人入侵地球，经过七天的战斗地球被完全占领。从此之后，机器人对人类严加看管，它们向人类头上安装了定位系统，一旦检测到人类走出家门便将其毁灭。除此之外，外星人雇佣罗宾（本·金斯利BenKingsley饰）等人类叛徒担任辅助管理工作。罗宾迷恋美丽的妇人凯特（吉莲·安德森GillianAnderson饰），但凯特只痴心等待失踪的丈夫归来。罗宾口口声声称凯特的丈夫早已遇害，不过她的儿子西恩（CallanMcAuliffe饰）并不相信，男孩始终未放弃寻找父亲的努力。某天，西恩意外和康纳（MiloParker饰）等伙伴发现令定位系统失效的办法。孩子们尝试着走出家门，这一变故也让推翻机器人的统治成为可能…… 感恩节临近，年轻美丽的单身妈妈克劳迪娅·拉森（霍莉·亨特HollyHunter饰）意外地丢掉了工作，正处在青春期的女儿凯特（克莱尔·丹尼斯ClaireDanes饰）则坚持要和相爱的男友上床。克劳迪娅倍感落寞，她致电向弟弟汤米（小罗伯特·唐尼RobertDowneyJr.饰）哭诉，并通过答录机约定同回家中过节。年近古稀的父母无私地拥抱着这个倦鸟知归的女儿，父亲亨利（查尔斯·德恩CharlesDurning饰）自由自在，童心未泯；母亲阿黛勒（安妮·班克罗夫特AnneBancroft饰）仍视女儿为孩子，言语中充满着过度而温暖的关怀。不久，汤米和姐姐琼安（辛西娅·斯蒂文森CynthiaStevenson饰）一家以及颇有些怪异的格罗蒂阿姨（杰拉丁·卓别林GeraldineChaplin饰）相继赶回家中，温馨的气氛却渐渐为争吵和矛盾所取代…… 《圣诞颂歌》是英国作家查尔斯·狄更斯的小说名篇，主人公史高哲（Scrooge,又译“斯克鲁奇”）是个远近闻名的吝啬鬼，他刻薄、冷漠而又视财如命的形象让人记忆深刻。史高哲经营者一家账房，可是，有一天，他那死去的生意伙伴雅各布的鬼魂出现，改变了一切。InthisadaptationoftheChristmasstorynarratedbyCharlesDickenshimself(playedbyGonzotheGreat)withtheoccasionalcommentaryofRizzotheRat,itisChristmasEvein19thcenturyLondon.ThemerrimentisnotsharedbyEbenezerScrooge(MichaelCaine),asurlymoney-lenderwhoismoreinterestedinprofitthancelebration.Socoldtotheseasonofgivingishethathisbook-keepingstaff,includingloyalemployeeBobCratchit(KermittheFrog),hastopleadwithhimjusttohavethedayoffworkduringChristmasbypointingoutthatScroogewouldhavenocustomersontheholidayandthatitwouldwastecoaltositaloneintheoffice.Scrooge’snephew,Fred,arrivestoinvitehisuncletoChristmasdinnerandtwogentlemenalsocometoScrooge’soffices,collectingmoneyinthespiritoftheseason.Scroogerebuffshisnephewandcomplainsthatitisn’tworthlookingafterthepoor,astheirdeathswilldecreasethesurpluspopulation.Fredisshockedathisuncle’suncharitableandcoldnature,butrepeatshisinvitation,makeshisowndonationanddeparts.Laterthatevening,Scroogefindshimselffacetofacewiththespiritsofhisformerbusinesspartners,JacobandRobertMarley(StatlerandWaldorf)whohavebeencondemnedtoshacklesintheafterlifeaspaymentforthehorribledeedstheycommittedinlife.Theywarnhimthathewillsharethesamefate,onlyworse,ifhedoesn’tchangehisways,andforetellthecomingofthreespiritsthroughoutthenight.Mr.ScroogeisfirstvisitedbytheGhostofChristmasPast,achild-likespectrewhotakesScroogeonajourneybackthroughtimetohisyouth.Herecallshisearlyschooldays,duringwhichhefocusedonhisstudies;themeetingofayoungwomannamedBelle(MeredithBraun),withwhomhewouldlaterfallinlove;andthefinalpartingbetweenBelleandScrooge,despiteScrooge’sproteststhathewouldmarryherassoonashehadenoughmoney.Later,ScroogemeetstheGhostofChristmasPresent,alarge,festivecreaturewithaboomingvoicewholivesonlyforthehereandnow.HegivesScroogeaglimpseintotheholidaycelebrationofothers,includingBobCratchitandhisfamilywho,althoughpoor,areenjoyingChristmastogetherandrevelingintheanticipationoftheChristmasgoose.TheSpiritalsoshowsScrooge’sownfamily,whoaren’tabovecrackingjokesatScrooge’sexpense.Later,ScroogemeetstheGhostofChristmasYettoCome,asilententity,whorevealsthechillingrevelationthatyoungTinyTim(RobintheFrog)willnotsurvivethecomingyear,thanksinnosmallparttotheimpoverishedexistenceoftheCratchitfamily.Furthermore,itisrevealedthatwhenScrooge’sowntimehaspassed,otherswillcertainlydelightinhisabsencefromtheworld,withlocalbusinessmenattendinghisfuneralonlyforthefreefoodandScrooge’sservantsstealingtheveryclotheshewastohavebeenburiedin.ItisthisfinalepiphanythatjoltsScroogebackintohumanity,andmakeshimvowtocelebratewithhisfellowman.Scroogegoesaboutthetownspreadinggooddeedsandcharity,plansafeastforBobCratchitandhiskin,andlearnstoadoptthespiritofChristmasthroughouttheyear. 
