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Imagine Entertainment
Universal Pictures
You better watch out!
The Grinch decides to rob Whoville of Christmas - but a dash of kindness from little Cindy Lou Who and her family may be enough to melt his heart...
Filipe Manuel Neto
Jun 10, 2024 · via TMDB
**A movie about Christmas, and about the way we face it.** For starters, I must clarify that I have never seen any other material about Grinch, much less the original book where this character was created. I will judge this movie for what it is, without weaves comparisons. He is not my Christmas favorite, never was, I even think it is a little scary for smaller children, given the mischiefs and attitude of Grinch. But it has a good story, good dialogues and other qualities. What is Christmas? Many will say that's the family or children's party. I accept, but in fact, it is the symbolic date that the Catholic Church marks the birth of Jesus. No one knows when Jesus was born, but the Church chose the date for convenience, coinciding the feast with an older pagan celebration, Saturnalia. For centuries, Christmas was just a festive day when Catholics confessed themselves, listened to Mass and ate fish (the consumption of meat and candy is forbidden on holy days, even though the elites did, by paying cash indulgences... in my country it's still tradition to eat codfish in Christmas Eve). The "invention" of modern Christmas happened in the late nineteenth century, with capitalism, and the creation of toy industries and food industries that allowed the middle classes a more interesting supper and the gift for children, offered to them by Baby Jesus and, later, for the invented character of Father Natal (in Spain, this exchange of gifts is only made on the day of kings in January, what I think makes full sense). This is how, in England, Germany and the US, Christmas became more commercial, more focused on consuming, gift distribution and conviviality, and the religious aspect was putted in the background. This movie, released in the 1980s, shows us an evil character who learned to see Christmas as futile due to this obsession with toys, gifts and food. He does not know how to express this in the best way, he's unaware that behind this is a greater meaning, but what Grinch rejects is precisely this "commercial Christmas." And I couldn't agree more with him… So, through his mischiefs, Grinch will help people to rediscover the meaning of Christmas, even if this is not his real purpose. This is the beauty of this story, for me: Grinch will help the Whoos while they will help him to understand that Christmas is more than gifts or food. Directed by Ron Howard, a director whose credits do not require presentations, the film is very well done and was a gigantic box office hit and critical success. It became a Christmas classic, although today it is not so popular. With no dead moments, it has an excellent pace, it does not lengthen too much, it is not tiring, and the script does what it needs, although with various flaws and several jokes that are not working. I liked, in particular, the narrator's interventions and rhymes, something that reinforces the idea that this is a children's story. Cinematography is amazing, with vibrant and flashy colors, and the soundtrack, not being memorable, has good qualities. Jim Carrey did very well in accepting the difficult task of bringing Grinch to life. I can only imagine how boring it was for him to be subject to that make-up routine every day, but it was totally worth the time and sacrifice: he's unrecognizable and absolutely credible and authentic under that thing, and has a natural gift to model the voice as he wants and suits to the character. Sir Anthony Hopkins also deserves praise for his participation, having lent his voice to the narrator. The rest does a positive job, but merely supports Carrey in its task of building the movie around it.
Courtney
Dec 27, 2023 · via TMDB
This is my favorite version and has been my favorite since I was a small child.
Andre Gonzales
Jun 27, 2023 · via TMDB
At first I didn't like this movie. It's one of my daughters favorites tho. So she would always want to watch a lot around Christmas time. Now I don't mind it and it's like a Christmas tradition for us now to watch this movie.
Peter89Spencer
Dec 13, 2020 · via TMDB
I'm not gonna lie, this version of the Grinch scared the crap out of me when I was a kid! But as I got older I started to get use to it. The trick was to just listen to the whole thing without looking at it and gradually (each year take a peak).
Kamurai
Jul 27, 2020 · via TMDB
Really good watch, will eventually watch again, and can recommend, but less so for younger audiences. I never remembered all the weird adult humor in this, it is usually just the charming grinchiness of Jim Carey's overacting that sticks with me, and maybe the Christmas spirit of Mary Lou Who. The movie manages to ride this wonderfully line between keeping the spirit of the book (even rhyming at times) and being new and refreshing, but it does do that by playing to the adults that would have read the book as a child rather than endearing a new generation of children, but I think they intended to try to do both. Jim Carey embodies the Grinch like no one else possibly could (I think Mike Myers proved that in "The Cat in the Hat"), and that is the majority of this so if you don't enjoy him, then you won't enjoy this movie. I do think they added some refreshing character interactions, though some of the execution is much better than others. While it is far from a perfect movie, my biggest gripe is their stupid noses: it seriously bothers me the entire movie. It bothers me more than them dressing the Grinch, which points out that he is naked a LOT with his "co lead" being a young girl: you can see it just distracts from the spirit of the movie. I don't think that everyone is going to love this movie, but it's hard to imagine that people will hate it.
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
Amazon Video
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Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home
Jim Carrey
Grinch
Taylor Momsen
Cindy Lou Who
Jeffrey Tambor
Mayor Augustus Maywho
Christine Baranski
Martha May Whovier
Bill Irwin
Lou Lou Who
Molly Shannon
Betty Lou Who
Clint Howard
Whobris
Josh Ryan Evans
8-Year-Old Grinch
Mindy Sterling
Clarnella
Bryce Dallas Howard
Surprised Who
Lacey Kohl
Christina Whoterberry
Rachel Winfree
Rose
Rance Howard
Elderly Timekeeper
Jeremy Howard
Drew Lou Who
T.J. Thyne
Stu Lou Who
Nadja Pionilla
Junie
Jim Meskimen
Officer Wholihan
David Costabile
Biker Who
Mary Stein
Miss Rue Who
James Ritz
Crazy Mose
Deep Roy
Post Office Clerk
Jessica Sara
Sophie
Mason Lucero
Who Boy
Ben Bookbinder
8-Year-Old Augustus Maywho
Michaela Gallo
Who Schoolgirl
Landry Allbright
8-Year-Old Martha May Whovier
Reid Kirchenbauer
8-Year-Old Whobris
Rebecca Chace
Shopper
Suzanne Krull
Shopper
Steve Kehela
Shopper
Lillias White
Shopper
Rain Pryor
Shopper
John Alexander
Shopper
Kevin Isola
Tree Trimmer
Walter Franks
Clerk
Verne Troyer
Band Member
Q'orianka Kilcher
Little Choir Member
Caroline Williams
Tiny Who Woman
John Short
Tiny Who Man
Rick Baker
Puppeteer
Mark Setrakian
Puppeteer
Tim Blaney
Puppeteer
Charles Croughwell
Balloon Who
Frank Welker
Max the Dog (voice)
Anthony Hopkins
Narrator (voice)
Michael Corenblith
Production Design
Bob Camp
Storyboard Artist
Donald Peterman
Director of Photography
Rita Ryack
Costume Design
Bill Corso
Makeup Artist
Deborah Rutherford
Makeup Artist
Kazu Hiro
Makeup Artist
Ve Neill
Makeup Artist
Rick Baker
Makeup Effects Designer
Matthew E. Butler
Digital Effects Supervisor
Charles Croughwell
Stunt Coordinator
Darlene Ava Williams
Stunt Double
Lisa Hoyle
Stunt Double
Ben Scott
Stunts
Chris O'Hara
Stunts
Clayton J. Barber
Stunts
Gregg Smrz
Stunts
Jane Oshita
Stunts
Laura Albert
Stunts
Richie Gaona
Stunts
Sonny Tipton
Stunts
Terry Notary
Stunts
Ron Howard
Director
Todd Hallowell
Second Unit Director
Janet Hirshenson
Casting Director
Todd Hallowell
Executive Producer
Brian Grazer
Producer
Ron Howard
Producer
David Womark
Unit Production Manager
James Horner
Original Music Composer
Eric A. Norris
Sound Effects Editor
Kelly Port
Compositing Artist
Lou Pecora
Compositing Artist
Marc Dominic Rienzo
Compositing Artist
Kevin Scott Mack
Visual Effects Supervisor
Dr. Seuss
Book
Jeffrey Price
Screenplay
Peter S. Seaman
Screenplay
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Forrest Gump
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I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day
Tokyo Godfathers
Wasteland
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After Hours
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The Mask
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Oliver!
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Swiss Family Robinson
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2 States
How to Be Really Bad
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Bad Santa
Blue Streak
The Man Who Fell to Earth
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Big Bang Love, Juvenile A
The Return of the King
Kronk's New Groove
Single All the Way
Ocean's Eleven
The Black Cauldron
Praise the Lord
My Dad and Mr. Ito
Sidelined: The QB and Me
The Three Musketeers
He Was a Quiet Man
Millions
The Christmas Retreat
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How to Be Single
Single and Ready to Jingle
Just Friends
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Christmas in the Clouds
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Suite Dreams
A Christmas Masquerade
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The Sentinel
Haunted
Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween
Stuart Little
Robbie the Reindeer: Hooves of Fire
It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie
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Insomnia
Monólogos de un hombre incierto
Best in Snow
The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Rock & Rule
Hot Summer
Because I Said So
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All-Round Appraiser Q: The Eyes of Mona Lisa
Bad Director
The Immortal Woman
Christmas on Windmill Way
A Sudden Case of Christmas
Party Monster
The Wiggles: Pop Go the Wiggles!
VeggieTales: It's a Meaningful Life
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Animal Farm
Risky Business
Blood and Chocolate
A Date by Christmas Eve
Christmas in Scotland
A Jar Full of Christmas
A Dennis the Menace Christmas
Houseguest
Jirimpimbira: An African Folk Tale
Mistletoe Match
Wolfhound of the Grey Dog Clan
A Christmas Tree Miracle
Big City
A Writer's Odyssey 2
The Hip Hop Nutcracker
Alex & Emma
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Do Not Ever Open
Pride and Prejudice
Red Lodge
The End of Endless Love
The Santa Incident
5 Star Christmas
Exit to Eden
Son of the Mask
French Fried Vacations 3: Friends Forever
Holiday Reunion
I'll Be Homeless for Christmas
Christy: Santa's First Female Reindeer
Mary Makes Christmas
Delirio
A Holiday I Do
Ten, kdo tě miloval
Bethlehem Light
All the Best
A Christmas Dream
The Perfect Christmas
Backflip Alone
Ms. Velma's Most Incredibly Magnificent Christmas Week
Zelňačka
Crystal World
Children of Blood and Bone
Open, Santa Claus!
The Invisible Life of Addie Larue
Goldfish Princess
Klícka
A Figgly Christmas
My Imaginary Life for Someone
Tradition
Mystery Cuddlers
The Place of Chimeras
Ai & Aiko's Christmas ~Genki's True Tree~
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Getaway
Coast to Coast
Doktor Munory a jiní lidé
My Little Ones
Desiderium
A Boy Called Christmas
A Christmas Story
The Christmas Chronicles
The Year Without a Santa Claus
That Christmas
Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas
The Grinch
Godmothered
Elf
Noelle
Prancer: A Christmas Tale
The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two
Family Switch
The Search for Santa Paws
Santa Claus: The Movie
A Christmas Story Christmas
Christmas with the Kranks
Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups
Jingle All the Way
Dashing Through the Snow
The Santa Clause 2
Candy Cane Lane
Blizzard
Beethoven's Christmas Adventure
The Blue Bird
Nov 8, 2000
Universal Amphitheatre
Nov 17, 2000
Nov 20, 2001
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Oct 13, 2009
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Oct 13, 2015
4K Ultra HD
Oct 17, 2017
Grinchmas Edition 4K Ultra HD / Blu-ray
Nov 11, 2025
25th Anniversary Edition 4K Ultra HD
Dec 12, 2025
25th Anniversary re-release
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Versus
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Bicara Cinta
2020
The Pied Pipers of Harlow
1965
Sign in to vote
Battle your watched movies head-to-head
Community Top Movies
Evil Dead II
1987 · 14 wins
The Dark Knight
2008 · 14 wins
Halloween
1978 · 13 wins
Final Destination
2000 · 12 wins
Halloween II
1981 · 11 wins
Trivia
Leaderboard →Playing as a guest — sign in to save your score and rank on the leaderboard.
Movie Trivia
Guess the movie from a clue — tagline, plot, cast and more. Pick from four posters.
What movie experience do you prefer?
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