How the Grinch Stole Christmas

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How the Grinch Stole Christmas

1967

25m

Holiday

Kids & Family

Animation

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100%

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28 Reviews

94%

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250+ Ratings

This made-for-TV Christmas special is a classic. Based on a Dr. Seuss book, it is about a Christmas-hating Grinch who wants to make everyone as miserable on Christmas as he is. The poor, small-hearted Scrooge learns the true meaning of Christmas through the loving Whos in Whoville.

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Critics Consensus

How the Grinch Stole Christmas brings an impressive array of talent to bear on an adaptation that honors a classic holiday story -- and has rightfully become a yuletide tradition of its own.

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Jamie Righetti

IndieWire

Nov 30, 2018

The story might be familiar, but watching The Grinch tiptoe around to "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" always brings a surge of fuzzy nostalgia every Christmas season that never seems to get old.

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AV Club Staff

AV Club

Nov 21, 2018

The special works because of its surprisingly sentimental climax, one that comes by its emotion honestly, as the Grinch realizes the Christmas spirit is indomitable, no matter what he does to stop it.

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TIME Magazine

Aug 31, 2008

This lusty, garishly colored, good-hearted cartoon was a wonderful, awful idea.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Nov 30, 2024

3.5/4

It benefits from Boris Karloff’s double duty as the Narrator and the Grinch (the actor would win a Grammy Award for Best Recording for Children when it was transferred to LP).

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Laura Bradley

The Daily Beast

Dec 5, 2022

Simply put, a life without this holiday classic would’ve stink, stank, stunk.

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Brandon Collins

Medium Popcorn

Dec 30, 2021

5/5

This a classic cartoon that is straight to the point. I love this.

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Roven B

@cinnephile.01 Jul 1, 2026

The one thing I love about the Grinch is he didn't hate Christmas: he hated capitalistic greed and selfishness. Yet, once he realized the true meaning of Christmas he loved it. I fear they lose this in the Jim Carrey rendition

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Rihannna H.

@RT07733770 Jan 13, 2026

I grew up watching this version, it’s good just short but still has the story

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Matteo Q

@Matteo59 Jan 9, 2026

è il miglior speciale tv di natale in assoluto

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Jerry R

@Jerryr439 Jan 1, 2026

I look for it each year—Da ooh door-ay, Da ooh door-ay, Christmas Day is in our grasp, as long as we have hands to clasp. It came without boxes or bags, tinsel or tags. Is there any nicer Christmas message?

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Sedale S.

@sedale143 Jan 1, 2026

Literally the best Christmas story ever told. Fight me.

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Andre A

@RT12068970 Dec 31, 2025

A true classic, still relevant all these years later.

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Chuck Jones

Director

Boris Karloff

Voice

June Foray

Voice

Thurl Ravenscroft

Voice

Chuck Jones

Producer

Dr. Seuss

Producer

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Synopsis

This made-for-TV Christmas special is a classic. Based on a Dr. Seuss book, it is about a Christmas-hating Grinch who wants to make everyone as miserable on Christmas as he is. The poor, small-hearted Scrooge learns the true meaning of Christmas through the loving Whos in Whoville.

Director: Chuck Jones
Producer: Chuck Jones, Dr. Seuss
Genre: Holiday, Kids & Family, Animation
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 24, 2018
Runtime: 25m

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