How the Grinch Stole Christmas
By Nell Minow,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Live-action take on classic has some crude, scary moments.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Community Reviews
Based on 27 parent reviews
My favorite Christmas movie
Just look at the Grinch...
What's the Story?
Based on the Christmas classic by Dr. Seuss, HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS is the story of a Christmas-hating Grinch who tries to steal Christmas from the Christmas-loving Whos by taking all of their presents and decorations. But they and he come to realize that Christmas is in their hearts, not under their trees. The movie expands the story to let us explore Whoville and its residents and to tell us just how the Grinch came to hate Christmas in the first place.
Is It Any Good?
Jim Carrey and the Grinch were made for each other, while Taylor Momsen, as Cindy Lou Who, is adorable without being sugary. The script has some clever lines, including a parody of the film's director (former Andy Griffith Show star Ron Howard) and a dig at those who say that "kids today are desensitized by movies and television." Another of the movie's great joys is hearing Anthony Hopkins reads Seuss' words the way we have always heard them in our hearts.
Bill Irwin as Cindy Lou's harried mailman father, Jeffrey Tambor as the vain mayor, and Christine Baranksi as a Who with Christmas decorations that would make Martha Stewart gnash her teeth in envy all make vivid impressions. Whoville, as imagined by production designer Michael Corenblith, is the most magical setting since Dorothy landed in Munchkinland. The structures suspend the laws of gravity; there are a fantastic series of archways, bridges, stairs and spirals. Whoville clothes and hairstyles echo these shapes and then are topped with candy canes, cups of hot chocolate, and frosted cookies. Overall How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a bright, colorful addition to family-friendly Christmas fare.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how this live-action version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas differs from the beloved animated version made for TV. Which do you like better? Which seems truer to the original Dr. Seuss book?
Families can also talk about why it's so easy to forget the simple pleasures of the winter holidays, and how damaging it can be to peoples' feelings to tease them about being different.
The Grinch often does things that he thinks will make him feel better, but they don't seems to work or help help him forget his loneliness. Why doesn't being bad feel as good as you might think it will?
Movie Details
- In theaters: November 17, 2000
- On DVD or streaming: November 19, 2001
- Cast: Christine Baranski , Jeffrey Tambor , Jim Carrey
- Director: Ron Howard
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Universal Pictures
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Book Characters , Holidays
- Run time: 105 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: mild peril and brief crude humor
- Last updated: November 1, 2023
Inclusion information powered by
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate