Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Pratfall-heavy take on holiday tale is fun, mostly gentle.
Parents Need to Know
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Dr. Seuss' The Grinch
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 89 parent reviews
Parents say that this 1986 adaptation offers a fun and heartwarming holiday experience suitable for children, with many appreciating its humor and lack of scary elements. Although some reviews express disappointment over differences from the original storyline and character designs, most find it engaging and recommend it as a family favorite.
- family-friendly
- humorous
- not scary
- engaging characters
- heartwarming
- suitable for all ages
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 50 kid reviews
Kids say this animated adaptation of a beloved classic is both cute and heartfelt, delivering positive messages about love and redemption while featuring engaging characters. While some reviews note it lacks the depth of earlier versions and contains mild humor and violence, it remains a family-friendly film that appeals particularly to younger audiences.
- cute characters
- positive messages
- family-friendly
- mild humor
- engaging plot
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Narrated by Pharrell Williams, DR. SEUSS' THE GRINCH elaborates on Dr. Seuss' classic book about the Christmas-hating Grinch (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch), who lives above the merry town of Whoville. Down below, the mayor of Whoville (Angela Lansbury) has deemed that Christmas is going to be three times as big as in previous years. So the Grinch decides he's going to ruin everyone's holiday by pretending to be Santa and stealing the entire town's presents and decorations. But adorable little Cindy-Lou Who (Cameron Seely), whose mother, Donna-Lou Who (Rashida Jones), is a hard-working single mom, has a plan of her own: Trap Santa and ask him for a very special gift.
Is It Any Good?
This adaptation is bright, colorful, and occasionally funny, but it doesn't come close to matching the effectiveness of the short-and-sweet original movie from 1966. While Cumberbatch's voice isn't as resonantly deep as Boris Karloff's, his Grinch is believably grumpy, angry, and resentful of Whoville's need for a ginormous Christmas celebration. The Grinch's lovably loyal dog, Max, makes the green meanie a bit more sympathetic, as does the sad backstory that explains his motivations for hating the holiday.
But this isn't only the Grinch's story. It's also Cindy-Lou's, as she tries to convince Santa to grant her selfless wish. To accomplish her goal, there's a subplot involving a group of her friends, a kid-led caper that should appeal to younger audiences. Jones is well cast as a loving mom, and Kenan Thompson adds comic relief as a Whoville resident who misguidedly believes that the Grinch is his pal. For its enduring messages about kindness and love, it's hard to find fault in The Grinch, but it's unlikely to surpass Chuck Jones' famous animated special on the "holiday classics" list.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Dr. Seuss' The Grinch differs from both the beloved made-for-TV classic and the live-action version. Which do you like best? Which seems truest to the original Dr. Seuss book?
Are there any role models in the movie? If so, who? What character strengths do they display?
What is the movie's message about the holidays? Do characters show compassion? How does the Grinch learn those lessons?
What are some of your family's holiday traditions? What do you love about them?
Movie Details
- In theaters : November 9, 2018
- On DVD or streaming : February 5, 2019
- Cast : Benedict Cumberbatch , Rashida Jones , Angela Lansbury
- Directors : Yarrow Cheney , Scott Mosier
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Universal Pictures
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Holidays ( Christmas )
- Character Strengths : Compassion
- Run time : 90 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : brief rude humor
- Award : Kids' Choice Award
- Last updated : December 24, 2025
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