Best Grinch Movies (December 2025)

He’s mean, he’s green, and he’s got a lesson to teach us about the transformative power of kindness. Or something like that. While the Grinch hasn’t appeared that often since his creation in 1966, he’s still managed to pop up in a handful of memorable (and sometimes strange) adaptations over the years. Here are the best Grinch movies to celebrate the spirit of the season.

What are the best Grinch movies?

We’ll start by admitting there aren’t a ton of Grinch movies to choose from. Though The Mean One often makes an appearance on Grinch lists, it feels a little too murderous to add to traditional Christmas movie viewing. If holiday horror is your thing, feel free to slot in this nightmare version of the Grinch of your own. We’re sticking with the more heartwarming takes.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)

Hands down, this is still the best Grinch movie. Chuck Jones’ animated adaptation perfectly captures Dr. Seuss’ quirky illustrations and message in under thirty minutes — you can easily throw it on while the cookies are baking.

We don’t need to go into the plot; we all know it. The Grinch has a heart of stone, steals all signs of Christmas from the Whos’ absolutely adorable, strange little world, and ultimately learns firsthand the power of kindness and inclusion. There’s so much to love about this film, from the unforgettable songs (including “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch”) to the legendary animation style. A quick rewatch is an easy reminder of why this one remains one of the best annual Christmas traditions.

Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch (2018)

This modern animated retelling gives us a fresh spin for today’s audiences while staying true to the story’s core. From Illumination Animation Studio (Despicable Me, The Secret Life of Pets, Sing) comes a version that’s genuinely a blast to watch. If you enjoyed any of those movies, you can trust this Grinch to bring the same kind of fun.

Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch reimagines the original story while remaining totally Seussian. The animation is bright and playful, and the writing nails the comedy timing. While the film adds new subplots, like expanding the Grinch’s (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch — a perfect choice, if we do say so ourselves) childhood and giving Cindy Lou Who more agency. Still, the film never loses sight of the central lesson or the charm of the original source material. This is a fully Christmas-worthy, full-length animated feature that does the classic story justice.​

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

This live-action version of The Grinch is the most chaotic and arguably the most extreme of the bunch. I had a hard time watching it as a kid, but a recent rewatch gave me some serious newfound appreciation for Jim Carey.

Directed by Ron Howard, the film takes us deeper into the Grinch’s backstory, showing why he despises tidings of joy and how his childhood experiences turned him into a Christmas-curmudgeon. The film also brilliantly brings to life the world of Whoville, from the characterization of its inhabitants, to the costumes and hair/makeup, to the wildly intricate production design. Though the film can be a barrage of semi-forced Christmas cheer, Carrey’s performance is physical acting at its best. There’s a lot about the film that makes up for its flaws.

Halloween Is Grinch Night (1977)

This one is a bit of a curveball. A Halloween-themed special featuring the Grinch might sound strange, but it works surprisingly well. Here, the Grinch becomes a figure of childhood fear, terrorizing the town with creepy antics and eerie visuals. The movie doesn’t necessarily say if this story is a sequel or a prequel, but we have to imagine this is a version of the Grinch pre-reformation. There’s a lot that can be said about Halloween Is Grinch Night’s strengths, but we have to hand it to the power of the psychedelic-influenced sequences. Remember, this was made in the 70s. Though not quite The Nightmare Before Christmas in terms of holiday crossover, it’s a fun, slightly spooky take on the beloved character. As a bonus, you can easily watch this one right on YouTube.

The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat (1982)

Going deeper into the Seuss-vault, The Grinch Grinches The Cat in the Hat is a much lesser-known animated TV special that’s a fun oddity for Grinch fans. After the success of the Halloween special, Dr. Seuss wrote the script for the crossover that brought together two of his most iconic characters. This special gives us the Grinch finds himself tangling with the mischievous Cat in the Hat. This basically becomes a playful battle of wits and pranks, and some absolutely diabolical Grinch-esque warfare, which is entertaining enough. Though things get Seussian dark for a second, we can expect the yank on our hearts once again.

While it’s by no means essential viewing, it’s an interesting experiment in Dr. Seuss’ adaptation. This also won two Emmy awards. The animation is classic early-80s Saturday morning style, and the story is chock-full of whimsy. For those who enjoy seeing Seuss’ world expanded in unexpected ways, this special is a charming little gem, though it can be difficult to find for your viewing pleasure.

How we picked the best Grinch movies

This wasn’t exactly a challenging task, owing to the fact that there aren’t very many of them. We opted for the Grinch movies that felt like the best representations of the character or are easy movies to turn on during the holidays. If you had to pick one, go with the original. There’s nothing quite like it.

Source: Comingsoon.net