How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

All Critics (134) | Top Critics (32) | Fresh (72) | Rotten (60) | DVD (33)

Five-year-olds might go for it, but people who grew up with Jones' version will be looking at their watches and grinding their teeth.

February 5, 2008 Full Review | Comments (5)

David Edelstein

Slate

Top Critic

Cloying fancy gives way to gross-out comedy, twisted social commentary, affecting pathos, and weirdly sexualized romance in this lurid live-action version of the classic children's book.

February 5, 2008 Full Review | Comment (1)

Lisa Alspector

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

Shrill, strenuous and entirely without charm.

February 5, 2008 Full Review | Comments (4)

Todd McCarthy

Variety

Top Critic

This cinematic candy floss honours the Seussian universe by satirising our own. And Carrey's comic tornado of a performance is a triumph.

June 24, 2006 Full Review

Time Out

Top Critic

How the Grinch stole Christmas is one kind of larceny. How Jim Carrey steals the picture is another matter entirely.

March 19, 2002 Full Review

Rick Groen

Globe and Mail

Top Critic

Perhaps 20 minutes too long and subject to torpor.

August 17, 2001 Full Review

J. Hoberman

Village Voice

Top Critic

Live-action version of classic has some crude, scary moments.

December 24, 2010 Full Review

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

An unforgivable transgression from the usually reliable Ron Howard, "Grinch" boasts the visual polish of a Menards tree aisle and resembles not a cheerful Christmas, but rather what the bloodcurdling onset of a mescaline bender might feel like.

September 25, 2010 Full Review | Comments (3)

Nick Rogers

Suite101.com

Howard and the rest of the crew do something the late Dr. Seuss never would: take chronological age over the youthful, innocent spirit that lingers untouched in everyone--and never goes out of style.

January 17, 2010 Full Review

Michael Dequina

TheMovieReport.com

Parents can relax: Ron Howard's version of Dr. Seuss' tale of the Christmas-napping Grinch is a smartly stylized hoot.

February 5, 2008 Full Review

Steve Simels

TV Guide's Movie Guide

The costumes astound, the sight gags abound, but the heart, oh the heart, now that must be found.

November 29, 2007 Full Review | Comment (1)

Vera H-C Chan

Contra Costa Times

...A jumbled mess, art-directed to within an inch of its life...

September 24, 2007 Full Review | Comment (1)

Rob Gonsalves

eFilmCritic.com

Unfortunately, Ron Howard is the Grinch who stole Christmas from Jim Carrey.

September 21, 2007 | Comment (1)

Jeffrey Overstreet

Looking Closer

A holiday gift, The Grinch just may steal the hearts of kids and grown-ups alike.

November 20, 2006 Full Review

Thomas Delapa

Boulder Weekly

Universal Pictures has definitely left something under your Christmas tree, but you might want to clean it up soon before it leaves a permanent stain.

December 6, 2005 Full Review

Chris Gore

Film Threat

In adding material, The Grinch loses much of its rhythm and the heart within it shrinks three sizes right along with it.

December 10, 2003 Full Review

Ryan Cracknell

Movie Views

How the Grinch Stole Christmas is thick with irony but doesn't have the guts to explore any of it.

October 23, 2003 Full Review | Comment (1)

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

If God is in the details, then this is the most righteous movie ever made.Jim Carrey is the only man deserving to interpret Chuck Jones' animation.

July 3, 2003 Full Review

Karina Montgomery

Cinerina

It's funny, it's sincere and it's gloriously bizarre.

May 22, 2003 Full Review

Eugene Novikov

Film Blather

This delightful fantasy offers Happy Who-lidays to the young and the young at heart.

May 20, 2003

Susan Tavernetti

Palo Alto Weekly

• 1. Cindy Lou Who: You're the-the-the-
  2. The Grinch: The-the-the- THE GRINCH!
  – Submitted by Sterlin R (4 months ago)
• 1. The Grinch: We're gonna die! We're gonna die! I'm gonna throw up and then we're gonna die!
  – Submitted by Mary Kathryn P (5 months ago)
• 1. The Grinch: [looks at the camera] Kids these days, so desensitized by movies and television.
  – Submitted by Mary Kathryn P (5 months ago)
• 1. The Grinch: [while looking in mirror at his clothes] Ooooo.... ahhhh....ohhh. That's it I'm not going.
  – Submitted by Jay S (5 months ago)
• 1. The Grinch: Hey taxi! [taxi drives by] Oh, it's because I'm green, isn't it?
  – Submitted by Alan Torres Dwyer B (8 months ago)
• 1. The Grinch: BLAST this Christmas music... it's joyful AND triumphant.
  – Submitted by David G (11 months ago)