Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) is a live-action adaptation of Dr. Seuss’s beloved holiday classic, directed by Ron Howard and starring Jim Carrey in the iconic role of the Grinch. The film brings the timeless tale of a misanthropic, Christmas-hating creature who learns the true meaning of the holiday to the big screen in a visually extravagant and often comedic way. While the original Dr. Seuss story was a short book and even shorter TV special (narrated by Boris Karloff in 1966), Howard’s version expands the narrative, providing backstory and filling out the world of Whoville in ways that add depth — or, depending on one’s perspective, excess.
The Grinch (Jim Carrey) is a grumpy, green, and furry creature who lives atop Mount Crumpit, overlooking the cheerful town of Whoville. The Whos are a vibrant, Christmas-obsessed community who love the holiday more than anything. However, the Grinch despises Christmas and is determined to ruin it for the Whos in any way possible.
When the Whos begin their Christmas celebrations, the Grinch devises a devious plan to steal Christmas from the town. He dresses up as Santa Claus, steals all the presents, trees, decorations, and even the food — but when the Whos wake up, they still find a way to celebrate Christmas, showing the Grinch that the true spirit of the holiday lies not in material things but in love, togetherness, and kindness.
In this adaptation, the Grinch’s backstory is explored in greater detail. We learn that as a young Grinch, he was an outcast in Whoville, and his bitterness toward Christmas stems from childhood trauma. The film also introduces Cindy Lou Who (Taylor Momsen), a sweet and curious young girl who believes that the Grinch is not inherently evil and tries to make him understand the joy of the season.