Critic Reviews
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) Rank 2 Reviews
Expert Review Summary
based on (281) reviews
Click on the numbers to the right of the graph to see reviews of that rating
Reviews by Score:
Providence Journal (--)
ReelTalk Movie Reviews (Betty Jo Tucker)
New Zealand Herald (--)
Talking Pictures (U.S.) (Tony Toscano)
How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a holiday winner. ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at Talking Pictures (U.S.) (Tony Toscano)
Mr. Cranky Rates the Movies (Mr. Cranky)
Like I'm not already sick enough of Christmas -- I have to go see this film, which, despite the presence of the Grinch (Jim Carrey), is really little more than an affirmation of a dominant paradigm. Is the moral of the story "we should love everybody ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at Mr. Cranky Rates the Movies (Mr. Cranky)
Scott Mantz' Movie Reviews (Scott A. Mantz)
Once upon a time, halfway across the world, there was a place called Hollywood, where magic always unfurled. Movies were made, and stars were born, special effects were ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at Scott Mantz' Movie Reviews (Scott A. Mantz)
NUVO Newsweekly (Edward Johnson-Ott)
[Geisel] was quite satisfied with the 1966 animated TV show and didn't think it could be improved upon. He was right. ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at NUVO Newsweekly (Edward Johnson-Ott)
ViewLondon (Matthew Turner)
Colourful adaptation of the children's classic by Dr Seuss, redeemed by a combination of Jim Carrey's manic performance, the sets and the make-up.The Grinch is as much a part of Christmas in the States as mince-pies are over here, largely thanks ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at ViewLondon (Matthew Turner)
Movies for Guys (--)
So what's the bottom line here? If you've got kids, it should be a must-see movie for the holidays. If you're like me and you don't have (or like) kids, it can still be entertaining, ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at Movies for Guys (--)
BBC (Michael Thomson)
Howard has certainly nailed the playfully eccentric other world of Whoville. ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at BBC (Michael Thomson)
Radio Free Entertainment (Andrew Manning)
Reaffirms Jim Carrey's ability as a versatile actor, but is ultimately yet another reason why classics shouldn't be redone. ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at Radio Free Entertainment (Andrew Manning)
3BlackChicks Review (Rose 'Bams' Cooper)
Quite a few things about The Grinch were exactly as I thought, and even hoped, they would be...it's where they veered off of Seuss' beaten path, that rankled me. ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at 3BlackChicks Review (Rose 'Bams' Cooper)
Austin Chronicle (Marjorie Baumgarten)
Sure to earn a berth among the perennial Christmas film classics. ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at Austin Chronicle (Marjorie Baumgarten)
Spirituality and Practice (Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat)
Any tale that critiques the over-the-top commercialism of our society is right on track. ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at Spirituality and Practice (Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat)
3BlackChicks Review (Kamal 'The Diva' Larsuel)
You may feel like he stole 2 hours instead of Xmas and you'll want them back. ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at 3BlackChicks Review (Kamal 'The Diva' Larsuel)
A Guide to Current DVD (Aaron Beierle)
I walked out of "The Grinch" last Winter and found myself mildly dissapointed. I'd thought that Ron Howard and Jim Carrey might actually have a sizable failure on their hands - of course, the film has now entered into the "What Do I Know?" catagory, ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at A Guide to Current DVD (Aaron Beierle)
Film Freak Central
Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas? More like Dr. Strangelove's. The Ron Howard film version of the perennial children's favourite has horror movie limbs that spring up independently of Seussian intent, the most extended of them going by the ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at Film Freak Central
Rotten Tomatoes - Reviews from the Nation's Top Critics
I suspect that making a How the Grinch Stole Christmas feature film was a business decision rather than an artistic one. I can picture a meeting with lots of suits saying things like, "wouldn't it be funny if we put Jim Carrey in a Grinch suit?" and ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at Rotten Tomatoes - Reviews from the Nation's Top Critics
cinemusic.net
All the soundtrack fans in Whoville liked score-only albums a lot. But the producers of the Grinch album, who lived north of Whoville - did ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at cinemusic.net
Reeling Reviews (Robin Clifford)
There has been a great deal of hoopla, over the past months, about the coming of the big-screen recreation of the Grinch tale that debuted in 1966 as the Boris Karloff-narrated, Dr. Seuss classic. As everyone must know, feel good director Ron Howard was ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at Reeling Reviews (Robin Clifford)
Chart Magazine
Deep into Ron Howard's cinematic adaptation of Dr. Seuss' seasonal classic, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, the mean ol' Grinch suddenly chastises himself for speaking in rhymes. Howard is offering a post-modern wink to the adults in the crowd here, ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at Chart Magazine
Palo Alto Online (Susan Tavernetti)
Little Cindy Lou-Who (Taylor Momsen) meets The Grinch (Jim Carrey) in Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas.Director Ron Howard has wrapped up a live-action version of Dr. Seuss beloved Yuletide classic in time for the holidays. And his tale--of the ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at Palo Alto Online (Susan Tavernetti)
Critic Doctor (Herb Kane)
I made three attempts to go see "Dr. Suess' How The Grinch Stole Christmas." Each time it was SOLD OUT. I was as mad as the Grinch himself, but I finally got a ticket. I discovered Christmas wasn't the only thing that got stolen in this movie. ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at Critic Doctor (Herb Kane)
Goatdog's Movies (Michael W. Phillips, Jr.)
The padding introduces a halting anti-commercialism critique of the whole Christmas industry, in addition to an explanation of the Grinch's roots as a member of the Who tribe. Apparently he was delivered all green and hairy, and the kids picked on ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at Goatdog's Movies (Michael W. Phillips, Jr.)
DigitalVD.de (Carsten Scheibe)
Ein bösartiger, soziopathischer Mutant mit einem Herzen, das viel zu klein ist, begeht in der kleinen Stadt Whoville am Weihnachtsabend eine Reihe von Einbrüchen. Der perfide Plan des Grinch: Er will Weihnachten stehlen. Alles läuft glatt - bis der ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at DigitalVD.de (Carsten Scheibe)
Films on Disc (Stuart J. Kobak)
How the Grinch Stole Christmas didn't do it for me. He neither pierced my heart with fear nor disgusted me to the extent of provoking laughter. In fact, this old Grinch probably worked best as a sleeping tonic. At least my thirteen-year-old daughter was ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at Films on Disc (Stuart J. Kobak)
Big Picture Big Sound (Joe Lozito)
Speaking in terms of ratings, "The Grinch" is a one star movie. I'm giving it the addition of another huge star in the form of Jim Carrey. As the title character, Mr. Carrey gives a performance of comic genius. He creates a full, complete character out ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at Big Picture Big Sound (Joe Lozito)
DVD Talk (Phillip Duncan)
The film is a mildly enjoyable, but overall flawed, extension of a Christmas classic. Rent it, enjoy the visuals, and then pull out the copy of the Chuck Jones animated original that everyone should own. ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at DVD Talk (Phillip Duncan)
FOCUS Online
1993 war’s, als Tim Burton in seinem skrurril-makaberen Puppenfilm „Nightmare before Christmas“ das klebrig-sÃ¼Ãźe Weihnachtsfest einer Schocktherapie unterzog: Statt „Jingle Bells“ rollten die Totenköpfe – sehr zum Vergnügen eines ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at FOCUS Online
El Criticon (Antonio Mendez Casanova)
El citado Grinch es el morador (junto a su paciente perro -el mejor actor de la pelÃcula-) de una aislada y alta montaña que se encuentra marcado desde su más tierna infancia por las burlas asentadas en su aspecto externo que han acrecentado un ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at El Criticon (Antonio Mendez Casanova)
San Francisco Chronicle (Peter Stack)
Overall, the film sparkles. But it's a curiously unaffecting sparkle. ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at San Francisco Chronicle (Peter Stack)
Reel.com (Robert Payne)
The problems with Grinch stem from the lackluster script. ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at Reel.com (Robert Payne)
Combustible Celluloid (Jeffrey M. Anderson)
How the Grinch Stole Christmas is thick with irony but doesn't have the guts to explore any of it. ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at Combustible Celluloid (Jeffrey M. Anderson)
Flipside Movie Emporium (Rob Vaux)
We should probably be grateful that The Grinch is merely flawed and mediocre, not the flat-out disaster it could have been. ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at Flipside Movie Emporium (Rob Vaux)
Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL) (Jeffrey Westhoff)
A shockingly noisy, ugly film. ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL) (Jeffrey Westhoff)
Cinemaphile.org (David Keyes)
...severely (and unwittingly) alters the very source material beyond a point of explanation. ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at Cinemaphile.org (David Keyes)
Laramie Movie Scope (Robert Roten)
Some of the Grinch's pranks are funny, but at the same time they seem a little too mean-spirited. It would seem that if the Grinch really had a heart he would not get quite so much satisfaction out of inflicting pain and suffering on other people. Maybe ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at Laramie Movie Scope (Robert Roten)
Palo Alto Weekly (Susan Tavernetti)
Normal Guy Movie Reviews (Jon Trainer)
UK Critic (Ian Waldron-Mantgani)
I gotta say it again -- buy the book. ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at UK Critic (Ian Waldron-Mantgani)
Film Threat (--)
Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
I think a lot of children are going to look at this movie with perplexity and distaste. ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
Film Threat (--)
Dr. Seuss' classic children's book is now a $123 million dollar movie spectacular. With director Ron Howard behind the camera and star Jim Carrey under a thick green suit, everyone seems convinced it will be the biggest hit of the holiday season. Well, ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at Film Threat (--)
Moviepie.com
A recessive or faulty allele and possibly a random mutation cause a new-born Whovian (Grinch, Jim Carrey) to have superior intelligence and strength (and green skin) over his rather mundane snowflake-living Whovian kindred. This difference equates to ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at Moviepie.com
Movie Vault (Goatdog)
I really love the original cartoon, which premiered in 1966 and has been loved by millions for almost a half a century. I was a little bit skeptical when I heard that there was to be a big-budget remake starring Jim Carrey. I have to admit that I had a ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at Movie Vault (Goatdog)
The Onion A.V. Club (Nathan Rabin)
Less a movie than a cynical, market-dictated merger of profitable brands, the aggressively charmless How The Grinch Stole Christmas seems poised to replace Santa Claus: The Movie and Return To Oz as Hollywood's foremost desecration of a beloved ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at The Onion A.V. Club (Nathan Rabin)
JoBlo's Movie Emporium (JoBlo)
Grinchy-poo, you used to be a mean one... now you're just a goof. Sigh. ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at JoBlo's Movie Emporium (JoBlo)
Goatdog's Movies (Michael W. Phillips, Jr.)
Other than some pretty good set design and special effects, there was nothing new of value in this version. ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at Goatdog's Movies (Michael W. Phillips, Jr.)
Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Film Review Database (--)
Theodor Seuss Geisel (1904-1991), better known as Dr Seuss, has become one of the most pre-eminent names in children's writing. Seuss was originally a cartoonist and broke into children's writing in the 1930s after being inspired by an article in Life ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Film Review Database (--)
Hollywood Hostel (Banzai)
ShowBIZ Data (--)
ShowBIZ Data (--)
Lawrence Journal-World (Dan Lybarger)
For tales that require some edge, it is safe to deduce that Ron Howard is no match for the great Dr. Seuss. ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at Lawrence Journal-World (Dan Lybarger)
E! Online (--)
This trip to Whoville is barely worth going out of your way. ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at E! Online (--)
IndependentCritics.com (Richard Propes)
This film had everything going for it...a gifted director, top-notch technology, a great cast and source material that is among the most beloved of all-time. What went wrong? This 2000 adaptation of Dr. Seuss' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" ...read the complete How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie review at IndependentCritics.com (Richard Propes)
User Reviews
by Terry Richard "Te... on November 29, 2009
Director Ron Howard's film version of the classic 1966 TV Holiday cartoon "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" is an entertaining and well-crafted adaption of a Christmas classic. Jim Carrey plays the Grinch who decides he is going to steal Christmas from ...
by Kody "ParisHilton... on October 25, 2009
after watching "The Cat in the Hat" I'd call this movie heaven, no lie. This movie was amazingly good, its one of those movies I can watch over and over again without getting sick. Jim Carrey is very talented and this movie showed. I was very ...
by M. Peterson "rock... on September 16, 2009
This movie was wonderful adn Jim Carrey played the part EXCELLENT!!! My children loved it and I watched it with them. I totally reccommend this movie to anyone of all ages. Enjoy, because we ...
by Misty D. Chambers on September 10, 2009
I purchased this movie because I had seen it before but was unable to find it in the stores as they have it classified as a "Christmas movie" meaning they only sell it during the Christmas season. I remembered to check it out on Amazon as it came on ...
by TEAM LORD "333" on August 07, 2009
I've been pleased with all my purchaces from Amazon... The ordering process, the price, quality, & the shipment....I would highly recommend & will continue to place my orders with them...They always have what I'm looking for...5 STAR !!! Thank You ...
by Catarina Carreiro... on April 10, 2009
Great movie for kids and adults. I love this movie and always have. My 3 year old son LOVES this even when it is not Christmas. He laughes so hard at "the Grinch", Jim Carrey does an amazing job. I thought he would get scared but he doesn't at all. He ...
by Gloria M. Rappuhn on March 27, 2009
Gave this to my (Jewish) boss for Christmas he apsolutly loved it and thought it was the best gift we ever got him along with some Grinch boxers LOL His girls enjoyed it too. ...
by Richard A. Rasor on February 14, 2009
This film took the story of Grinch and stretched it by having Jim Carrey act the leading comedy role. Expertly filmed and directed, most people will find the Grinch very funny, that is, if you like Jim Carrey's style of comedy. If you are a dedicated fan ...
by Pinnie Pinney on January 31, 2009
I purchased this for two of my grandchildren. They love it. In fact their Mother informed me that hardly a day goes by that the youngest does not ask to watch the movie. Could not have been ...
by Brenda Hall on January 31, 2009
Great movie for both adults and kids. I think Dr.Seuess would be proud of the way his book has come to life. Ron Howard did a great job creating Whoville and the make-up and costumes are well done. JIm Carrey did an excellent job as The Grinch. The ...
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