The Grinch

2018·85 minPG·English

Rate

6.45160%3.0/5

Rent & Buy

The Grinch hatches a scheme to ruin Christmas when the residents of Whoville plan their annual holiday celebration. But a certain little who might change things.

What critics thought

Illumination's animated Grinch landed in mixed-to-lukewarm territory with critics, who mostly agreed the visuals are polished and cheerful enough for young audiences but split sharply on whether it adds anything worth having to a story that's been told better before. The warmth and family-friendly appeal that delighted general audiences left many critics cold, with the central complaint being a lack of ambition rather than outright failure.

“Purists may balk about revisiting this tale, but The Grinch earns its laughter and its sentiment, both of which are plentiful. It's a full-throated Fah-Who-Foraze.”
Alonso Duralde·TheWrap
“For anyone who grew up with How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Grinch won't replace it, yet it's nimble and affectionate in a way that can hook today's children, and more than a few adults, by conjuring a feeling that comes close enough. By the end, your own heart will swell, though maybe just one or two sizes.”
Owen Gleiberman·Variety
“This adaptation is bright, colorful, and occasionally funny, but it doesn't come close to matching the effectiveness of the short-and-sweet original.”
Sandie Angulo Chen·Common Sense Media
“Despite its story-telling ambition being two sizes too small (much like its hairy protagonist's heart), The Grinch is impossibly cute, visually rich and boasts enough festive fun to satisfy young viewers.”
Amy West·Empire
“Benedict Cumberbatch, voicing the Grinch, opts not to compete with Karloff at all, which is smart and speaks in an American accent, sounding rather like Bill Hader, which is confusing. A tepid hip-hop song about the Grinch plays over the end credits. It's by Tyler, the Creator, who only a few years ago was considered one of the saltiest (to put it mildly) voices in music. Here, his contribution is as toothless as the rest of the movie.”
Glenn Kenny·The New York Times

Genres

Family, Comedy, Animation, Fantasy

Cast & Crew

Yarrow CheneyDirector

Scott MosierDirector

Benedict CumberbatchThe Grinch (voice)

Rashida JonesDonna Who (voice)

Kenan ThompsonBricklebaum (voice)

Cameron SeelyCindy-Lou Who (voice)

Angela LansburyMayor McGerkle (voice)

Pharrell WilliamsNarrator (voice)

Ramone HamiltonAxl (voice)

Sam LavagninoOzzy (voice)

Scarlett EstevezIzzy (voice)

Michael BeattieStore Clerk (voice)

Scott MosierAdditional Voices (voice)

Lori AlanAdditional Voices (voice)

Danny ElfmanComposer

Michael LeSieurWriter

Tommy SwerdlowWriter

The Grinch

2018·85 min·PG·English

Rate

6.45160%3.0/5

The Grinch hatches a scheme to ruin Christmas when the residents of Whoville plan their annual holiday celebration. But a certain little who might change things.

What critics thought

“Purists may balk about revisiting this tale, but The Grinch earns its laughter and its sentiment, both of which are plentiful. It's a full-throated Fah-Who-Foraze.”
Alonso Duralde·TheWrap
“For anyone who grew up with How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Grinch won't replace it, yet it's nimble and affectionate in a way that can hook today's children, and more than a few adults, by conjuring a feeling that comes close enough. By the end, your own heart will swell, though maybe just one or two sizes.”
Owen Gleiberman·Variety
“This adaptation is bright, colorful, and occasionally funny, but it doesn't come close to matching the effectiveness of the short-and-sweet original.”
Sandie Angulo Chen·Common Sense Media
“Despite its story-telling ambition being two sizes too small (much like its hairy protagonist's heart), The Grinch is impossibly cute, visually rich and boasts enough festive fun to satisfy young viewers.”
Amy West·Empire
“Benedict Cumberbatch, voicing the Grinch, opts not to compete with Karloff at all, which is smart and speaks in an American accent, sounding rather like Bill Hader, which is confusing. A tepid hip-hop song about the Grinch plays over the end credits. It's by Tyler, the Creator, who only a few years ago was considered one of the saltiest (to put it mildly) voices in music. Here, his contribution is as toothless as the rest of the movie.”
Glenn Kenny·The New York Times