How the Grinch Stole Christmas(2000)

PG
Rated PG for some crude humor
1h 44m

Release Date: Nov 17, 2000 | Wide

On the outskirts of Whoville lives a green, revenge-seeking Grinch who plans to ruin Christmas for all of the citizens of the town.

Official Website

Releases

Original Release | Nov 17, 2000

2020 Re-release | Dec 4, 2020

2023 Re-release (Fathom Entertainment) | Dec 3, 2023

25th Anniversary | Dec 12, 2025

2025 Re-release | Dec 12, 2025

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Box Office Results

Updated as of Jan 27, 2026 11:55 AM ET

All Releases (5)
Total US & Canada:
$264,965,545
Total International
$85,326,240
Total Worldwide:
$350,474,504

Total US & Canada:
$260,530,905
Total International
$85,096,578
Total Worldwide:
$345,627,483

Current Showtimes

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(U.S. Only)

Director & Top Cast

Ron Howard
Director

Jim Carrey
Grinch

Taylor Momsen
Cindy Lou Who

Kelley
Max

Jeffrey Tambor
May Who

Christine Baranski
Martha May Whovier

Bill Irwin

Lou Lou Who

Molly Shannon

Betty Lou Who

Clint Howard

Whobris

Josh Ryan Evans

8-Year-Old Grinch

Mindy Sterling

Clarnella

Rachel Winfree

Rose

Rance Howard

Elderly Timekeeper

Jeremy Howard

Drew Lou Who

T.J. Thyne

Stu Lou Who

Lacey Kohl

Christina Whoterberry

Nadja Pionilla

Junie

Jim Meskimen

Officer Wholihan

Technical Specifications

Sound Mix: DTS,Dolby Digital,SDDS

Aspect Ratio: 1.85 : 1

Other Details

Country of Origin: United States,Germany

Language: English

Summaries

Plot Summary

On a tiny snowflake floating through the air, exists the town of Who-ville, home of the Whos. The town is joyously preparing for the coming of Christmas.However, of all the Whose, a little girl named Cindy Lou Who is feeling depressed, and not at all in the holiday spirit. When her brother and his friends return from climbing Mt Crumpit and claim they saw the Grinch, Cindy Lou grows curious as to the Grinch, who she learns does not like Christmas. While in the Post Office with her Father, Cindy takes some mail to a backroom, and finds the Grinch trying to cause havoc in the mail room. The Grinch scares her, and causes Cindy to fall into the mail sorting machine. To her surprise, the Grinch rescues her.Cindy then decides to investigate more into the Grinch's past, and interviews several people, including two elderly women who cared for the Grinch, as well as town socialite Margaret May-Who and the Mayor, both of whom were classmates with the Grinch.From the information she collects, the Grinch as a child actually liked Christmas, and even had a crush on Margaret. However, the Mayor as a child, taunted the Grinch about this. The Grinch tries to create a hand-made present for Margaret and shave off his facial hair, but the bad shaving job causes the class to laugh at him, finally causing him to hate Christmas. After that, he ran away to Mt Crumpit.As Christmas approaches, the Mayor announces the upcoming Who-bilation, where the town nominates a Cheer Meister. While the Mayor looks forward to another unanimous vote for himself, Cindy requests that they nominate the Grinch, feeling he deserves it the most.With enough votes, Cindy gets the Grinch a nomination, and climbs up Mt Crumpit to deliver it to him. The Grinch does not believe her at first, but reconsiders when he finds out he'll be receiving an award, and that Margaret May-Who will be attending. The Grinch agonizes over the decision to attend (partly believing this is a trick), before appearing to the Who's.While at first apprehensive, the Grinch appears to be getting into the Christmas spirit, until the Mayor proposes to Martha May-Who, and offers her a car. The ostentatious gift rouses the ire of the Grinch, and he then begins to wreck the celebration, causing mayhem and burning down the Christmas tree. Cindy feels terrible that her plan to make the Grinch feel better has been ruined, and the Grinch returns to Mt Crumpit.The Grinch feeling worse then ever, decides that this year, he'll stop Christmas from coming, by dressing as Santa, and stealing it. Fashioning a sled, he and his dog Max return to Who-Ville, and make off with all the gifts and festive trimmings. Taking everything to the top of Mt Crumpit, he plans to drop it all over the edge.Back in Who-ville, everyone is sad and distraught, with the Mayor blaming the whole thing on Cindy for inviting the Grinch. Cindy's father proclaims that he actually is proud of his daughter, because he's seen that Christmas is not about presents and decorations, but about being together. Soon a number of other Who's join in and begin singing.This sound causes the Grinch to pause, wondering how they can be so cheerful. As he watches, the emotion gets to him, and his once shrivelled heart grows 3 sizes. The Grinch then returns the presents to Who-ville, and apologizes for his misdeed. At the same time, Margaret May-Who tells the Mayor she is rejecting his marriage proposal, and that her heart belongs to the Grinch.In the closing of the film, the town feast is held, with the Grinch carving the Roast Beast.

Storyline

Inside a snowflake exists the magical land of Whoville, wherein live the Whos, an almost-mutated sort of Munchkin-like people who all love Christmas. Just outside of their beloved town lives the Grinch (Jim Carrey), a nasty creature that hates Christmas and plans to steal it from the Whos, which he equally abhors. Little Cindy Lou Who (Taylor Momsen) decides to befriend the Grinch. — Filmfreak In this live-action adaptation of the beloved children's tale by Dr. Seuss , the reclusive green Grinch (Jim Carrey) decides to ruin Christmas for the cheery citizens of Whoville. Reluctantly joined by his hapless dog Max (Kelley), the Grinch comes down from his mountaintop home and sneaks into town to swipe everything Christmas-related from the Whos. However, the bitter grump finds a hitch in his plans when he encounters the endearing Cindy Lou Who (Taylor Momsen) — Jwelch5742 In the outskirts of Whoville, a green hermit known as the Grinch has been living in Mount Crumpit with his only friend and pet dog, Max. It is soon discovered the Grinch has put himself in exile, due to his hatred for Christmas and after he was bullied by his former school peers after he tried to impress his childhood crush and only female friend, Martha May Whovier, but that ended in humiliation for the Grinch, after Augustus Maywho (the corrupt mayor of Whoville) has began belittling him even further. However, Cindy Lou Who, the daughter of Lou and Betty, believes that there is good in the Grinch. At the same time, Cindy realizes that Christmas is about being with loved ones and it shouldn't be about materialism. The Grinch devises a plot to ruin Christmas by dressing up as Santa in retaliation for being ridiculed and for the citizens endless greed for gifts. — dawsonpersi In a small town, a male creature plans on ruining and stealing the holiday spirit away from everyone who lives in the town. With a wild elaborate plan, he travels on a long journey to succeed in his mission to destroy the town's holiday spirit for once and for all. — RECB3 1 more All