All 3 Grinch Movies in Order
Christmas is getting closer, and with the holiday season, we are looking for movies to cozy up to. Grinch is one of the most iconic characters created by the famous author Dr. Seuss. The green menace that we all love has had a couple of adaptations so far, so let’s take a look at how many Grinch movies there are and what is the best order to watch them in.
How many Grinch movies are there?
There are three Grinch movies made so far. The first one, and the original one, is called How Grinch Stole Christmas! and it came out back in 1966. It is a short animated adaptation of the story written by Dr. Seuss, who we mentioned earlier. Then we have the second and the most popular adaptation from 2000., starring Jim Carey and Taylor Momsen. The last one is another animated version released in 2018. In this movie, Benedict Cumberbatch voiced the Grinch.
Grinch movies in order (at a glance)
We are going to look at the three Grinch movies in order and what this list looks like at a glance.
- The Grinch (2018)
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
- How Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)
Let’s see if the movies are somehow connected with each other, and if so, in which order you should watch them.
Are Grinch movies connected?
The Grinch movies are not connected. You can look at them as three different perspectives based on the original story. Individually they offer a specific visual and storytelling combination. They are only connected by the main character of the story, the Grinch himself.
Do you need to watch Grinch movies in a specific order?
There is no direct connection between the three movies, so you can watch them in any order you would like to. The first film is a nostalgically animated short film; if you are visiting family and are on a tight schedule, you can always check „How Grinch Stole Christmas!“. The second one, starring Jim Carey, is a live-action version with a lot of comedic elements and very good casting.
Then we have the last film, from 2018, and we would categorize it as a more modern version. It takes the original story and plays with some modern-day scenarios. This is great because you can watch the movies based on your preference and the mood you are in.
What is the best way to watch Grinch movies?
If you are still not sure how to watch the movies, we think the best way to go about it is to watch the movies by release date. So you would start with the first one that came out in 1966 and then follow that list to the last film that came out in 2018. This way, you will see how the storytelling and the visuals start to gradually separate from each other and the growth in technology we had over the years.
Grinch movies in order (By release date)
Now we are going to take a look at each of the films in release date order and see what they are about.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)
In this original version, Grinch is introduced as the bitter main character who despises Christmas and how the Whoville villagers who live nearby are always so happy during this season. He decides to take matters into his own hands and steal everyone’s decorations and Christmas presents. With the help of his dog Max, who he turned into a reindeer, he begins his undercover mission as Santa Clause, who will steal Christmas.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
This adaptation took a different approach, moving away from the animated depiction of the Grinch and creating a very time-specific message to the film. The outline of the story stayed the same as the original, but this time we have more insight into why the Grinch decided to steal Christmas. For him, this holiday season reminded him of the many times he was used for materialistic gain and the commentary on capitalism behind such a popular holiday.
The Grinch (2018)
Now for the final adaptation, where we have Benedict Cumberbatch as the voice of the Grinch. Some call this version the re-animated version, and it follows the original story with added depth to the individual characters. For example, we have met the character of Cindy Lou and her mother, but only on a surface level, and in this version, we get to know them better. This also goes for Grinch, and we get a more in-depth look at his character as well.
Where to watch Grinch movies?
The original version, also known as How Grinch Stole Christmas!, is available to watch on YouTube, Amazon Prime, and Google Play. The 2000 version, also called, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, is currently available on Apple TV, Hulu, and HBO Max. Finally, we have the 2018 version called The Grinch, and it’s available for streaming on Apple TV, but you can rent it on Amazon Prime and YouTube.
Will there be more Grinch movies?
There is, in fact, a new movie oriented around the Grinch called „The Mean One“ that was released at the beginning of this month. The reason why it’s not on the initial list is that it is a very low-quality parody that has completely fallen off any meaningful radar.
This is a horror parody that has nothing to do with the original story. It also has a limited theatrical release that has already ended because of the release of Avatar: The Way of Water. The theatrical release was done only in the U.S. as well.
Will there be a Grinch 2?
Currently, there is no news or gossip about a potential sequel to the computer-animated adaptation, The Grinch. Although, there is still some hope since the theatre release was very successful, becoming the highest-grossing Christmas movie of all time that year.
Will there be another Grinch movie with Jim Carey?
Unfortunately, we will not be seeing another Grinch movie starring Jim Carey. In an interview with Graham Norton, the actor said he almost quit after the first time he experienced what it was like to be put in make-up and the whole Grinch getup for eight hours. In the end, the producer convinced him to stay, bringing on a CIA agent to train him how to endure torture for a long period of time.
He also mentioned in another interview how he doesn’t really like reprising his roles: “They were characters I enjoyed doing, but I did find myself almost parroting myself at that point.” So all of this would, unfortunately, mean that, most likely, we will not be seeing another Grinch movie starring the iconic actor Jim Carey.
