Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a Christmas fantasy comedy film directed by Ron Howard, who also produced alongside Brian Grazer. The book-based film was released on Nov. 17th, 2000. The screenplay, written by Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman, adapts Dr. Seuss’ classic 1957 children’s book of the same name—marking the first full-length feature film based on a Dr. Seuss story. It also serves as the first live-action adaptation and the second overall adaptation of the beloved book, following the 1966 animated TV special.
Narrated by Anthony Hopkins, the film stars Jim Carrey as the Grinch, with Jeffrey Tambor, Christine Baranski, Bill Irwin, and Molly Shannon in supporting roles. The story follows the Grinch, a grouchy, green outcast living atop Mount Crumpit, who loathes Christmas and the merry citizens of Whoville—and hatches a plan to ruin their festive celebration.
The film received mixed reviews from critics after release—earning praise for its performances and visual effects, but criticism for its darker humor and tone. Despite this, it was a huge box-office success, grossing $347 million worldwide and holding the No. 1 spot in the U.S. for four consecutive weeks. It became the highest-grossing film of 2000 domestically, the sixth-highest-grossing film worldwide that year, and the second-highest-grossing holiday movie of all time—a title it held until the release of Illumination’s 2018 animated adaptation, The Grinch.
Development:
Before his death in 1991, Dr. Seuss steadily refused offers to sell film rights to his books. After he passed, his widow Audrey Geisel began exploring merchandising deals. In July 1998, her agents announced that the film rights to How the Grinch Stole Christmas! would be auctioned off—with strict terms: a US $5 million upfront fee, plus 4 % of box-office gross, 50 % of merchandising revenue, 70 % of book tie-in profits and music income. Studios including 20th Century Fox (with Tom Shadyac directing) pitched versions with big stars such as Jack Nicholson for the title role. Ultimately, in September 1998, Universal Pictures secured the rights for around US $9 million and signed Ron Howard as director with Jim Carrey as the Grinch. She maintained significant control over the project: she vetted the script and rejected certain jokes and references (for example, a joke‐family called the “Who-steins” and a “Cat in the Hat” trophy on the wall).
Box Office:
How the Grinch Stole Christmas film grossed around $262 million domestically and $85 million internationally, for a total of $347 million worldwide. It opened in the U.S. to about $55.1 million over its first weekend in 3,127 theaters. At the time, it became the sixth-highest-grossing film of 2000, and set records for both the biggest opening weekend for a film based on a book and the largest first weekend for star Jim Carrey and director Ron Howard.
Narrated by Anthony Hopkins, the film stars Jim Carrey as the Grinch, with Jeffrey Tambor, Christine Baranski, Bill Irwin, and Molly Shannon in supporting roles. The story follows the Grinch, a grouchy, green outcast living atop Mount Crumpit, who loathes Christmas and the merry citizens of Whoville—and hatches a plan to ruin their festive celebration.
The film received mixed reviews from critics after release—earning praise for its performances and visual effects, but criticism for its darker humor and tone. Despite this, it was a huge box-office success, grossing $347 million worldwide and holding the No. 1 spot in the U.S. for four consecutive weeks. It became the highest-grossing film of 2000 domestically, the sixth-highest-grossing film worldwide that year, and the second-highest-grossing holiday movie of all time—a title it held until the release of Illumination’s 2018 animated adaptation, The Grinch.
Development:
Before his death in 1991, Dr. Seuss steadily refused offers to sell film rights to his books. After he passed, his widow Audrey Geisel began exploring merchandising deals. In July 1998, her agents announced that the film rights to How the Grinch Stole Christmas! would be auctioned off—with strict terms: a US $5 million upfront fee, plus 4 % of box-office gross, 50 % of merchandising revenue, 70 % of book tie-in profits and music income. Studios including 20th Century Fox (with Tom Shadyac directing) pitched versions with big stars such as Jack Nicholson for the title role. Ultimately, in September 1998, Universal Pictures secured the rights for around US $9 million and signed Ron Howard as director with Jim Carrey as the Grinch. She maintained significant control over the project: she vetted the script and rejected certain jokes and references (for example, a joke‐family called the “Who-steins” and a “Cat in the Hat” trophy on the wall).
Box Office:
How the Grinch Stole Christmas film grossed around $262 million domestically and $85 million internationally, for a total of $347 million worldwide. It opened in the U.S. to about $55.1 million over its first weekend in 3,127 theaters. At the time, it became the sixth-highest-grossing film of 2000, and set records for both the biggest opening weekend for a film based on a book and the largest first weekend for star Jim Carrey and director Ron Howard.
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