Dr. Seuss published How the Grinch Stole Christmas! in 1957, and the story has since been adapted as a 1966 animated special, 2 feature films and a televised musical. The Grinch has also starred in a Halloween prequel and a crossover with the Cat in the Hat. The 1966 special returns to TBS and TNT on November 15, and the 3 main versions all stream on Peacock as of this writing. Check out the official clip down below:
Sixth: The Grinch Grinches The Cat In The Hat (1982)
This crossover premiered on ABC on May 20, 1982, and serves as a standalone sequel to The Cat in the Hat special. The Grinch builds a device that scrambles every sound within a 50-mile radius, then turns it into a "darkhouse" that spreads beams of darkness, and the Cat sets out to stop him. It was the last Dr. Seuss special from DePatie-Freleng and the only Dr. Seuss cartoon from Marvel Productions, with songs by Sesame Street composer Joe Raposo. It won an Emmy, and it ranks last because the Grinch shares the screen with the Cat and the story has nothing to do with Christmas or Whoville. As of this writing, JustWatch lists it as not available to stream in the U.S.
Fifth: Dr. Seuss' The Grinch Musical (2020)
NBC aired this musical on December 9, 2020. It adapts the 2006 stage show Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical and was filmed at the Troubadour Theatre in London, with Matthew Morrison as the Grinch, Denis O'Hare as Old Max, Booboo Stewart as Young Max and Amelia Minto as Cindy-Lou Who. Old Max narrates the story, and the songs include "Who Likes Christmas?", "I Hate Christmas Eve" and a version of "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch." It ranks below the animated and movie versions because it is a filmed stage production. As of this writing, JustWatch lists it as not available to stream in the U.S.
Fourth: Halloween Is Grinch Night (1977)
This prequel to the 1966 special premiered on ABC on October 28, 1977. Boris Karloff had died, so Hans Conried voiced the Grinch, while Thurl Ravenscroft returned to sing. A sour sweet wind blows through Whoville and marks the start of Grinch Night, when the Grinch and Max ride down Mount Crumpit with the Paraphernalia Wagon. A young Who named Eucariah tries to stall him to save the town. Joe Raposo wrote the songs and score, and the special won the 1978 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Program. It ranks fourth because it is a direct prequel to the 1966 special, with Ravenscroft back on vocals. JustWatch does not list it, and no official streaming home was found as of this writing.
Third: The Grinch (2018)
Illumination and Universal Pictures released Dr. Seuss' The Grinch on November 9, 2018, directed by Scott Mosier and Yarrow Cheney. Benedict Cumberbatch voices the Grinch and Pharrell Williams narrates, with Rashida Jones, Kenan Thompson and Angela Lansbury in the cast. This version gives Cindy Lou Who a single mother, Donna, whom she wants to help by asking Santa directly. Danny Elfman scored it, and Tyler, the Creator recorded a new version of "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" plus an original song. Its $67.6 million opening weekend broke the record for a Christmas film held by the 2000 movie, and its $553 million worldwide gross made it the highest-grossing Christmas film ever. Peacock's key art is below:
Illumination's trailer is below:
Second: How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Ron Howard directed the live-action Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, which Universal released on November 17, 2000. Jim Carrey plays the Grinch and Anthony Hopkins narrates, with Taylor Momsen as Cindy Lou Who, Jeffrey Tambor as Mayor Augustus MayWho, Christine Baranski as Martha May Whovier and Molly Shannon as Betty Lou Who. Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman's script gives the Grinch a backstory, including his school days in Whoville and his crush on Martha May.
The movie grossed $351 million on a $123 million budget and was the highest-grossing film of 2000 in the U.S. It won the Academy Award for Best Makeup and was nominated for Best Production Design and Best Costume Design, and Carrey received a Golden Globe nomination. Peacock's key art is below:
First: How The Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)
Chuck Jones directed and co-produced the original animated special, which premiered on CBS on December 18, 1966. Jones and Dr. Seuss had worked together on the Private Snafu training cartoons at Warner Bros. during World War II. CBS gave Jones and MGM a $315,000 budget, more than 4 times what Bill Melendez was offered for A Charlie Brown Christmas.
Boris Karloff voices the Grinch and narrates, and June Foray voices Cindy Lou Who. Thurl Ravenscroft sang "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" but was left out of the credits, so the song was often credited to Karloff. Dr. Seuss later called Ravenscroft to apologize and wrote to columnists across the country to set the record straight. Albert Hague composed the music, with lyrics by Dr. Seuss, and the soundtrack includes "Trim Up the Tree" and "Welcome Christmas." Because the book ran about 12 minutes when read, Jones added new scenes to fill the half hour. It takes the top spot because it introduced "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch," which both the 2000 and 2018 movies brought back. Peacock's key art is below:
Where To Stream The Grinch
As of this writing, Peacock has pages for all 3 main versions: the 1966 special, the 2000 movie and the 2018 movie. JustWatch lists all 3 with Peacock Premium and Premium Plus in the U.S., and also lists the 1966 special with TBS and truTV. All 3 are available to buy or rent on Amazon, Apple and Fandango At Home.
Where To Watch The 1966 Special On TV
Warner Bros. Discovery's holiday schedule includes the 1966 special in TBS's "All I Watch for Christmas" and TNT's "Christmas Maximus" lineups. TBS airs it on November 15, December 13 and December 20, and TNT airs it on November 15, November 22, November 23, December 7, December 13 and December 21. NBC has held broadcast network rights to the special since 2015. Last year's where-to-watch guide is THE GRINCH: Where to Watch Every Version of Dr. Seuss' Holiday Classic In 2025.
Would you put Jim Carrey's Grinch ahead of Boris Karloff's original, or does the 1966 special still hold the top spot?
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