How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000 film)

How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRon Howard
Screenplay byJeffrey Price
Peter S. Seaman
Based onHow the Grinch Stole Christmas!
by Dr. Seuss
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyDon Peterman
Edited by
Music byJames Horner
Production
companies
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release dates
  • November 8, 2000 (2000-11-08) (Los Angeles)
  • November 17, 2000 (2000-11-17) (United States)
Running time
105 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$123 million
Box office$347.2 million

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a 2000 American Christmas fantasy comedy-drama film directed by Ron Howard, who also produced with Brian Grazer, from a screenplay by Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman. Based on Dr. Seuss's 1957 children's book of the same name, this marked the first Dr. Seuss book to be adapted into a full-length feature film. It is the first live-action adaptation and the second adaptation of the book, following the 1966 animated TV special. Narrated by Anthony Hopkins, the film stars Jim Carrey as the eponymous character, with Jeffrey Tambor, Christine Baranski, Bill Irwin and Molly Shannon in supporting roles. The story revolves around the Grinch, a grumpy, green recluse living on Mount Crumpit, who despises Christmas and the joyful residents of Whoville and sets out to sabotage their holiday celebration.

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas was released on November 17, 2000, by Universal Pictures. The film received mixed reviews from critics upon release, with praise for Carrey's performance and the film's visual effects, while its dark humor and tone were criticized. It emerged as a major commercial success at the box-office, grossing $347 million worldwide and spending four weeks as the top film in the U.S. It became the highest-grossing film of 2000 domestically and the sixth-highest-grossing film of 2000 worldwide. It is on the second highest-grossing holiday film of all time behind Home Alone (1990), until it was surpassed by the 2018 animated version of The Grinch produced by Universal's Illumination animation division.

At the 73rd Academy Awards, How the Grinch Stole Christmas won Best Makeup and Hairstyling, in addition to earning nominations for Best Production Design and Best Costume Design. Carrey's performance earned him a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.