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What's After the Movie?
Animated musical

The Grinch (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

The Grinch (2018) movie poster

The Grinch is a 2018 animated musical directed by Matthew O'Callaghan and Peter Candeland, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as The Grinch, Cameron Seely and Pharrell Williams. It runs 1 hour 26 minutes and earned $539.3 million worldwide on a $75 million budget. It earned 2 award nominations, including Best Animated Feature at the Critics' Choice 2019. Critics gave it 60% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 6.4/10.

IMDb rating
6.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes
60%
worldwide gross
$539.3M
award nominations
2
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The Grinch (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 26m (86 min)
Genres
Drama , Fantasy , Comedy , Animation
Original language
English
Budget
$75M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Grinch About?

The premise of The Grinch without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Living in a snowy mountain lair, the Grinch despises the cheerful celebrations of the Whos below. Annoyed by their increasingly boisterous Christmas spirit, he decides to steal the holiday for himself, disguising himself as Santa Claus. However, young Cindy-Lou Who attempts to meet Santa and thank him for the joy he brings her hardworking mother, potentially disrupting the Grinch's scheme and revealing his true identity.

The Grinch Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • dr. seuss' how the grinch stole christmas
  • christmas
  • 3d animation
  • computer animation
  • christmas movie
  • remake
  • dog
  • based on children's book
  • thief
  • apology
  • regret
  • snow adventure
+38 more
  • hermit
  • mission
  • voice over narration
  • little girl
  • village
  • flashback
  • snow
  • christmas eve
  • sleigh
  • orphanage
  • christmas tree
  • single mother
  • christmas in danger
  • celebration
  • heart
  • villain turns good
  • the grinch character
  • christmas caroling
  • wreath
  • sledding
  • fictional town
  • pet dog
  • letter to santa claus
  • organ
  • drums
  • giant tree
  • orphan
  • goat
  • reindeer
  • caribou
  • setting a trap
  • mother daughter relationship
  • cat
  • mountain
  • treehouse
  • trauma
  • dr seuss
  • narrator
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Cast & crew

The Grinch Cast & Characters

Benedict Cumberbatch leads the cast as The Grinch, with Cameron Seely as Cindy-Lou Who and Pharrell Williams as Narrator. Directed by Matthew O'Callaghan, Peter Candeland and Raymond S. Persi; 15 actors are credited in all.

From the directors

More from the Directors of The Grinch

More films directed by the directors of The Grinch, best-rated first: Vivo, Curious George, The Secret Life of Pets and Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin.

Ratings

The Grinch Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Grinch 60% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 6.4/10. Our Echo Score gives it 70/100, strongest in art & craft (80) and weakest in story & flow (50).

70 /100

The Grinch Echo Score Breakdown

The Grinch presents a moderately engaging holiday adaptation that balances festive charm with narrative familiarity. While the animated design and seasonal music generate warmth, the story’s limited originality and uneven pacing temper the experience. Character portrayals offer emotional moments but occasionally feel softened from previous iterations. The sensory elements, including songwriting and visual style, carry the film through its 86-minute runtime. Although familiar plot beats recur, the overall effect is an enjoyable, if not groundbreaking, seasonal entertainment.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 80

    In terms of art and craft, the film delivers striking animated visuals and polished production design. The 3D animation showcases detailed textures and cohesive color choices that evoke Whoville’s festive atmosphere. Direction maintains clear visual continuity, though editing occasionally smooths over slower transitions. Overall, the visual presentation remains a strong foundation for the holiday setting.

  • Character & Emotion 65

    When it comes to character and emotion, performances provide moments of genuine warmth, especially in key exchanges reflecting the Grinch’s evolving heart. The voice cast conveys a friendly tone, though the titular character’s arc is presented with lighter stakes than prior versions. Emotional beats resonate in family-oriented scenes, but the softened portrayal reduces narrative tension. Overall, character depth is serviceable but lacks deeper complexity.

  • Story & Flow 50

    In terms of story and flow, the film adheres to the classic narrative framework without significant innovation. Plot progression unfolds predictably, and pacing stalls during sequences that add modern musical interludes. Originality is limited, as familiar story beats recur with minimal deviation. Engagement peaks during festive set pieces but wanes in transitional scenes. Overall, the narrative feels serviceable yet lacking in fresh storytelling momentum.

  • Sensory Experience 75

    When it comes to sensory experience, the soundtrack delivers upbeat holiday songs that bolster the festive mood. Sound design balances dialogue and musical elements clearly, and sound effects enhance comedic moments. The visual style maintains a cohesive palette of vibrant reds and greens, supporting seasonal immersion. Occasional modern song placements feel slightly incongruous but remain generally effective. Overall, sensory elements enrich the film’s holiday atmosphere.

  • Rewatch Factor 70

    In terms of rewatch factor, the film offers sufficient charm for repeat holiday viewing. Seasonal humor and familiar musical numbers encourage annual revisits, particularly among family audiences. While story elements remain predictable on subsequent viewings, the comforting tone and festive visuals retain appeal. The character warmth and lighthearted execution support intermittent reengagement despite narrative familiarity. Overall, the film maintains a respectable level of replay value.

Plot

The Grinch Plot Summary

What happens in The Grinch from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In the enchanting town of Whoville, the Whos are buzzing with excitement as Christmas approaches. Yet, residing just north atop Mount Crumpit is the infamous Grinch, voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch, whose disdain for Christmas and the joy radiating from the Whos makes his heart swell with bitterness. Living a solitary life with his loyal dog, Max, The Grinch stumbles upon a rather dismal morning as he prepares for breakfast, only to discover his pantry completely bare due to his habit of emotional eating. Consequently, he begrudgingly heads down to Whoville for essentials. As narrated by Pharrell Williams, the exact cause of The Grinch’s nasty disposition remains a mystery. Perhaps it’s due to his slightly askew head, tight shoes, or the painful truth that his heart is two sizes too small.

Full summary

The whole story of The Grinch, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

The Grinch Box Office & Budget

The Grinch grossed $539.3 million worldwide on a $75 million budget, 7.2 times what it cost. $272.5 million came from the US and Canada and $266.8 million (49%) from the rest of the world.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$539.3M

7.2× its budget

US & Canada
$272.5M
International
$266.8M
Budget
$75M
US & Canada 51% Rest of the world 49%
Awards

The Grinch Awards & Nominations

The Grinch earned 2 award nominations, including Best Animated Feature at the Critics' Choice 2019. The 2 nominations come from 2 ceremonies.

2 nominations2 ceremonies

Videos

The Grinch Trailers & Videos

6 videos: 3 trailers, 1 clip and 2 featurettes.

All 6 videos
The Grinch - Official Trailer [HD]
  • Trailer The Grinch - Official Trailer #2 [HD]
  • Trailer The Grinch - Official Trailer #3 [HD]
  • Clip
  • Featurette The Grinch (2018) - Featurette - Attitude
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Grinch?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who is the voice actor for The Grinch?

Details

The Grinch Also Known As

27 alternative titles, including “Dr. Seuss' The Grinch” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”.

Also known as
  • Dr. Seuss' The Grinch
  • How the Grinch Stole Christmas
  • グリンチ
  • El Grinch
  • Le Grinch
  • Der Grinch
  • Гринч
  • Grinčas
  • A Grincs
  • Ο Γκριντς
  • Ґрінч
  • 그린치
+15 more
  • Grinchen
  • 聖誕怪怪傑
  • O Grinch
  • Grinç
  • הגרינץ'
  • 鬼靈精
  • الجرينش, გრინჩი
  • 绿毛怪格林奇
  • Il Grinch
  • Le grincheux
  • Grinčs
  • De Grinch
  • เดอะ กริ๊นช์
  • Kẻ Cắp Giáng Sinh
  • گرینچ

Seen The Grinch?

FAQ

The Grinch FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of The Grinch, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Grinch?

The Grinch runs 1 hour 26 minutes (86 minutes).

When was The Grinch released?

The Grinch was released on November 9, 2018.

Who directed The Grinch?

The Grinch was directed by Matthew O'Callaghan, Peter Candeland and Raymond S. Persi.

More films by Matthew O'Callaghan

Who is in the cast of The Grinch?

The Grinch stars Benedict Cumberbatch as The Grinch, Cameron Seely as Cindy-Lou Who and Pharrell Williams as Narrator, among 15 credited actors.

How much did The Grinch make at the box office?

The Grinch grossed $539.3 million worldwide ($272.5 million domestic, $266.8 million international) on a budget of $75 million.

How is The Grinch rated?

The Grinch has 6.4/10 on IMDb, 60% on Rotten Tomatoes, 69% on TMDB and 3.0/5 on Letterboxd.

Was The Grinch nominated for any awards?

The Grinch received 2 nominations across 2 ceremonies.

Does The Grinch have a post-credit scene?

No. The Grinch has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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