A red carpet image of Benedict Cumberbatch.Image via Ian West/PA Images/INSTARimages
By
Marisa Williams
Published 40 minutes ago
Marisa is a Senior News Author for Collider. She graduated from Western Kentucky University in 2018 after majoring in Creative Writing with a minor in Folk Studies. She grew up in Kentucky and currently resides in Indiana with her beagle mix rescue, Este. When not writing about her favorite television shows and movies, she can typically be found hanging out with her dog, reading, listening to Taylor Swift, or fangirling about Doctor Who (usually River Song).
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It comes as no surprise that this time of year many streamers' Top 10s are filled with films full of holly, jolly holiday cheer. For Netflix Worldwide, 2018's animated Dr. Seuss' The Grinch has made it into the Top 10. Marvel's Benedict Cumberbatch (or however you prefer to spell his name) voices the Mean One himself. And though many millennials have fond memories of 2000's live-action How the Grinch Stole Christmas starring Jim Carrey, the first adaptation came in the form of another animated special in 1966. The 2018 Grinch comes from the same production company that gave us the Despicable Me franchise, and is narrated by singer Pharrell Williams.
The logline for Dr. Seuss' The Grinch is as follows:
"The Grinch and his loyal dog, Max, live a solitary existence inside a cave on Mount Crumpet. His main source of aggravation comes during Christmastime when his neighbors in Whoville celebrate the holidays with a bang. When the Whos decide to make Christmas bigger and brighter, the disgruntled Grinch realizes there is one way to gain peace and quiet. With help from Max, the green grump hatches a scheme to pose as Santa Claus, steal Christmas and silence the Whos' holiday cheer once and for all."
What Makes This 'Grinch' Movie Different?
The 2018 Grinch takes on the animation style commonly seen in Illumination's flicks. The plot provides a new twist on the Grinch's story and how it intersects with Cindy Lou Who. Orphaned and made to hate Christmas for it representing everything the Grinch never got growing up, he's still determined to steal the Christmas joy from everyone else in Whoville, much like in the other two films. But it's neither a direct adaptation of the book like the 1966 version, nor does it contain the strongly anti-capitalist tone of the 2000 film.
In 2018, no one is immediately terrified of the Grinch. In fact, he can go into town, shop, interact with people like it's no big deal that he lives far away, isolated from society. He's grumpy, and a remixed version of the famed song even plays, but he's vastly different from the last two iterations of the Grinch. To some, that's divisive, which is likely what landed the film a 60% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 54% audience score. But, at the end of the day, it's a movie marketed towards kids, especially ones already used to Illumination's animation style, and their appreciation for it is likely what's driving its worldwide streaming success.
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Get the newsletter for deeper takes on holiday streaming and animation trends — thoughtful breakdowns of films like The Grinch, comparative insights on adaptations, and what’s resonating with family audiences to help guide your next watch. SubscribeSubscribe to the newsletter for smarter holiday streaming picks
Get the newsletter for deeper takes on holiday streaming and animation trends — thoughtful breakdowns of films like The Grinch, comparative insights on adaptations, and what’s resonating with family audiences to help guide your next watch. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.You can watch Dr. Seuss' The Grinch in the U.S. on Peacock. Stay with Collider for the latest updates.
The Grinch
Like PG Animation Comedy Holiday Release Date November 9, 2018 Runtime 90 Minutes Director Yarrow Cheney, Scott MosierCast
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Benedict Cumberbatch
Grinch
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Rashida Jones
Donna Lou Who
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Kenan Thompson
Bricklebaum
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Angela Lansbury
Mayor McGerkle
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Benedict Cumberbatch
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