The Grinch (film)
The Grinch (also known as Dr. Seuss' The Grinch) is a 2018 American animated Christmas comedy film produced by Illumination and distributed by Universal Pictures. It is the third screen adaptation of the 1957 book How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss, following the 1966 television special and the 2000 live-action feature-length film. It marks Illumination's second Dr. Seuss film adaptation, after The Lorax in 2012, and was directed by Scott Mosier and Yarrow Cheney (in the former's feature directorial debut) and produced by Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy, with a screenplay written by Michael LeSieur and Tommy Swerdlow. The film stars the voices of Benedict Cumberbatch, Rashida Jones, Kenan Thompson, Angela Lansbury (in her last voice acting role before her death in 2022), and narration by Pharrell Williams. The plot follows the Grinch and his pet dog Max who plan to stop Whoville's Christmas celebration by stealing all the town's decorations and gifts.
| The Grinch | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | |
| Screenplay by |
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| Based on | How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss |
| Produced by | |
| Starring | |
| Edited by | Chris Cartagena |
| Music by | Danny Elfman[1] |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures[2] |
Release dates |
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Running time | 85 minutes[3] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $75 million[3] |
| Box office | $526.7 million[3] |
The Grinch was released in the United States on November 9, 2018. It grossed over $526 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing Christmas film of all time, as well as the highest-grossing Dr. Seuss film adaptation. It received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the animation and the vocal performances (particularly from Cumberbatch), but criticised the lack of creative license.[4] This was the final Dr. Seuss film adaptation to be released during the lifetime of Seuss's widow Audrey Geisel, who served as executive producer of the film and died on December 19, 2018, five weeks after the film's release.[5]
Plot edit
In the town of Whoville, the human-like people called Whos are filled with excitement about celebrating Christmas. However, the only one who is not thrilled is the grumpy, cantankerous and green-furred Grinch, born with a heart being "two-sizes too small". He lives in his cave with his dog, Max, and only goes into Whoville to buy groceries and harass the Whos.
Meanwhile, 6-year-old Cindy Lou Who notices her mother Donna is overworked trying to take care of herself and her twin infant brothers, Buster and Bean. Cindy Lou initially decides to send a letter to Santa Claus to help her mother, but after an encounter with the Grinch — who sarcastically tells her that, if the matter is so urgent, she will have to talk to Santa face-to-face about it — she decides to go to the North Pole to talk to Santa himself. When Donna tells her that a round trip to the North Pole would take a month, she instead decides to try trapping Santa with the help of her friends.
With Christmas approaching, an attempt by the Grinch to ruin a tree-lighting ceremony goes wrong, resulting in him having a flashback about his disjointed childhood spent alone and unwanted in an orphanage. Unable to bear these memories, the Grinch soon decides that he will steal Christmas from Whoville to assuage his distress. He and Max acquire a fat reindeer, whom the Grinch calls Fred, and steal a sleigh from his neighbor Bricklebaum. After a test run, the Grinch and Max discover that Fred has a family, and the Grinch emotionally agrees to let Fred go home with them.
On Christmas Eve, after making a Santa Claus disguise and crafting dozens of gadgets to help him with his plan, the Grinch and Max, who pulls the sleigh in Fred's place, go down to Whoville to steal the decorations and presents. He soon encounters Cindy Lou after falling into her trap. Her request to help lighten her mother's workload and her advice about listening to the Whos' singing to alleviate his sadness touches the Grinch's heart. Despite this, the Grinch continues his mission, unable to let go of the loneliness Christmas brought him.
After stealing every Christmas present and decoration, the Grinch and Max head back to Mount Crumpit to dispose of them. The Whos wake up and are shocked and disappointed to see that the presents and decorations are gone. Cindy Lou believes that she is to blame because of her trap, but Donna tells her that Christmas is not centered on presents and that Cindy Lou is the best thing that ever happened to her. The Whos join together to sing "Welcome Christmas", rendering the Grinch puzzled to see that they are celebrating Christmas despite his thefts. Seeing Cindy Lou and remembering her guidance, he immerses himself in their singing, causing his shrunken heart to blissfully triple in size.
Afterwards, the sleigh begins to fall off Mount Crumpit, and the Grinch attempts to save it. He succeeds when Fred and his family come to his aid. After securing the sleigh, the Grinch and Max slide down back to Whoville in order to return the stolen items, and the remorseful Grinch admits his actions and apologizes to the Whos before returning to his cave.
Feeling sorry for the Grinch, Cindy Lou later invites him and Max to celebrate Christmas at her house which he awkwardly attends. When seated for dinner, he realizes that it was not really Christmas he despised, but being alone and his bitterness over being neglected. With this, the Grinch finally accepts the Whos' friendship and enjoys Christmas with them giving a toast.
Voice cast edit
- Benedict Cumberbatch as the Grinch, a grumpy, cave-dwelling, green-furred creature who hates Christmas
- Cameron Seely as Cindy Lou Who, a kind-hearted young resident of Whoville
- Rashida Jones as Donna Who, Cindy Lou's overworked single mother
- Kenan Thompson as Bricklebaum, a jolly citizen of Whoville who lives near The Grinch
- Angela Lansbury as Mayor McGerkle, the Mayor of Whoville who oversees the tree-lighting ceremony
- Pharrell Williams as the Narrator
- Tristan O'Hare as Groopert, Cindy Lou's best friend
- Sam Lavagnino as Ozzy, one of Cindy Lou's friends
- Ramone Hamilton as Axl, one of Cindy Lou's friends
- Scarlett Estevez as Izzy, one of Cindy Lou's friends whose mouth is mostly wrapped up in a scarf
- Michael Beattie as a store clerk
Georgia Toffolo provided the voice of Mrs. Toffee Apple (a customer who was trying to reach a jar of "Christmas chutney") in one scene in the UK release. In addition, Bill Farmer voices Sam, a bus driver.
A recording of Pentatonix' "God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen" was used for the Who-Carolers that stalk the Grinch.
Production edit
Development edit
In February 2013, Illumination was developing a 3D animated feature film based on the Dr. Seuss book, with the working title How the Grinch Stole Christmas, later shortened to The Grinch.[6] Peter Candeland and Yarrow Cheney were set to direct,[7] though in 2018 producer Scott Mosier took over from Candeland.[8] Candeland still stayed on the project for additional story direction.
Casting edit
Benedict Cumberbatch was cast as the titular character in April 2016.[7] Illumination originally wanted Cumberbatch to voice the Grinch in his natural accent, but Cumberbatch felt that since the rest of the cast is American, the Grinch himself should have an American accent.[9] By September 2018, Angela Lansbury had been set to voice the Mayor of Whoville. Rashida Jones, Cameron Seely, and Kenan Thompson also joined the cast, while Pharrell Williams, who had previously worked on Illumination's Despicable Me films,[10] was revealed to be narrating the film.[11]
Animation edit
The animation was created by Illumination Mac Guff in Paris, France.[12] Several software programs were used in creating the film's CGI characters including Maya, ZBrush, and Nuke as well as in-house software.[13] A 3D CGI model of the town of Whoville through which a virtual camera could travel was crafted using Maya, ZBrush, Foundry's Mari, and Allegorithmic's Substance Painter.[13]
Music edit
Danny Elfman composed the film's score.[1] Tyler, the Creator wrote a new song for the film titled "I Am the Grinch".[11] Tyler and Elfman collaborated on a new version of the song "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" for the film, which was featured in the final trailer,[11] and early on in the film itself. The score and soundtrack albums were released (both digitally and on CD) and the film.[14]
Release edit
Theatrical edit
The film was originally scheduled to be released on November 10, 2017,[15] but on June 7, 2016, it was pushed back to November 9, 2018.[16] A Despicable Me short film, entitled Yellow is the New Black, was attached to the film's theatrical release.
Marketing edit
Beginning in October, various billboards appeared for the film, each featuring an image of the Grinch, accompanied by a mean or ironic message.[17] Universal and Illumination partnered with several companies to promote the film, including Wonderful Pistachios, Ebates, IHOP and 23andme for about $80 million worth of advertising.[18] All-in-all the studio spent an estimated $121 million promoting the film worldwide.[19] To promote the film, a giant inflatable balloon featuring the titular character first appeared at the 91st Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City on November 23, 2017, 1 year ahead of its release.[20] Later in December 2018, The Grinch and Max also made cameos in that year's WNBC/WNJU holiday sing along promo.[21]
Home media edit
The film was released on Digital HD on January 22, 2019, and on DVD, Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, and Ultra HD Blu-ray on February 5. In addition to the short film Yellow is the New Black (which was released theatrically with the feature film), the releases also include two new short films: The Dog Days of Winter, and Santa's Little Helpers.[22] The Dog Days of Winter was first shown on NBC on November 23, 2018, after How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966) and before Trolls Holiday.
Television edit
The film made its broadcast television premiere on FX on December 12, 2020; it later premiered on Disney Channel on December 13, and on Freeform on December 18. The film aired on NBC on December 22, 2021.
Reception edit
Box office edit
The Grinch grossed $271.4 million in the United States and Canada, and $255.4 million in other countries, for a total worldwide gross of $527.8 million, against a production budget of $75 million.[3] Deadline Hollywood calculated the film's net profit as $184.6 million, accounting for production budgets, marketing, talent participations, and other costs; box office grosses and home media revenues placed it ninth on their list of 2018's "Most Valuable Blockbusters".[19] It was Universal's second best-performing film of 2018 behind Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.
In the United States and Canada, The Grinch was released alongside The Girl in the Spider's Web and Overlord, and was projected to gross $55–65 million from 4,140 theaters in its opening weekend.[23][24] It made $18.7 million on its first day, including $2.2 million from Thursday night previews, more than the $1.7 million taken in by Illumination's Sing in 2016. It went on to debut to $67.6 million, finishing first at the box office and topping the 2000 film's $55 million opening.[25][26] In its second weekend the film made $38.2 million, finishing second behind newcomer Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.[27] In its third weekend the film made $30.2 million (including $42 million over the five-day Thanksgiving period), finishing fourth.[28] In its fourth and fifth weekends, the film finished second behind Ralph Breaks the Internet, grossing $17.9 million and $15.0 million, respectively. It marked the first-ever time animated films were the top two films at the box office in back-to-back weekends.[29]
Critical response edit
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 59% based on 193 reviews and an average rating of 6/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "The Grinch gives the classic Seuss source material a brightly animated update that's solidly suitable for younger viewers without adding substantially to the story's legacy."[30] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 51 out of 100, based on 32 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[31] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale, while PostTrak reported filmgoers gave it an 83% positive score and a 75% "definite recommend".[25]
Alonso Duralde of TheWrap gave the film a positive review, calling it "full of warmth and wit" and writing, "Purists may balk about revisiting this tale, but The Grinch earns its laughter and its sentiment, both of which are plentiful. It's a full-throated Fah-Who-Foraze."[32] Owen Gleiberman of Variety compared the film favorably to the 2000 live-action version, writing, "For anyone who grew up with How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Grinch won't replace it, yet it's nimble and affectionate in a way that can hook today's children, and more than a few adults, by conjuring a feeling that comes close enough. By the end, your own heart will swell, though maybe just one or two sizes."[33]
Glenn Kenny of The New York Times wrote, "Said dog, Max is the most charming character in this version, directed by Scott Mosier and Yarrow Cheney. The filmmakers keep the visuals merry and popping bright. Benedict Cumberbatch, voicing the Grinch, opts not to compete with Karloff at all, which is smart and speaks in an American accent, sounding rather like Bill Hader, which is confusing. A tepid hip-hop song about the Grinch plays over the end credits. It's by Tyler, the Creator, who only a few years ago was considered one of the saltiest (to put it mildly) voices in music. Here, his contribution is as toothless as the rest of the movie."[34] Molly Freeman of Screen Rant gave the film a 3 out of 5 stars, saying "The Grinch may not be a necessary holiday movie, but fans of Dr. Seuss's story or holiday films, in general, will find plenty to like in this new animated retelling. Plus, with a variety of family-friendly jokes, The Grinch will no doubt entertain viewers young and old, though the 90-minute runtime does stretch thin in the third act of the movie. It's perhaps not worth seeing in IMAX, but The Grinch does provide some rich visuals that will also capture the eye of all moviegoers. The Grinch is holiday fun for the whole family, adapting a classic story with a new twist that makes for an altogether compelling moviegoing experience."[35]
Sandie Angulo Chen of Common Sense Media gave the film 3/5 and stated, "This adaptation is bright, colorful, and occasionally funny, but it doesn't come close to matching the effectiveness of the short-and-sweet original."[36] Amy West of Empire gave the film 3 out of 5 stars, writing "Despite its story-telling ambition being two sizes too small (much like its hairy protagonist's heart), The Grinch is impossibly cute, visually rich and boasts enough festive fun to satisfy young viewers."[37]
Accolades edit
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Annie Awards | Music in an Animated Feature Production | Danny Elfman and Tyler, The Creator | Nominated | [38] |
| Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production | Habib Louati | ||||
| Editorial in an Animated Feature Production | Chris Cartagena | ||||
| Art Directors Guild | Production Design in an Animated Feature | Colin Stimpson | [39] | ||
| Critics' Choice Awards | Best Animated Film | Scott Mosier and Yarrow Cheney | Nominated | [40] | |
| Producers Guild of America Award | Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Picture | Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy | Nominated | [41] | |
| Visual Effects Society Awards | Outstanding Visual Effects in an Animated Feature | Pierre Leduc, Janet Healy, Bruno Chauffard, Milo Riccarand | Nominated | [42] | |
| Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Feature | David Galante, Francois Boudaille, Olivier Luffin, Yarrow Cheney for The Grinch | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Created Environment in an Animated Feature | Loic Rastout, Ludovic Ramiere, Henri Deruer, Nicolas Brack for Whoville | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Effects Simulations in an Animated Feature | Eric Carme, Nicolas Brice, Milo Riccarand for Snow, Clouds and Smoke | Nominated | |||
| Movieguide Awards | Best Movies for Families | The Grinch | Won | [43] | |
| Epiphany Prize for Most Inspiring Movie | Nominated | ||||
| Kids' Choice Awards | Favorite Animated Movie | Nominated | [44] | ||
| Favorite Male Voice from an Animated Movie | Benedict Cumberbatch | Nominated |
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b "Danny Elfman to Score Illumination's 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas'". Film Music Reporter. November 20, 2017. from the original on September 14, 2019. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
- ^ a b c "Film releases". Variety Insight. from the original on September 3, 2018. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
- ^ a b c d "The Grinch". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
- ^ Cavna, Michael (November 8, 2018). "Do we need another 'Grinch' movie? Some reviews say yes, but others...". The Washington Post. from the original on November 9, 2018. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
- ^ "Audrey Geisel, widow of Dr. Seuss, dead at 97". from the original on December 10, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
- ^ Kit, Borys (February 7, 2013). "'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' Remake in the Works at Universal". The Hollywood Reporter. from the original on June 16, 2018. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
- ^ a b Kroll, Justin (April 13, 2016). "Benedict Cumberbatch to Voice the Grinch in 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas'". Variety. from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
- ^ Amidi, Amid (March 8, 2018). "Illumination's 'The Grinch': First Trailer And A Late Directorial Shake-Up". Cartoon Brew. from the original on March 9, 2018. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
- ^ "Benedict Cumberbatch Interview: The Grinch". Screen Rant. November 5, 2018. from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
- ^ Lang, Brent (November 6, 2018). "Inside Illumination's Plans for Animated 'Super Mario Bros.' Movie". Variety. from the original on November 6, 2018. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
- ^ a b c Fleming, Mike Jr. (September 18, 2018). "Pharrell Williams Joins Illumination's Animated Dr. Seuss' 'The Grinch' As Narrator". Deadline Hollywood. from the original on September 19, 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
- ^ Sarto, Dan (November 17, 2018). "Illumination Warms Up the Holidays with 'The Grinch'". Animation World Network. from the original on January 9, 2019. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
- ^ a b Moltenbrey, Karen (December 13, 2018). "Spoiler Alert". In Focus. Computer Graphics World. from the original on January 9, 2019. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
- ^ "'Dr. Seuss' The Grinch' Score Album Details - Film Music Reporter". from the original on November 13, 2018. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
- ^ McClintock, Pamela (January 15, 2014). "Universal Dates Despicable Me 3, New Grinch Who Stole Christmas". The Hollywood Reporter. from the original on May 17, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (June 7, 2016). "Illumination's 'The Grinch' Pushed Back to 2018". Variety. from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
- ^ "The Grinch Movie's Billboards Have Incredibly Mean Messages". Screen Rant. October 29, 2018. from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (November 7, 2018). "'The Grinch' Global Promo Campaign Grows Several Sizes From First Movie, To $80M". Deadline Hollywood. from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
- ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 26, 2019). "How Much Green Did The Grinch Steal? No. 9 In Deadline's 2018 Most Valuable Blockbuster Tournament". Deadline Hollywood. from the original on March 26, 2019. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
- ^ Jessie Quinn (November 21, 2018). "2018 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Guide". Showbiz Cheatsheet. from the original on September 19, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
- ^ "Watch the 2018 NBC 4 New York and Telemundo 47 Holiday Sing-Along". NBC New York. December 6, 2018. from the original on April 27, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2019 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Dr. Seuss' 'The Grinch' Coming to Blu-Ray and DVD". Animation World Network. January 3, 2019. from the original on January 24, 2019. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- ^ Rubin, Rebecca (November 6, 2018). "'The Grinch' to Steal Box Office Crown With $55 Million-Plus Debut". Variety. from the original on November 6, 2018. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
- ^ McClintock, Pamela (November 8, 2018). "Box-Office Preview: 'The Grinch' to See Green With $55M-$60M U.S. Bow". The Hollywood Reporter. from the original on November 8, 2018. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
- ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (November 11, 2018). "'The Grinch' Who Stole Business: Dr. Seuss Pic Opening To $66M As 'Overlord' & 'Spider's Web' Wither – Sunday Update". Deadline Hollywood. from the original on November 9, 2018. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
- ^ Gallagher, Brian (November 12, 2018). "BREAKING DOWN THE GRINCH'S BOX OFFICE DEBUT AGAINST THE FILMS OF ILLUMINATION ENTERTAINMENT". IGN. from the original on November 13, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (November 18, 2018). "'Crimes Of Grindelwald' Falls Short Stateside With $62M+ Debut, WB Celebrates Global Win As 'Fantastic Beasts' Series Hits $1B-Plus". Deadline Hollywood. from the original on November 16, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (November 25, 2018). "'Ralph' Scoring 2nd Best Thanksgiving Debut With $84M+; 'Creed II' $55M+ Live-Action Champ; 'Robin Hood' Goes Wrong At $14M+". Deadline Hollywood. from the original on November 25, 2018. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (December 9, 2018). "Will 'The Grinch' Steal No. 1 Away From 'Ralph'? Both Animated Pics Eye $15M+ During Slow Pre-Christmas Period". Deadline Hollywood. from the original on December 8, 2018. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
- ^ "Dr. Seuss' The Grinch (2018)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
- ^ "The Grinch Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
- ^ Duralde, Alonso (November 7, 2018). "'Dr. Seuss' The Grinch' Film Review: Benedict Cumberbatch Helps Make Third Time Charming". The Wrap. from the original on November 9, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
- ^ Gleiberman, Owen (November 7, 2018). "Film Review: 'Dr. Seuss' The Grinch'". Variety. from the original on April 6, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
- ^ Kenny, Glenn (November 7, 2018). "'Dr. Seuss' The Grinch' Review: Pointy-Headed and Pointless". The New York Times. from the original on December 10, 2018. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
- ^ Freeman, Molly (November 9, 2018). "The Grinch Movie Review". Screen Rant. from the original on November 16, 2018. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
- ^ "Dr. Seuss' The Grinch Movie Review". Common Sense Media. October 5, 2018. from the original on April 6, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
- ^ West, Amy. "The Grinch (2018) Review". Empire. from the original on December 10, 2018. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
- ^ Giardina, Carolyn (February 3, 2019). "Annie Awards: 'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse' Wins Best Animated Feature". The Hollywood Reporter. from the original on February 3, 2019. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
- ^ "Winners & Nominees". ADG. from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
- ^ Hammond, Pete (December 10, 2018). "Critics' Choice Awards Nominations: 'The Favourite' Tops With 14, 'Black Panther' A Marvel, 'First Man' Rebounds; 'The Americans' Leads TV Series". Deadline. from the original on December 10, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
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- ^ Howard, Annie (February 26, 2019). "Kids' Choice Awards: 'Avengers: Infinity War' Tops Nominees; Dj Khaled to Host". The Hollywood Reporter. from the original on February 28, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
External links edit
- Official website
- The Grinch at IMDb