Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas to Return to Theaters
Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment have announced the nationwide 25th anniversary theatrical re-release of the Oscar-winning holiday classic, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas, starring two-time Golden Globe winner Jim Carrey as The Grinch.
The enduring holiday blockbuster, based on the beloved book by literary icon Dr. Seuss, is produced by Academy Award winner Brian Grazer and directed and produced by Academy Award winner Ron Howard for their company Imagine Entertainment. The film will return to theaters across the country on December 12, 2025, for a Yuletide limited engagement.
It’s not easy being green, especially when you’re the cranky, cantankerous Grinch. Brooding alone in the cave he calls home with only his dog Max for companionship, the reclusive Grinch wiles away his days ruminating on the horrible hatred he feels for the Whos down in the neighboring burg of Whoville.
With their annual holiday festivities approaching, the Grinch hatches a vengeful plot to ruin the fun and purloin all the trappings that make Christmas so special. But he meets a surprising match in brave little Cindy Lou Who (Gossip Girl‘s Taylor Momsen, in her film debut), a tiny girl whose kindness and generosity of spirit might help The Grinch begin to appreciate the beauty of the season.
An enduring holiday classic, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas dates to 1957, when author Theodor Geisel, better known by his pen name Dr. Seuss, published the story, which was inspired in part by his own unhappiness over the increasing commercialization of Christmas.
It was first adapted for the screen in 1966 as an animated TV special airing on CBS, with actor Boris Karloff serving as both narrator and the voice of The Grinch. The TV special’s director, animation legend Chuck Jones, chose to make The Grinch green; in Seuss’s book, the character was rendered only in black and white.
With his head-turning, transformative performance, Jim Carrey brought new shades to the iconic role in 2000’s live-action feature film, the first full-length adaptation from Seuss’s literary canon.
Directed by Oscar winner Ron Howard and produced by Howard and Oscar winner Brian Grazer, the film brought together an all-star comedic cast that included Tony and Emmy winner Christine Baranski, Tony winner Bill Irwin, Emmy nominee Molly Shannon, Emmy winner Jeffrey Tambor, and the late Josh Ryan Evans in his final film role.
Released on Nov. 18, 2000, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas enjoyed immediate success. After opening in more than 3,200 theaters, the family-friendly fantasy comedy spent four weeks at the top of the U.S. box-office charts, going on to gross more than $260 million domestically and $345 million worldwide.
The film ranked as the year’s highest-grossing movie and became the second-highest-grossing holiday film of all time after 1990’s Home Alone.
Legendary makeup artist and creature creator Rick Baker won the Academy Award for Best Makeup for his work on the film alongside collaborator Gail Rowell-Ryan. The film earned two additional Oscar nominations: for costume designer Rita Ryack and for art director Michael Corenblith and set decorator Merideth Boswell in the Best Art Direction-Set Decoration category.
Tickets for the 25th Anniversary theatrical re-release of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas are on sale now here. The film will also be available to stream on Peacock in November.
