This New-School Movie Quickly Became a Christmas Classic. Here’s Why.

Published: December 15, 2025

By Gavin Boyle

Director Yarrow Cheney explained how his version of THE GRINCH focuses on Christian morals and places such a strong emphasis on redemption.

“All of us, we were trying to get to really what Dr. Suess had intended for the film which is this wonderful story about a rotten guy who is not beyond redemption,” Cheney told Movieguide®’s founder Dr. Ted Baehr. “So, that was the core of the film. That was the core of the message, and, you know, the message that means so much to me. And so, I think trying to find that and keep that and protect that with this film was a very important thing.”

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While the 1966 version of THE GRINCH is an absolute classic, Cheney’s 2018 version places modern visuals over the story as it was created by Illumination, the people behind DISPICABLE ME. These visuals help draw an even larger audiences, while also placing a higher emphasis on the redemption part of the story, making it an even greater movie to promote Christian values. The movie even received a Movieguide® award because of how strongly it promotes these values. A portion of Movieguide®’s review reads:

THE GRINCH is a precious, delightful, superbly made movie. The colorful animation shows incredible imagination. The humor is delightful. The love is heartwarming. It’s well-designed, well-written and well-organized. The movie’s message is that Christmas can triumph over the meanest, most alienated heart. It features loving parents and children, a joyous community of inspired Whos, and a terrific character arc for the Grinch. Plus, it has great Christmas carols focusing on Jesus Christ and His redemptive love. MOVIEGUIDE® fell in love with THE GRINCH (2018). We think you will too.

Cheney understands as well as anyone else just how important it is for movies to include elements of faith as he began a personal relationship with the Lord only after watching the 2006 animated Christmas movie THE VERY FIRST NOEL.

“[The movie] actually played a pivotal role in bringing [the filmmakers and myself] to real faith in Christ,” Cheney told Movieguide®. “In researching and studying the birth of Christ, the Lord revealed to us how real and wonderful He is! He used a star to bring the magi to Him, but for us he used a cartoon!”

It is amazing to see how reworks of older movies can reintroduce elements of faith while also updating graphics and pacing to suit a modern audience. Praise the Lord for Cheney’s work and the millions of families that it has already impacted and continue to reach this Christmas. THE GRINCH (2018) is available to stream on Netflix and Peacock throughout the holiday season.

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