Why THE GRINCH Is the Highest-Grossing Christmas Movie of All Time
By Movieguide® Contributor
As we celebrate the Christmas season, many are revisiting their favorite holiday movies, including THE GRINCH.
The 2018 animated version of Dr. Suess’ classic story is the highest-grossing Christmas movie of all time, per ScreenRant.
According to Box Office Mojo, THE GRINCH earned $511,595,957 worldwide.
THE GRINCH updated the well-known story of the Grinch and his journey to loving Christmas.
“Despite being the villain of the feature film, the Grinch is tough to hate in the 2018 flick,” PEOPLE noted. “The bright and friendly animations bring an overall joyful tone to the film.”
A portion of the Movieguide® 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.
Movieguide® got the chance to speak to the movie’s director, Yarrow Cheney, about THE GRINCH.
“We were really trying to get to what Dr. Seuss had intended for the film, which was a rotten guy who is not beyond redemption,” he explained. “That was the core of the film, that was the core of the message, and it’s a message that means so much to me.”
Speaking about his attendance at the Movieguide® Gala, Cheney said, “It was so nice to be included in people and projects and artists where important things are held up. It was a treat.”
THE GRINCH won Movieguide®’s Best Movie for Families Award in 2019.
Movieguide® previously reported on the core moral messages of THE GRINCH:
Presents aren’t the reason for the season
Throughout the whole movie, Cindy Lou-Who wants Santa to help her mother be free from stress and hardship as a single parent, rather than receive a Christmas-sized gift. The idea of a child rejecting presents is virtually unheard of and truly refreshing! As the movie comes to a close, the Whos learn that all their presents were taken on Christmas morning. To the surprise of the Grinch, the community gathers in the town square to sing Christmas carols instead of being angry or frustrated. Here, audiences see that material objects are merely additions to Christmas, rather than the source of meaning. It’s the love, kindness and joy we give and receive that brings meaning to the season.
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:19 (KJV)
Jesus is the Savior of the world!
With a commercialized emphasis on Christmas these days, it’s encouraging that THE GRINCH inserts truth about the real reason for the season. THE GRINCH features Christmas carols like “God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman” which has a lyric that reads, “remember Christ our Savoir” and clearly alludes to the Gospel. Other themes in the movie highlight Christian ideas like honoring your parents, treating others with respect, repenting of wrongdoing (which the Grinch does at the end).
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)
