What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedHow the Grinch Stole Christmas
Ron Howard · Film · 2000
If you loved How the Grinch Stole Christmas, start with The Grinch (Yarrow Cheney, 2018) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to How the Grinch Stole Christmas across media.
If you enjoyed How the Grinch Stole Christmas, you will appreciate these stories featuring outsiders, mischievous personalities, and unconventional redemptive journeys.
Start with the source
Adaptation
The Grinch
Yarrow Cheney · Film · 2018
Books on the same thread
A Christmas Carol
Charles Dickens · Book · 2018
Shares 2 threads with How the Grinch Stole Christmas: Redemption, Transformation.
Much like the protagonist of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the characters in these tales undergo profound personal redemption after confronting the negative consequences of their deep-seated greed.
The Cat in the Hat
Dr. Seuss · Book · 1957
Explores: Mischief, Imagination, Consequences.
Fans of the whimsical, rule-breaking spirit found in How the Grinch Stole Christmas will delight in this classic tale of a chaotic visitor who transforms a mundane day.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
J. K. Rowling · Book · 1997
Explores: Good vs. Evil, Orphanhood, Friendship.
If the outsider perspective of How the Grinch Stole Christmas resonated with you, this journey of an orphaned boy finding his place in a new world will feel familiar.
Where the Wild Things Are
Maurice Sendak · Book · 2009
Explores: Imagination, Anger Management, Adventure.
The imaginative exploration of anger and isolation in this book mirrors the emotional arc of the title character in How the Grinch Stole Christmas as he navigates his frustrations.
Series on the same thread
Malcolm in the Middle
Linwood Boomer · Series · 2000
Explores: Dysfunctional Family, Gifted Child, Middle Class Life.
Those who enjoyed the comedic dysfunction and social friction in How the Grinch Stole Christmas will appreciate watching a gifted teen navigate the chaos of his own eccentric family.
Arrested Development
Mitchell Hurwitz · Series · 2003
Explores: Dysfunctional Family, Wealth and Privilege, Family Business.
This series captures the same chaotic, dysfunctional energy present in How the Grinch Stole Christmas, focusing on the humorous struggles of a family navigating their own complicated social dynamics.
Doctor Who
Sydney Newman · Series · 2005
Shares a thread with How the Grinch Stole Christmas: Redemption.
The theme of redemption through kindness in How the Grinch Stole Christmas is echoed here as a powerful, ancient alien consistently chooses to save others across time and space.
Mr. Bean
Richard Curtis · Series · 1990
Explores: Social Awkwardness, Misunderstanding, Incompetence.
The physical comedy and social awkwardness that define the Grinch’s antics in How the Grinch Stole Christmas are amplified here through constant, hilarious, and unpredictable everyday catastrophes.
Podcasts on the same thread
Bedtime Tales from Lapland
Podcast
Explores: Christmas spirit, Holiday magic, Elves.
If the holiday magic and festive atmosphere of How the Grinch Stole Christmas captured your imagination, these tales from Lapland will deepen your appreciation for the spirit of Christmas.
How Did This Get Made?
Podcast
Explores: bad movies, cult films, satire.
After experiencing the stylized world of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, you will enjoy this critical look at the absurdities and creative choices behind various notable films.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is How the Grinch Stole Christmas the same story as the 2018 movie The Grinch?
Both films are adaptations of the same source material featuring the Grinch attempting to rob Whoville of Christmas. While How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a 2000 live-action film directed by Ron Howard, the 2018 version titled The Grinch is a separate animated adaptation of the classic holiday story.
What order should I watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas and The Grinch?
There is no required viewing order for these films as they are independent adaptations of the same source material. You can watch the 2000 live-action film How the Grinch Stole Christmas or the 2018 animated movie The Grinch in any sequence to experience the story of the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who.
Does How the Grinch Stole Christmas feature the same plot as the 2018 version?
Yes, both How the Grinch Stole Christmas and the 2018 film The Grinch follow the core plot where the Grinch decides to rob the residents of Whoville of their holiday celebrations. Each film depicts how the kindness of Cindy Lou Who and her family eventually works to melt his heart.
Is the 2018 movie The Grinch a sequel to How the Grinch Stole Christmas?
No, the 2018 film The Grinch is not a sequel to the 2000 movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Both are individual adaptations of the same classic story regarding the Grinch attempting to steal Christmas from the people of Whoville and his eventual change of heart.