Where to stream the original how the grinch stole christmas

A scene from "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." (Warner Bros.)

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• Cassie McGrath |

It’s about time for the yearly trip to Whoville.

While there have been multiple movies made based on Dr. Seuss’s “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” the 1966 cartoon version has become a staple Christmas special, alongside other favorites like “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town.”

This year, the green, grumpy Grinch from 1966 can be viewed on streaming platforms and on cable.

Peacock users can stream the 25 minute film for free with their subscription. Those interested can sign up for Peacock Premium with ads for $4.99 a month, or for Peacock Premium Plus without ads for $9.99 a month.

For $3.99, Christmas lovers can sing along with Cindy Lou Who on YouTube and Amazon Prime. Channels TNT and TBS are also showing “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” available to those with cable.

The 2000 live-action version of the Grinch starring Jim Carrey is not currently available on any streaming platforms. However, it can be rented for $3.99 YouTube, AppleTV and Amazon Prime.

The 2018 cartoon movie can be viewed on Hulu with a premium subscription or rented for $3.99 on YouTube, AppleTV and Amazon Prime.

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Dr. Seuss’s beloved 1957 children’s book How the Grinch Stole Christmas! has become one of the essential stories of the Christmas season. It’s been adapted multiple times in both animation and live-action. Here’s how you can stream every version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

The story of the grumpy, Christmas-hating creature who learns the true meaning of the season after attempting to sabotage the holiday in wholesome Whoville is a favorite of multiple generations of kids and adults. Whether you prefer the classic animated TV special or the most recent staged musical production, there’s a Grinch for you.

Directed by legendary Looney Tunes animator Chuck Jones and starring horror icon Boris Karloff as the voice of both the narrator and the Grinch himself, this CBS special has aired on TV every year since its premiere. It also introduced several important elements of the Grinch mythology, including the character’s green-skinned appearance and his theme song, “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.”

It was followed by the non-Christmas-themed sequels Halloween Is Grinch Night and The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is streaming on Peacock ($4.99+ a month). The classic (along with Halloween Is Grinch Night and The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat) is also available for digital purchase ($8.99+) and rental ($3.99+) at Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, and other outlets.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

The only comedy star with the right kind of intensity to take on the Grinch was Jim Carrey, who donned some mildly unsettling full-body prosthetics to play the character in Ron Howard’s live-action adaptation. Howard channels a bit of Tim Burton in his creation of the rather psychedelic Whoville, expanding on Dr. Seuss’s simple story in order to fill out a feature-length film. Whether you find it delightful or nightmarish, Carrey’s version is certainly tough to forget.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas is streaming is available for digital purchase ($8.99+) and rental ($3.99+) at Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, and other outlets.

The Grinch (2018)

Illumination, the animation studio behind the Despicable Me movies (as well as the previous Dr. Seuss adaptation The Lorax), created a feature-length animated version that expands the story in different ways than Ron Howard’s film, giving it a lighter, friendlier tone. Benedict Cumberbatch brings a slightly more subdued approach to his performance as the Grinch, and the film’s design sense is brighter and cuddlier than in previous versions. Audiences responded well, making The Grinch the highest-grossing holiday movie of all time.

The Grinch is streaming on Hulu + Live TV ($64.99/month) and is available for digital purchase ($8.99+) and rental ($3.99+) at Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, and other outlets.

The Grinch Musical (2020)

On Wednesday, December 9, we're taking you on a trip to Whoville.

Don't miss the #GrinchMusical starring @Matt_Morrison at 8/7c — only on NBC. pic.twitter.com/jjuXtRe2wZ

— NBC Entertainment (@nbc) November 26, 2020

The story of the Grinch was first adapted into a stage musical in 1994, and in December of 2020, NBC made it the network’s latest “live” musical broadcast—although pandemic-related restrictions required it to be pre-taped without an in-person audience. Glee star Matthew Morrison plays the Grinch alongside Denis O’Hare and Booboo Stewart as different versions of the Grinch’s dog Max.

The production includes songs originally created for various versions of the story, including the 1966 special, the 2000 movie, and the stage musical (plus some up-to-date current-events jokes).

The Grinch Musical is streaming on Peacock (free with ads or $4.99+ per month or $49.99+ per year).

Traveling away from your home country this season and still want to stream your Christmas favorites? If you’re running into geographic constrictions on region-specific content, consider using a VPN. It’s actually pretty easy. We recommend using ExpressVPN. Just download and install it, connect to a server located in your home country, and you should have access to your normal streaming content.

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