130 Fun Facts About Grinch

Since the 1957 book, 'grinch' has entered dictionaries as an informal noun meaning what?

Killjoy or spoilsport is the dictionary sense; the name first appeared in 1953's Scrambled Eggs Super! and a 1955 Redbook poem before the Christmas story made it famous.

In what year was the original book "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" first published?

The beloved story made its debut in 1957, simultaneously published as a book by Random House and in an issue of Redbook magazine.

Who directed the classic 1966 animated television special "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!"?

The iconic animated special was directed and co-produced by Chuck Jones, known for his work on Looney Tunes and other classic cartoons.

Which actor provided the voice for the Grinch in the 1966 animated TV special?

Horror icon Boris Karloff not only voiced the Grinch but also served as the narrator for the beloved 1966 special.

Who wore the green fur as the Grinch in Ron Howard's 2000 live-action film?

Ron Howard directed the first live-action feature built from the Seuss story, and it was a major box-office success.

Who directed the 2000 live-action film "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"?

Ron Howard directed the big-budget live-action adaptation, bringing the world of Whoville to the big screen.

Which actor lent his voice to the Grinch in the 2018 animated movie?

Pharrell Williams narrated that version, which became the highest-grossing Christmas film ever at $553 million.

Whoville had already appeared in which earlier Dr. Seuss book, published in 1954?

In that book the whole town sits on a speck of dust that Horton the elephant places on a clover.

The name 'Grinch' first appeared in which 1953 Dr. Seuss book?

That book was one of six titles the Seuss estate withdrew from publication in 2021; a 1955 Redbook poem then used the name for a fast-talking salesman.

The Grinch lives in a cave atop which mountain, 3,000 feet above Whoville, from which he glowers down at the town?

Mount Crumpit is 'three thousand feet up' in the book, and it is where the loaded sleigh teeters at the edge before the Grinch's heart grows and he saves the lot.

By how much does the Grinch's heart grow once he understands Christmas?

The narrator adds that he then found 'the strength of ten grinches, plus two' and hauled the sleigh back from the brink.

Who sings the iconic song "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" in the 1966 animated special?

Ravenscroft, also the voice of Tony the Tiger, was left out of the credits; Seuss apologised and wrote to columnists nationwide to set the record straight.

Disguised as Santa Claus, how does the Grinch travel down to Whoville?

His dog does the pulling, with a single horn tied to its head to pass as a reindeer.

Besides every present and all the feast food, what large item does the Grinch stuff up the chimney from each Who house?

The Christmas tree goes up the chimney too, along with 'the last can of Who-hash'; he starts at the first house on the square and empties the whole town before dawn.

How does the Grinch turn his dog Max into a 'reindeer' before the Christmas Eve raid?

A single tied-on horn does the job, lashed to the top of Max's head; the book calls the poor dog one 'that no one could like'.

What is the name of the young Who girl who encounters the Grinch during his theft?

She is 'no more than two' in the book; the 1966 special redrew her to look like the Grinch's great-granddaughter, and June Foray voiced her.

What emotion primarily drives the Grinch's initial hatred of Christmas?

The narrator refuses to give a firm reason: maybe his shoes were too tight, maybe his head wasn't screwed on just right.

What color is the Grinch's fur?

He is also pot-bellied, pear-shaped and snub-nosed, with a cat-like face.

What popular Christmas dish does the Grinch famously carve at the Whos' feast after his change of heart?

Seuss said the pun let him end the story without preaching; in the 1966 special the first slice goes to the dog.

On Christmas morning, hand cupped to his ear on the mountaintop, what did the Grinch expect to hear rising from Whoville?

Cries of despair, a big 'Boo hoo', never come; instead the Whos sing, and that is the moment the Grinch's heart grows three sizes.

What sound did the Grinch actually hear from Whoville on Christmas morning?

The carol in the 1966 special is 'Welcome Christmas', written in what Chuck Jones called 'Seussian Latin' so it would sound as authentic as 'Adeste Fideles'.

What does the Grinch conclude about Christmas after his morning of puzzling?

He 'puzzled and puzzed till his puzzler was sore' before deciding it 'doesn't come from a store'.

After the Grinch's heart grows three sizes on the mountaintop, what does he do next?

He returns everything he stole, sleigh and all, then joins the Whos at their table and is handed the knife to carve the roast beast.

After lying about fixing a light, what does the Grinch fetch for the little Who girl before bed?

His fib is that a light on the tree won't work, so he is taking it to his workshop to fix.

The narrator of the 1966 special won which honour once the soundtrack recording was released?

The award was for Best Recording for Children; the horror star was chosen for his 'beautiful, rhythmic, caring' reading voice.

Which actor withdrew from playing the Grinch in 2000 because he was allergic to prosthetics?

The eventual star spent 92 days in the makeup and later said he would only return to the role via motion capture.

Which animation studio produced the 2018 computer-animated film "The Grinch"?

The Despicable Me studio's version grossed $553 million, the most ever for a Christmas film.

The original book and 1966 special state the Grinch had put up with Christmas for how many years?

The Grinch explicitly states, "For 53 years I've put up with it now!" referring to the Whos' noisy Christmas celebrations.

The 1966 director modelled Max on his own childhood dog, which was what breed?

Jones set Max up as an observer and victim, in the mould of Porky Pig opposite Daffy Duck.

What was the Grinch's primary goal at the beginning of the story?

Under his logic, no presents, no feast and no decorations should mean no Christmas at all.

In the 2018 film, what does the Grinch name the fat reindeer he recruits?

Fred turns out to have a family, so the Grinch lets him go and Max ends up pulling the sleigh anyway.

How does the Grinch get into the Whos' houses?

It is a deliberate reversal of Santa's visit: same entrance, opposite intent.

Which network funded the 1966 special with a $315,000 budget, over four times that of A Charlie Brown Christmas?

Jones and MGM promised Seuss there would be 'no limit of quality' on the animation.

What is the one speck of food the Grinch leaves behind in a Who house?

The narration specifies it was 'even too small for a mouse'.

Where does the Grinch plan to dump the stolen goods from the mountaintop?

He pauses at the summit at dawn to savour the Whos' misery, which is where the plan unravels.

In the 1966 narration, once his heart has grown the Grinch finds the strength of how many grinches?

That is what lets him haul the sliding sleigh back from the edge of the summit.

The book is best known as a critique of what?

Holiday commercialism is the target: the Grinch learns Christmas 'doesn't come from a store', and Seuss wrote it to rediscover what he had lost about the holiday.

In the 2000 film, how many dogs in total played Max?

The lead dog, Kelley, was rescued from a pound by director Ron Howard; the others were clipped and dyed to match.

Which of these is NOT one of the three songs featured in the 1966 animated special?

'Where Are You Christmas?' was written by Mariah Carey, James Horner and Will Jennings for the 2000 film and released by Faith Hill.

Who designed the 2000 film's Oscar-winning Grinch makeup, after leaking a video of himself wearing it to sway the studio?

Rick Baker's Grinch suit took Carrey hours to get into each day; the studio had wanted the star simply painted green, and Baker had also made An American Werewolf in London.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is written the way almost every Dr. Seuss book is written. In what form?

Rhymed verse carried the 1957 book, which one reviewer said sweeps readers along with 'ebullient rhymes and weirdly zany pictures'; Seuss mostly wrote in a bouncing anapestic metre.

The Grinch's heart is initially described as being what size?

The narrator offers it as 'the most likely reason of all' for his hatred of Christmas, ahead of tight shoes.

Which tinned food does the narration say the Grinch took the 'last can' of?

He empties the icebox as thoroughly as the tree, leaving crumbs too small for a mouse.

In the 2000 film, which character is NOT part of the Lou Who household?

Jeffrey Tambor's mayor is the Grinch's childhood bully; Bill Irwin plays the postmaster father and Molly Shannon the mother.

Which voice actress played the little Who girl in the 1966 special?

Foray was uncredited, as was Dallas McKennon as the dog; the narrator did every voice on the later record release.

Who narrates the 2018 animated film The Grinch?

Kenan Thompson and Angela Lansbury are in the cast; Tyler, the Creator recorded a new version of the theme song for it.

The Grinch's now-familiar green colour first appeared where?

Director and author agreed it was 'the only choice that made sense'; the original book gave him no such colour.

The 1966 special's director called the Grinch the best Christmas villain since which character?

Seuss was reluctant to allow an adaptation at all until Jones, a former Army colleague, talked him round.

Who voiced the Grinch in the 1977 prequel special Halloween Is Grinch Night?

It aired on ABC on 28 October 1977 and won an Emmy, though it never matched the original's popularity.

Seuss said he was moved to write the story after spotting 'a very Grinch-ish countenance' where?

It was the morning after Christmas 1956; the book was finished and in the post to Random House by mid-May.

Which publisher released How the Grinch Stole Christmas! as a book in 1957?

It appeared at roughly the same time in an issue of Redbook magazine.

Which magazine printed the Grinch story alongside the 1957 book release?

The Grinch had first appeared in a 1955 Redbook poem, 'The Hoobub and the Grinch'.

Which book had Dr. Seuss just finished before starting the Grinch in early 1957?

He was also founding Beginner Books with Phyllis and Bennett Cerf and his wife Helen.

Which part of the Grinch book did Dr. Seuss say he struggled with for three months?

He feared sounding like a second-rate preacher until he landed on the roast beast pun.

Where did Dr. Seuss check the Grinch book's galley proofs in June 1957?

He and Helen took a month-long vacation there after mailing the manuscript.

To whom did Dr. Seuss dedicate How the Grinch Stole Christmas!?

Theodor 'Teddy' Owens was the child of his niece Peggy Owens.

Into which classical language was the Grinch book translated in 1998?

The title became Quomodo Invidiosulus Nomine Grinchus Christi Natalem Abrogaverit.

How old was Dr. Seuss when he wrote the Grinch, matching the Grinch's 53 Christmases?

Scholars Thomas Fensch and Charles Cohen both noted the coincidence.

What did Dr. Seuss's car license plate reportedly read?

His stepdaughter said the Cat was Ted on his good days and the Grinch on his bad days.

Per Thomas Fensch, the Grinch was Dr. Seuss's first main character to be what?

Kirkus called him 'easily the best Christmas-cad since Scrooge'.

Who narrated the 1975 LP recording of How the Grinch Stole Christmas!?

Walter Matthau narrated a 1992 Random House video version.

Which podcast company released a Grinch podcast in 2023 with James Austin Johnson?

Johnson is best known for impressions on Saturday Night Live.

Which San Diego venue staged the Grinch musical in 2007 before Broadway?

It has run there every Christmas season since 1998.

Which puppet series featured the Grinch and Max in the late 1990s?

Anthony Asbury performed the puppet on the Nick Jr. show.

What is the title of the 2023 authorised sequel book?

It was written by Alastair Heim and illustrated by Aristides Ruiz.

Which studio's TV and animation divisions produced the 1966 special?

It was made through The Cat in the Hat Productions and aired December 18, 1966.

On what wartime project had Chuck Jones and Dr. Seuss first worked together?

Both were at Warner Bros. Cartoons during World War II.

How many times did Chuck Jones act out the storyboard to sell the special in New York?

It was eventually bought by the Foundation for Full-Service Banks.

How did sound engineers create the Grinch's 'gravelly grunt' from Karloff's voice?

Karloff had been a Dr. Seuss fan for years and was eager to do the show.

Roughly how many drawings and cels were made for the 1966 special?

Jones also produced 1,500 sketches and 250 background drawings.

Which two songs, besides 'You're a Mean One', appear in the 1966 special?

Jones wrote his 'new carols in Seussian Latin' to avoid stock Christmas tunes.

'Trim Up the Tree' was written by Albert Hague in what musical style?

Hague later played music teacher Shorofsky on the TV series Fame.

Which singer was long wrongly credited with 'You're a Mean One' besides Karloff?

Seuss forgot Ravenscroft's screen credit and later wrote to columnists to correct it.

Which rapper joined Jim Carrey on the hip-hop track 'Grinch 2000'?

It samples the original song on the 2000 film soundtrack.

Which violinist's 'You're a Mean One' with Sabrina Carpenter hit the AC top ten?

New Jersey band the Whirling Dervishes also cut a 'wonderfully depraved' version.

Which Sesame Street composer wrote the songs for Halloween Is Grinch Night?

The 1977 prequel won the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Children's Program.

Which young Who with astigmatism stalls the Grinch in Halloween Is Grinch Night?

Max deserts the Grinch and follows the boy home as a hero.

What weather omen signals Grinch Night in the 1977 special?

It wakes the gree-grumps, whose growls upset the hakken-kraks in Punkers Pond.

Which network premiered Halloween Is Grinch Night in October 1977?

The original 1966 special had aired on CBS.

Which network took over annual airings of the 1966 special in 2015?

Its Warner Bros. deal allows two broadcasts per season, one on Christmas night.

Critics of the 2000 DVD complained the Grinch looked what colour?

The 2006 '50th Birthday' edition restored his green.

Where did TV Guide rank the 1966 special among family holiday specials in 2004?

It holds a 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating from 28 reviews.

Which show beat the Grinch to No. 2 in the December 1967 Nielsen ratings?

A 1970 viewer survey ranked it ahead of Frosty but behind Rudolph.

Which 2021-withdrawn Seuss book contained the 'Beagle-Beaked-Bald-Headed Grinch'?

Peter T. Hooper collects exotic birds' eggs in the story.

Which Icelandic actor played the Grinch on tour from 2008 to 2015?

He replaced Christopher Lloyd, who withdrew from the 2009 Los Angeles run.

Who narrates the 2000 live-action Grinch film?

He recorded the entire narration in a single day.

Whom did Audrey Geisel initially want to play the Grinch in the 2000 film?

Producer Brian Grazer insisted he only wanted to make it with Jim Carrey.

Which director turned down the 2000 Grinch because of Sleepy Hollow?

Universal paid $9 million for rights to the Grinch and Oh, the Places You'll Go!

Whoville's set was built on the Universal backlot behind which famous movie set?

Filming ran from September 1999 to January 2000.

Jim Carrey's Grinch suit was made from what, dyed green?

It was sewn onto a spandex suit and Carrey found it unbearably itchy.

How many days did Jim Carrey spend in full Grinch makeup?

Ron Howard once wore a Grinch suit himself and invited Don Knotts to lift Carrey's spirits.

Who played the eight-year-old Grinch in the 2000 film?

It was his final film role before his death in 2002.

Which Whoville socialite is played by Christine Baranski in the 2000 film?

She rejects the mayor's ring and declares her love for the Grinch.

What is the name of Cindy Lou's postmaster father in the 2000 film?

Bill Irwin played him; Molly Shannon played mother Betty Lou.

Which title does Cindy nominate the Grinch for in the 2000 film?

The mayor's electric-razor gift at the ceremony reopens his childhood wound.

Which brother of the director plays the mayor's aide Whobris in the 2000 film?

Their father Rance appears as the Elderly Timekeeper and Bryce Dallas Howard as a Surprised Who.

Which retailer turned its stores into 'Whobilation Headquarters' in 2000?

Wendy's kids' meals carried Grinch toys the same season.

Which annual Universal theme park event began with the 2000 film's release?

It runs at Universal Studios Hollywood and Islands of Adventure.

Roughly how much did the 2000 Grinch gross worldwide?

It was 2000's top domestic earner and sixth worldwide.

Which Oscar did the 2000 Grinch win?

It was also nominated for costume and production design.

Which three writers composed 'Where Are You Christmas?' for the 2000 film?

Momsen sang it in the film; Faith Hill's single came out after Carey's version was blocked.

Why couldn't Mariah Carey release her own recording of 'Where Are You Christmas?'?

Faith Hill re-recorded it and released a CD single in December 2000.

Which rock band did Cindy Lou actress Taylor Momsen go on to front?

She also played Jenny Humphrey on Gossip Girl.

Which two directors made Illumination's 2018 The Grinch?

Peter Candeland was originally attached before Mosier took over.

Which actress voices Whoville's Mayor McGerkle in the 2018 film?

Rashida Jones and Kenan Thompson also joined the cast.

Who is Bricklebaum in the 2018 film?

Kenan Thompson voices him; he thinks the Grinch is his best friend.

What is Cindy Lou's mother named in the 2018 film?

Rashida Jones voices the overworked single mother of twins Buster and Bean.

What did Illumination first want from Benedict Cumberbatch's Grinch performance?

He argued the Grinch should sound American like the rest of the cast.

Where was the animation for the 2018 Grinch created?

Illumination Mac Guff used Maya, ZBrush and Nuke among other tools.

What original song did Tyler, the Creator write for the 2018 film?

He also remade 'You're a Mean One' with Danny Elfman's orchestra.

A giant Grinch balloon debuted in November 2017, a full year before Illumination's film, at which annual event?

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade flew the Grinch on November 23, 2017; the studio spent an estimated $121 million promoting the film worldwide.

Roughly how much did the 2018 Grinch gross worldwide?

It became the highest-grossing Christmas film ever on a $75 million budget.

Which Pentatonix recording is used by the carolers who stalk the Grinch in 2018?

Fred the reindeer and his family later help save the falling sleigh.

Executive producer Audrey Geisel, who died five weeks after the 2018 release, was who?

It was the last Seuss adaptation released in her lifetime.

Which 2022 slasher film is an unlicensed parody of the Grinch?

David Howard Thornton played the green killer; it never uses the book's language.

The Grinch musical, with Patrick Page, was the first Broadway show to do what in 2006?

It ended Wicked's 100-week box-office streak in December 2006.

Which future High School Musical star played Cindy Lou Who at the Old Globe in 1998?

Jack O'Brien directed the San Diego production.

Which Minneapolis troupe first commissioned a Grinch stage musical in 1994?

It staged its version for the tenth time in 2022.

Thurl Ravenscroft was also famous as the voice of which cereal mascot?

He also sang in Disneyland's Haunted Mansion and Country Bear Jamboree.

Boris Karloff was born under what real name?

Frankenstein (1931) was his 82nd film.

Dr. Seuss himself won two Primetime Emmys for which specials?

They came in 1978 and 1982.

In which Massachusetts city was Dr. Seuss born?

His birthday, March 2, is National Read Across America Day.

Dr. Seuss received which honour in 1984?

He wrote more than 60 books that sold over 600 million copies.

Which Warner Bros. characters made Chuck Jones famous before the Grinch?

Bugs Bunny and Wile E. Coyote were his, along with Daffy Duck, Pepé Le Pew and Marvin the Martian; Jones later directed Tom and Jerry shorts at MGM, not Warner.

Which Illumination founder produced The Grinch and the Despicable Me films?

Illumination has an exclusive financing and distribution deal with Universal.

After the 2000 film, what condition did Jim Carrey give for ever reprising the Grinch?

He called the 2000 makeup experience 'extremely excruciating'; a sequel with Ron Howard directing entered development in 2026.

For how many years did the 2000 film hold the record opening weekend for a Christmas-themed movie?

Jim Carrey's version opened to $55.1 million and held the mark for 18 years until the cartoon took $67.6 million.

To cheer Jim Carrey up on set, Ron Howard invited which actor, knowing Carrey was a fan?

Howard even put on a Grinch suit himself on another occasion to lift his star's spirits.

How much did the 2000 Grinch's box office drop in its second weekend, a record-low fall at the time?

It stayed at number one for four weekends, the first non-Disney film to win Thanksgiving weekend since Mrs. Doubtfire in 1993.

Which trailer was pulled from Grinch screenings in 2000 after parents complained it frightened children?

The film opened on November 17, 2000 against Rugrats in Paris, The 6th Day and Bounce.