25 best Christmas movies to watch on Netflix in 2019

6. Dr. Seuss’s The Grinch

Everybody knows about the Grinch and while the classic cartoon is undoubtedly the best, this newest remake is not bad either. A movie allows the filmmaker to expand and go deeper into a character’s story and that’s exactly what was done here. The Grinch has a backstory all his own in this remake, and it makes him immensely more relatable.

Did I cry in the theater when I watched this movie? I did. The addition of the Grinch’s childhood makes this version stand out from the others.

This 2018 animated remake also makes the story a little more modern. Cindy Lou Who is a mischievous six-year-old who lives with her overworked single mom and her twin baby brothers, Buster and Bean. Determined to help her mom for Christmas, she writes a letter to Santa but when she realizes how far away the North Pole is, her and her friends decide to kidnap him instead (totally reasonable).

The Grinch, on the other hand, is pissed off that Christmas is so near because it reminds him of no one wanting him when he was in an orphanage (cue sobs). But then he comes up with a plan. Pretend to be Santa and steal all the Whos’ Christmas things. He intends to show them how much they care about material things.

But as you know if you’ve ever seen this story before, the Whos aren’t bothered. They sing and enjoy each other’s company. At first, Cindy thinks she is at fault for trying to capture Santa, but her mother soon reassures her.

Once the Grinch hears their singing, he returns to the village and gives them back everything he took. And Cindy Lou invites him to dinner where he sees that the Whos and Christmas aren’t as bad as he thought. He just hated being so alone.

This movie is heartwarming, gorgeous, and will get even the grumpiest Grinch into the holiday spirit.