There are few characters who are more iconic to the Christmas season than the Grinch, a creation of the equally iconic Dr. Seuss. The grumpy green character has graced television and movie screens on many occasions, leading to many discussions as to which version reigns supreme.

The Grinch has been a staple in my family’s Christmas traditions ever since I can remember, which means that I’ve had plenty of time to form an opinion as to which version of the Grinch’s story is the best, which is the worst, and which one falls in between. For this list, only the “main” entries in the Grinch’s filmography were considered.

1. “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (2000)
Directed by Ron Howard, written by Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman and produced by Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, Jim Carrey’s theatrical live-action version of Dr. Seuss’ story easily wins top billing in my ranking. It is often said that you can’t beat the original, but this film does exactly that.

Carrey gives life to the character in a way that makes him more grinchley and ghastly than ever, but he also makes audiences feel guilty for a character that beforehand was nothing but a villain. One cannot simply talk about this film without talking about Carrey’s masterful comedy that pops up at the absolute perfect times! In fact, it is the humor that keeps me coming back to this movie again and again.

The supporting characters cannot be beaten, either. Taylor Momsen somehow manages to make Cindy Lou Who even cuter and more endearing than she ever was before. Lending her vocal talents to the film, she created a version of “Where Are You Christmas?” that often finds itself stuck in my head during the holidays. And like a cherry on top of a delicious sundae, the character of Max the dog plays an unforgettable sidekick role, serving as an unspoken voice of reason throughout.

Dare I say this Grinch is a masterpiece? Yes, yes, I do dare.

2. “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” (1966)
Developed by Chuck Jones, written by the immortal Dr. Seuss, directed by Chuck Jones and Ben Washam and produced by Chuck Jones and Ted Geisel, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” is the original that multiple generations have enjoyed during the holiday season. It easily could have been first on the list if not for the sheer brilliance of its live-action successor.

Narrated by Boris Karloff of Frankenstein fame, the half-hour animated television special is full of color and Christmas magic. Karloff’s narration makes it feel like I’m watching a storybook unfold, and there is just something special about this version that can be easily felt. Perhaps that “something special” is the memorable rendition of “You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch” sung by Thurl Ravenscroft or perhaps it is the feeling of nostalgia that only the original version can create.

The emphasis of this TV special is on the story’s message more than anything else; Christmas is so much more than crazily named gifts and Santa Claus. As the Whos gather around for a great Christmas feast with the Grinch, I’m always left smiling. OK, and I’m sometimes singing along, too.

To put it simply, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” is a classic that has stood the test of time.

3. “The Grinch” (2018)
Directed by Scott Mosier and Yarrow Cheney, written by Michael LeSieur and Tommy Swerdlow and produced by Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy, “The Grinch” is the newest entry in the Grinch’s lore. As a fan of most of Illumination’s other endeavors, I had high hopes going into this animated film. I was disappointed to see that it not only didn’t live up to my expectations but also didn’t live up to the spirit of the Grinch in my opinion.

So many aspects of the story differed from what I had grown to know and love. The Grinch, voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch – who didn’t do too bad of a job – felt like a shadow of his former self. While it was nice to see him become what was virtually a dog dad, he just lacked that edgy grinchey-ness that gave the story its point.

While the story and characters were a letdown, except for Max who has never not been brilliant in a Grinch special or film, what wasn’t a letdown was the animation. It was bright, colorful, Christmassy and beautiful. For me, it was the only truly redeeming quality of what could have been a great movie had so much of the source material not been changed.

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