Jim Carrey’s Grinch Turns 25 Next Year, And I’m Amazed That There’s A Four-Hour Cut Fans Want Released

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As someone who grew up watching “Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas” every holiday season, the idea of a four-hour cut has me feeling like I just found a Who-ville sized box of Whoville pudding! While I’m all for a more in-depth look into The Grinch’s backstory, I find it hard to believe that the original movie could be stretched to such length.

Considering the movie lineup for 2025 isn’t just about excitement for new and familiar titles gracing the big screen. It’s also significant to note that many movies from the year 2000 will be celebrating their 25th anniversary, making them a special part of the cinematic journey.

It’s widely believed that one of the greatest Christmas films, “Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas” directed by Ron Howard and starring Jim Carrey, is stirring excitement among fans with rumors circulating about a potential four-hour extended cut. However, the question remains: Is this extended version a reality?

Fans Really Want How The Grinch Stole Christmas’ Four-Hour Cut To Exist

A call to action has been issued on Change.org for dedicated Grinch fans to sign a petition, urging the release of an extended four-hour version of the film that some claim already exists. This passionate supporter is advocating for a re-release of the home video with additional scenes from the original cut, delving deeper into The Grinch’s heartbreaking past.

Dubbed “The Holiday Cheermeister Edition,” user Tom Sinclair has scoured everything from storyboards, behind-the-scenes extras and texts, as well as the TV cut that’s said to clock in at 5 minutes longer. It’s an extensive and exhaustive rundown that I’m pretty excited to dig into in a bit more detail.

Let me add a disclaimer as we move forward: While it’s true that there are several deleted scenes from Ron Howard’s live-action adaptation floating around, I’m growing less optimistic that the final cut will turn out to be an extended version.

How The Grinch’s Four-Hour Cut Rumors Really Started

From where did this commotion originate? If you take a look at author Andy Lipschultz’s book How The Grinch Stole Hollywood, it appears that the story of Ron Howard’s extensive cut may have started from here. This is where the narrative takes a turn, thanks to what page 13 reveals on this specific topic:

Initially, a director’s initial edit of a 1999 film lasted an exhausting four hours. Delighted with this running time, the director informed the production company that substantial edits were unnecessary. Unsurprisingly, the studio had a different opinion.

Upon closer examination of this quote in relation to Lipschultz’s book, it seems that the quote incorrectly credits Ron Howard as the “one director” who perceived a four-hour holiday masterpiece of Who-bilation. Given the longevity of these rumors, I find it remarkable that no one has questioned Mr. Carrey about his active role in shaping one of his cherished roles.

While we’ve been focusing on something else, it seems we might have missed around 20 minutes of scenes from Ron Howard’s version of “Where the Grinch Stole Christmas” that were left out. This information comes from a YouTube compilation titled “Ron Howard Cut Scenes.” I don’t intend to criticize or disrespect the mayor or this holiday story, as I am a fan of Dr. Seuss’ classic tale.

I’d be happy if the running time could be extended a bit and if the 4K edition of “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” came with additional features, to celebrate its anniversary. However, it’s uncertain whether the available materials are in good enough condition for that to happen. But with Jim Carrey expressing interest in a possible Grinch sequel, this could be a positive development that might enhance these celebrations as a temporary solution until another installment arrives.

Time is flying by until November 17th, 2025, the day when Ron Howard and Jim Carrey’s beloved Christmas movie will have been 25 years old. If for some reason you missed seeing this version this year, as it has unexpectedly returned to subscription streaming, you can now watch it using your Peacock subscription.

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2024-12-27 04:07