I don’t know about you, but there’s something incredibly fun about testing your knowledge of everyone’s favorite Christmas grouch! Trivia games are perfect for holiday gatherings because they bring people together with laughter and friendly competition. I remember hosting a Christmas movie night last year, and our Grinch trivia session ended up being the highlight of the evening—even my nephew who claims to hate “old movies” got totally into it!
In this article, I’ve put together over 100 Grinch trivia questions covering everything from the original Dr. Seuss book to the classic animated special and the newer movie adaptations. Whether you’re planning a holiday party, looking for a fun family activity, or just want to test your own Grinch knowledge, these questions are guaranteed to add some whoville-worthy fun to your festivities!
Dr. Seuss Book Trivia
The story that started it all! Dr. Seuss’s original book introduced us to the green grump who lives on Mount Crumpit. Test your knowledge of where the Grinch began with these questions about the classic children’s book.
- In what year was “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” first published?
Answer: 1957 - What is the name of the Grinch’s dog in the original book?
Answer: Max - What color is the Grinch in the original Dr. Seuss book illustrations?
Answer: Green (though occasionally he appears more black and white with green highlights) - How many sizes did the Grinch’s heart grow at the end of the story?
Answer: Three sizes - What was the first thing the Grinch stole from the first Who house?
Answer: The stockings - What does the Grinch use as a Santa hat in the book?
Answer: A red sock - What sound does the Grinch hate most about Christmas in the book?
Answer: The singing - How far away is the Grinch’s cave from Whoville?
Answer: 3,000 feet up above Whoville - What is the name of the young Who who catches the Grinch stealing her Christmas tree?
Answer: Cindy-Lou Who - How old is Cindy-Lou Who described to be in the book?
Answer: “no more than two” - What food do the Whos eat at their feast?
Answer: Who-pudding and rare Who-roast-beast - Which reindeer does the Grinch disguise Max as?
Answer: A reindeer (no specific name given in the book) - What does the Grinch use to make antlers for Max?
Answer: A single horn tied to Max’s head - According to the book, how long had the Grinch hated Christmas?
Answer: 53 years - What part of Christmas does the Grinch decide to steal first?
Answer: The presents - What item does the Grinch make for his Santa disguise?
Answer: A hat and coat - What reason does the book give for why the Grinch hates Christmas?
Answer: “His heart was two sizes too small” - What noisemakers are specifically mentioned that the Whos would play with?
Answer: Bizz-buzzers and Woo-Wookers - What happens to the sleigh when the Grinch reaches the top of Mount Crumpit?
Answer: He plans to dump it off the side - What specifically makes the Grinch realize the true meaning of Christmas?
Answer: Hearing the Whos singing on Christmas morning despite having no presents
For more holiday entertainment, check out our collection of philosophical questions that are perfect for Christmas gatherings!
Original Animated Special Trivia
The 1966 animated TV special narrated by Boris Karloff has become a beloved holiday tradition. These questions will test how well you know this classic adaptation.
- Who narrated the original 1966 animated Grinch special?
Answer: Boris Karloff - Who sang “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” in the original animated special?
Answer: Thurl Ravenscroft - What year did the original animated special first air?
Answer: 1966 - Who directed the original animated Grinch special?
Answer: Chuck Jones - What network first aired the animated special?
Answer: CBS - What color is the Grinch’s Santa coat in the animated special?
Answer: Red - What famous voice actor was initially considered to narrate the special before Boris Karloff?
Answer: Hans Conried - In the animated special, what does the Grinch use to silence Max’s squeaky wheel?
Answer: A red thread/string from his Santa coat - What does Cindy-Lou Who ask the Grinch when she catches him?
Answer: “Santa Claus, why are you taking our Christmas tree? Why?” - What reason does the disguised Grinch give Cindy-Lou Who for taking her tree?
Answer: There’s a light that won’t light on one side, so he’s taking it to his workshop to fix it - What does the Grinch do immediately after tucking Cindy-Lou Who back in bed?
Answer: He gets the tree and “stuffs it up the chimney” - What famous animator’s studio produced the special?
Answer: MGM Animation/Visual Arts (led by Chuck Jones) - How many times has the animated special been broadcast on television?
Answer: Over 50 times (it airs annually) - What kind of shoes does the Grinch wear in the animated special?
Answer: None (he’s barefoot) - What does the Grinch specifically refer to as “a wonderful, awful idea”?
Answer: Dressing up as Santa Claus - What happens when the Grinch tries to push the overloaded sleigh up the mountain?
Answer: It gets stuck, and he has to push it over the peak - What instrument does the Grinch play in the animated special?
Answer: He conducts with a baton but doesn’t play an instrument - What specific food does the Grinch offer to carve for the Whos at the end?
Answer: The roast beast - What phrase does the Grinch repeatedly use to describe the noise the Whos make?
Answer: “Noise, noise, noise!” - What color are the Grinch’s eyes in the animated special?
Answer: Red/yellow
If you enjoy classic Christmas trivia, you might also love our 80s movie trivia questions that include several holiday favorites!
Jim Carrey Movie Trivia
The 2000 live-action adaptation starring Jim Carrey brought the Grinch to life in a whole new way. See if you can answer these questions about this popular movie version.
- In what year was the Jim Carrey Grinch movie released?
Answer: 2000 - Who directed “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” starring Jim Carrey?
Answer: Ron Howard - What actress played Cindy Lou Who in the Jim Carrey version?
Answer: Taylor Momsen - In the movie, what happens to the Grinch as a child that contributes to his hatred of Christmas?
Answer: He was bullied for his appearance/green fur - In the movie, what is the name of the Mayor of Whoville?
Answer: Mayor Augustus May Who - How long did Jim Carrey’s Grinch makeup application typically take?
Answer: Approximately 3 hours - What does the Grinch use as a car in one scene of the movie?
Answer: A garbage truck/dump truck - What unusual item does the movie Grinch keep in his refrigerator?
Answer: Glass bottles of “expired” emotions (like anger, jealousy, etc.) - In the movie, what competition do the Whos hold every year that the Grinch dislikes?
Answer: The Whobilation Holiday Cheermeister competition - What award does Cindy Lou nominate the Grinch for?
Answer: Holiday Cheermeister - What does the Grinch give Martha May Whovier as his gift at the Whobilation?
Answer: A car/hubcap with a ribbon on it - What instrument does the Grinch play during his childhood singing performance?
Answer: A makeshift harp - Who was Jim Carrey’s personal trainer on set who also played a Who?
Answer: Josh Ryan Evans (8-year-old Grinch) - According to the movie, what was the Grinch doing when his heart grew three sizes?
Answer: Trying to save the sleigh with Cindy Lou Who on it - In the movie, where was the Grinch raised before moving to the cave?
Answer: By two elderly Who women - What is the name of the woman who has romantic feelings for the Grinch?
Answer: Martha May Whovier - What does the Grinch use to slide down to Whoville in the movie?
Answer: A custom sled - What does the Grinch eat after reading the phone book?
Answer: Glass bottles and their contents - What game does the Grinch suggest playing at the holiday feast?
Answer: “Guess the Who” - What does the Grinch say is his “all-time favorite” thing before he ruins the Whobilation?
Answer: “Vengeance”
Looking for more movie conversation starters? Check out our 90s movie trivia which features more holiday classics!
The Grinch (2018) Movie Trivia
The animated movie from Illumination brought a new generation to the story of the Grinch. Test your knowledge of this most recent adaptation.
- Who voiced the Grinch in the 2018 animated movie?
Answer: Benedict Cumberbatch - What animation studio produced “The Grinch” (2018)?
Answer: Illumination - In the 2018 version, what food does the Grinch run out of, forcing him to go to Whoville?
Answer: Food/groceries (specifically mentions running out of jellies and jams) - What is the name of the large reindeer that the Grinch tries to recruit in the 2018 movie?
Answer: Fred - Who narrates the 2018 version of “The Grinch”?
Answer: Pharrell Williams - In the 2018 movie, what instrument does Cindy Lou’s mother play?
Answer: She doesn’t play an instrument (she’s a nurse and single mother) - What is Cindy Lou’s wish in the 2018 film?
Answer: To help her overworked mother - What does the Grinch use to spy on the Whos in Whoville?
Answer: A telescope - What does Donna Lou Who (Cindy’s mom) do for a living in the 2018 film?
Answer: She’s a nurse who works night shifts - What happens to Fred the reindeer at the end of the 2018 movie?
Answer: He reunites with his family but then joins the Grinch and Max for Christmas dinner - In the 2018 version, how many sizes does the Grinch’s heart grow?
Answer: Three sizes (staying true to the original) - What does the Grinch use to travel quickly around Whoville while stealing presents?
Answer: Gadgets and zip lines - What Christmas song makes the Grinch emotional in the 2018 film?
Answer: “Welcome Christmas” (when the Whos sing in a circle) - What is revealed about the Grinch’s childhood in the 2018 movie?
Answer: He grew up alone in an orphanage, missing out on Christmas celebrations - What does Cindy Lou set up to catch Santa?
Answer: A trap made from a cookie jar, string, and net - What does the Grinch play on his organ in the 2018 movie?
Answer: A dramatic, gloomy version of “All By Myself” - How does Cindy Lou plan to speak to Santa in the 2018 movie?
Answer: Set a trap to catch him so she can make her Christmas wish directly - What invention does the Grinch use to silence a caroling group outside his cave?
Answer: A giant snowball launcher - What does the Grinch do with the Christmas tree he takes from Cindy Lou’s house?
Answer: Throws it like a javelin back into the house, causing destruction - What gift does Cindy Lou give to the Grinch at the end of the movie?
Answer: A Christmas angel ornament that she made
If you’re looking for more fun questions for holiday gatherings, check out our would you rather questions that are perfect for family Christmas parties!
General Grinch Knowledge
These questions cover general knowledge about the Grinch character across different versions and adaptations.
- What is the name of the mountain where the Grinch lives?
Answer: Mount Crumpit - What fictional town do the Whos live in?
Answer: Whoville - What color is the Grinch in most adaptations?
Answer: Green - Who created the character of the Grinch?
Answer: Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel) - What is the Grinch’s pet’s name?
Answer: Max - What type of animal is Max?
Answer: Dog - What meal do the Whos traditionally eat on Christmas?
Answer: Roast Beast - What does the Grinch dress up as to steal Christmas?
Answer: Santa Claus - How many sizes did the Grinch’s heart grow at the end of the story?
Answer: Three sizes - What physical attribute of the Grinch is mentioned in the famous song lyrics?
Answer: His heart is “an empty hole” and “full of unwashed socks” - In the original story, who catches the Grinch in the act of stealing Christmas?
Answer: Cindy-Lou Who - What does Cindy-Lou Who think the Grinch is when she catches him?
Answer: Santa Claus - What is the main reason the Grinch hates Christmas in the original story?
Answer: The noise - What color are the Grinch’s eyes typically portrayed as?
Answer: Red or yellow - What food does the Grinch eat in most adaptations?
Answer: Various unappetizing foods (glass, onions, garlic, etc. depending on the version) - What holiday does the Grinch try to steal?
Answer: Christmas - What realization does the Grinch have at the end of the story?
Answer: That Christmas doesn’t come from a store – it means a little bit more - What does the Grinch return to Whoville to do after his heart grows?
Answer: Return all the presents and join in the feast - What makes the Grinch’s small heart grow?
Answer: Realizing that Christmas came without packages, boxes or bags/hearing the Whos singing - What famous song is associated with the Grinch?
Answer: “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch”
For more fun ideas like Grinch trivia, explore our interesting topics to talk about for your next holiday gathering!
Challenging Grinch Expert Questions
Think you’re a true Grinch expert? These harder questions will really test your knowledge of all things Grinch!
- What is the first line of the original “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” book?
Answer: “Every Who down in Whoville liked Christmas a lot…” - What was the working title of Dr. Seuss’s book before it became “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!”?
Answer: “The Hoobub and the Grinch” - In the original Chuck Jones animation, how many seconds of screen time are there before the Grinch first appears?
Answer: 30 seconds - Which other Dr. Seuss book also features Whos as characters?
Answer: “Horton Hears a Who!” - What was the name of the makeup artist who won an Oscar for the Jim Carrey Grinch movie?
Answer: Rick Baker - What was a major challenge for Jim Carrey while filming in the Grinch costume?
Answer: The contact lenses were extremely uncomfortable and he needed psychological coaching to endure the makeup process - In the original book, what is the last thing the Grinch stole from the Whos?
Answer: The log for their fire - How tall was the main Grinch costume worn by Jim Carrey?
Answer: 8.5 feet tall - What song does the Grinch sing while cutting out his Santa suit in the 1966 animated special?
Answer: He doesn’t sing while cutting the suit (this is a tricky one!) - In Dr. Seuss’s original book, what specific size shoe does the Grinch wear?
Answer: This isn’t specified in the book - How many Who children auditioned for the Jim Carrey movie?
Answer: Over 1,000 - Which famous Christmas carol melody is used as the basis for the Whos’ singing in the 1966 special?
Answer: “Welcome Christmas” is based on “Fa Who Foraze” (a play on “Dahoo Dores”) - In the original book, what specific time does the Grinch arrive in Whoville to steal Christmas?
Answer: It says “the Whos lay a-snooze” – no specific time is mentioned - What was the working title of the 2018 animated movie?
Answer: “The Grinch” (it was always planned to be shortened from the full title) - How many ornaments did the Grinch fire at his ceiling to decorate in the Benedict Cumberbatch version?
Answer: 8 ornaments - In the Jim Carrey version, what specific school subject was the Grinch teased about as a child?
Answer: Gift-making class (when he tried to make a gift for Martha May) - What is the first food item shown in the Grinch’s fridge in the 2018 movie?
Answer: A single olive in a jar - In the Jim Carrey film, what specific Whoville law did the Grinch violate that was mentioned by the Mayor?
Answer: “Code Section 58-1/2B: Public rudeness and holiday chaos” - What specific line in the original book indicates that the Whos celebrate Christmas with religion?
Answer: There isn’t one (Dr. Seuss deliberately kept religious elements out) - What famous production company logo appears at the end of the 1966 animated special?
Answer: MGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) logo
To keep the holiday conversation flowing, check out our conversation starters for texting that are perfect for reconnecting with friends during the holiday season!
Why Grinch Trivia is Perfect for the Holidays
The Grinch has become such an iconic part of holiday culture that almost everyone has some familiarity with the green meanie who tried to steal Christmas. That’s what makes Grinch trivia so perfect for holiday gatherings—it’s both entertaining and educational, with questions that can spark conversations about different versions of the story across generations.
In my family, we’ve made Grinch trivia a tradition during our Christmas Eve get-togethers. It’s amazing to see how my parents remember details from the original book, while my younger cousins are experts on the Benedict Cumberbatch version. The friendly debates about which Grinch adaptation is best always lead to lots of laughs and sometimes even impromptu movie marathons!
Looking for more fun holiday conversation starters? Check out our deep topics to talk about for meaningful holiday discussions!
Final Thoughts
Wow, that was a lot of Grinchy goodness! I hope these trivia questions bring just as much joy to your holiday gatherings as they have to mine. There’s something special about seeing everyone from grandparents to kids get competitive over who knows the most about our favorite green Christmas grump!
Whether you use these questions for a formal trivia game with teams and prizes or just as conversation starters during your holiday meal, they’re sure to create some memorable moments. And hey, they might even inspire you to rewatch your favorite version of the Grinch story with fresh eyes!
So, how did you do? Were you a Grinch expert or did some of these questions stump you? I’d love to hear which version of the Grinch is your favorite in the comments below!
For more holiday fun, check out our collection of cute ways to say good morning that can add extra cheer to your family’s Christmas morning!