With so many different Christmas movie tropes and various popular approaches to the format of festive films, there’s no one way to make a good Christmas movie. Even so, there are always those that stand out from the rest, earning a status as bona fide holiday classics. How the Grinch Stole Christmas is just that: it’s the perfect Christmas movie.

The 2000 film serves as a live-action adaptation of the Dr. Seuss story of the same name. Directed by Ron Howard, it’s not the first (or last) cinematic iteration of the character, but it continues to stand out for a number of reasons. It follows the Grinch (Jim Carrey), a being who lives in isolation outside of the Christmas-loving town of Whoville and who is befriended by a little girl (Taylor Momsen) who hopes to teach him the true meaning of the season and help him re-enter society.

It may not be a perfect movie, but The Grinch is actually the perfect Christmas movie. By balancing everything it needs to earn itself the accolade, it checks every conceivable box to make it an all-time holiday classic. That isn’t to say that it’s for everyone, but rather that everyone should be able to appreciate it on some level, giving it an objective edge over its peers.

The Grinch Safely Embraces All The Best Xmas Tropes To Become The Perfect Christmas Movie

From its very beginning, The Grinch establishes that its story is set in a fantasy world. Christmas in Whoville is incredibly similar to that on Earth, but with an element of otherness about it that safely distances it from the occasionally troubling nature of festive family films. With its fantasy edge, there’s no need for The Grinch to explore the nature of Santa Claus and his existence, bypassing any uncomfortable questions from younger viewers.

It also manages to combine various genres to appeal to a wider audience. Carrey’s performance is loaded with comedy and subtle innuendo, but it’s almost entirely clean and child-friendly. The film also boasts a handful of musical numbers, and an emotionally driven story that delivers plenty of heartfelt moments. In short, there’s something for adults and children, and it’s all wrapped up in a very neat festive package.

The Grinch‘s ability to entertain without alienating either older or younger viewers helps to make it great. Jim Carrey’s performance (and that of its excellent supporting cast) elevates it further. Combined, these factors make The Grinch the perfect holiday movie, if only from an objective standpoint.