How the Grinch Stole Christmas is one of the most beloved Christmas movies of all time. Whether you’ve seen it or not, you’ll recognize this green character who always manages to make an appearance on our screens during the holiday season.

1. The costume required immense dedication.

It’s one of Jim Carrey’s most famous and recognizable roles, but playing the Grinch was no easy task.

The costume was primarily made of yak hair, which was dyed green and individually sewn onto the suit.

Carrey spent a total of 92 days in the costume, and it took him three hours before each shoot to get into character.

2. The Grinch didn’t always look the way we know him.

Can you imagine the Grinch being something other than the cute green monster we’re used to seeing on TV?

In the original story, the Grinch was actually black and white with red patches and pink eyes.

When Chuck Jones became the director of the animated film, he decided that the main character would be entirely green.

3. Anthony Hopkins recorded the narration in just one day.

Hollywood actor Anthony Hopkins was the narrator of this story, and while it took Jim Carrey several hours to get in and out of his elaborate costume, Hopkins had a relatively easy job. Nonetheless, he definitely made it sound easier than it was, as he recorded the entire narration in just one day.

4. Director Ron Howard played a prank on Jim Carrey during filming.

One day, Jim Carrey arrived on set to begin a long shooting day and was surprised to find someone else dressed as the Grinch. He became angry, thinking it was a prankster who looked nothing like the character he was playing. However, he soon realized it was director Ron Howard, who had been on his feet since 3:30 a.m., getting into full costume. Howard then proceeded to direct the film while wearing the costume the entire day!

5. The song became a Christmas staple.

The song “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch“ is recognized every year. Thurl Ravenscroft was the person who recorded it for the film, but many people don’t know that he is also the voice of Tony the Tiger, a beloved cartoon character. Jim Carrey also showcased his vocal talents and recorded his own version of the song.

6. Jim Carrey didn’t immediately land the role of the Grinch!

During auditions, two other famous actors were almost cast as the Grinch. They were Eddie Murphy and Jack Nicholson. While both actors proved to be very funny, attractive, and brilliant on screen, they didn’t quite resemble the Grinch we know and love.

7. “Fahoo Foraze“ was not real Latin.

The nonsensical song sung during the film was created to mimic Latin words. When people watched the film, they thought it was being sung in actual Latin and began searching for translations. Even when the people involved in the film were asked about the translation, they couldn’t provide an answer, as it was clearly fake Latin.

8. Highly skilled professional acrobats were involved in the making of the film.

For many of the stunts in the film, producers had to search far and wide to find trained professionals capable of performing them. As a result, they hired several acrobats and performers from the world-renowned circus show Cirque du Soleil.

9. The film almost didn’t happen…

Creating a Christmas film requires a certain level of sponsorship. When Chuck Jones obtained permission from Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss) to make a film using his story, he struggled to find a sponsor. The foundation for commercial banks was the organization that made the film a financial reality and approved it throughout the entire process.

10. The animated version had a huge budget.

Considering it was a 26-minute animated film, How the Grinch Stole Christmas had a massive budget. In today’s money, it cost around $2.5 million, which was unheard of for such a small production.