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The Wrap

Dr. Seuss Major Movie and TV Adaptations, Ranked From Worst to First (Photos)

Brian Welk

It’s Dr. Seuss’s birthday! And we’ll celebrate in our own way. We’ll rank his movies from worst to first, even his cartoons! And I promise we’ll stop rhyming very soon.

“The Cat in the Hat” (2003)

The live action adaptation of Dr. Seuss’s classic book is insultingly awful, trading in gleeful whimsy for madcap cynicism. And Mike Myers is simply goofing off rather than play a charming scamp.

“The Lorax” (2012)

As a fable, “The Lorax” is about as dark and complex as Dr. Seuss would get, and this light, colorful animated film with Danny DeVito and Taylor Swift that recalls “Minions” meets “WALL-E” certainly isn’t that.

“The Butter Battle Book” (1989)

This short is perhaps most faithful to Dr. Seuss’s work, a story about two rival races of people divided by a wall (wow, this is sounding prescient) over differences in how they butter their bread. But the songs are flat, and the animation isn’t much better.

“Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (2000)

It’s incredibly cheesy and the Whoville makeup is a joke, but Jim Carrey brings some overly-exuberant charm to the story, even if he looks like a dope.

“The Grinch” (2018)

Taking cues from the cutesy “Despicable Me” movies, Universal’s “The Grinch” with Benedict Cumberbatch has more elaborate animated mayhem than grouchy, mean-spirited fun and wordplay. The inoffensive charm is there, but the film’s heart is two sizes too small.

“The Lorax” (1972)

“The Lorax” starts and ends in a grim, polluted world, using music and rhyme to chart how industry can harm the environment. It’s still a poignant message and ends with just a glint of hope that a new generation can save nature.

“Horton Hears a Who” (2008)

The best of the modern Dr. Seuss parodies, Jim Carrey lends his voice to another Seuss character for this delightful, madcap romp.

“The Cat in the Hat” (1971)

“Everything back in its proper place, no more rainbows for us to chase.” “The Cat in the Hat” takes some liberties from the book, but it lovingly and musically captures the spirit of Dr. Seuss’s most iconic character.

“Horton Hears a Who” (1970)

“A person’s a person, no matter how small.” This Chuck Jones directed TV special is beautifully animated, faithful to the story of acceptance of everyone and a joy from start to finish.

“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (1966)

The songs are indelible, the lessons are heartwarming and the animation is impeccable. “The Grinch” isn’t just the best Dr. Seuss adaptation but one of the finest animated shorts of all time.

Read original story Dr. Seuss Major Movie and TV Adaptations, Ranked From Worst to First (Photos) At TheWrap

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