Critical response Upon its initial broadcast, it received generally positive but muted reviews from critics. Roy Shields of
The Toronto Star called the special "perfect", praising it as "faithful to the artistry of Dr. Seuss". A review on
The Macon Telegraph recommended the program, describing it as a "superb, delightful, and tender animated presentation of Dr. Seuss's beloved children's book." Syndicated columnist Rick Du Brow, while taken aback at the special's cost compared to others in its genre, admitted that it was "as good as most of the other holiday cartoons" and found the special's optimistic ending to be "reassuring", stating "I can't see why anyone would dislike it." John Heisner of
Democrat and Chronicle called the special a "fascinating bit of fantasy with a simple message". Hal Humphrey of
The Los Angeles Times called the special a "disappointment". Though Humphrey described the result as "much too mild", he praised the animation and music. Jack Gould of
The New York Times praised the animation, but criticized the result as a "creation that should be left undisturbed on the printed page." He further stated that it is "one of the rare children's shows that are really interesting to adults." Barbara Delatiner of
Newsday criticized the special as "more elusive" and a "disappointment", describing the characters as "[not] half as funny [as they were in the book]". A 1970 "Top View" survey of viewers published by Clarke Williamson ranked the show with a 70.2 "good" score, ahead of
Frosty the Snowman but lower than
A Charlie Brown Christmas,
The Little Drummer Boy and
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Throughout the years, it has since been regarded as a
Christmas classic. The special has an
approval rating of on
Rotten Tomatoes based on professional reviews, with an average rating of . The critical consensus reads: "
How the Grinch Stole Christmas brings an impressive array of talent to bear on an adaptation that honors a classic holiday story – and has rightfully become a yuletide tradition of its own." Jeffrey Westhoff of
Northwest Herald rated the special a perfect five out of five, stating that "Christmas isn't Christmas without the Grinch."
The A.V Club stated that the special "works because of its surprisingly sentimental climax".
Ratings After its initial airing,
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! was ranked at No. 6 on television during the period between December 5–18, 1966, by
Nielsen Media Research. A year later, it was ranked at No. 2 (behind a rerun of
A Charlie Brown Christmas) during the period between December 4–17, 1967. The special continues to be popular in Nielsen ratings, with its 2010 airing (the last of many times it had aired that year) winning its time slot among persons 18 to 49 and finishing second in overall viewers. == Home media ==