Screenwriting : How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) – Four Screenwriting Tips by Maurice Vaughan

Maurice Vaughan

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) – Four Screenwriting Tips

I rewatched How the Grinch Stole Christmas starring Jim Carrey the weekend. It’s been a while since I watched it. It’s still hilarious and a lot of fun!

I noticed some things when I rewatched the movie that screenwriters can use in their scripts.

SPOILERS! SPOILERS!

1. Incredible Unlikeable Protagonist!

Grinch is unlikeable, rude, and selfish, but he’s also unique, hilarious, and developed well. Your protagonist doesn’t have to be likeable, but they should be developed well. A unique, hilarious protagonist can help too, but it depends on the story.

2. Give ‘Em a Pet/Animal

If your protagonist is a loner or stranded/trapped somewhere alone, give them a pet/animal to talk to, talk about their goal, and use for help. You can do the same thing with an object, like in the movie Cast Away.

3. An Entire Town has a Character Arc

Everyone in Whoville changed in the movie. They realized what the meaning of Christmas is and didn’t care about the gifts, decorations, and feast in the end. You can give a group, a team, a whole town, etc. a character arc.

4. Add Things for the Sequel

There’s some things in the movie they could use in a sequel, like the map and exploring the areas around Whoville. Even though you don’t know if there’s gonna be a sequel, you can add things for one.

If you’ve seen the movie and picked up any tips from it – or you have any screenwriting tips – post them in the comments.

Petra Jurasova

Really nice and interesting tips :) Grinch is absolutely awesome Christmas movie. :))

Maurice Vaughan

Thanks, Petra Jurasova. You're right. I want to see Jim Carrey play another Grinch type character.

James LO

i thought you were talking about hamlet for a minute but then i remembered that, no, the danish prince didn’t have a redemption arc, lol

Maurice Vaughan

Hamlet mixed with How the Grinch Stole Christmas. That's a unique script idea, James LO!

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