Featured image: (Pacer graphic / Bethany Collins)

I have a very unpopular opinion: I am not a fan of the Grinch.

It is a good movie, and it also has a great soundtrack that I enjoy listening to; however, I think it’s overrated. Or is it?

When you walk into most stores, you are bound to see something Grinch-themed. Hobby Lobby, for one, has a whole aisle dedicated to the Grinch. Walmart even sells Grinch advent calendars and building blocks.

It makes me wonder if the Grinch is truly popular or if there is just a lot of overconsumption surrounding it. I want to say it is overconsumption, but there has to be an audience for this amount of merchandise.

Not only does the Grinch have a lot of merchandise, but it also has its own fast food item. This December, McDonald’s launched its Grinch meal. This meal includes a Big Mac or a ten-piece nugget with a fry and drink. It also comes with seasoning for the fries, a special green and pickle-flavored seasoning. This, in theory, is perfect for a Grinch-themed meal. The meal also comes with a pair of Grinch socks. I personally do not like the pickle seasoning, but the socks are absolutely adorable.

Not only do I think the original Grinch is overrated, but I also did not care for the live-action version. My favorite version has to be the newest one, which came out in 2018. There are a lot of people, specifically millennials and Gen Z, who love the live-action version. Although the live-action movie is the one I grew up watching, I have never wanted to sit down and watch it after the first time.

I do believe the Grinch is overrated, or at least that there is a lot of merchandise that people are not buying. While it is a cute movie with a nice soundtrack, it is not a movie I care to watch.