Grinch fans have waited 18 years to see the famous Christmas-hating creature from Whoville on the big screen once again, and Illumination’s “The Grinch” finally delivered.

Benedict Cumberbatch lends his voice to the Grinch in this animated film and, with his loyal dog Max, concocts a way to steal Christmas from the Whos of Whoville. Thursday evening, the picture grossed $2.2 million according to Box Office Mojo and, with a production budget of $75 million, the lowest projection for the film’s weekend launch is about $53 million. “The Grinch” officially released nationwide on Friday, Nov. 9.

Though the concept of the Grinch has been seen before, the new family-friendly film has a whimsical quality and tugs at the heartstrings in several occurrences. “The Grinch” features familiar characters like Max and Cindy Lou, but creates a deep and emotional backstory that families can relate to not only around the holiday season, but in everyday life. “The Grinch” touches on the struggles of single parenthood through the eyes of children and the vast differences in experiences of the Christmas season.

Fans were torn as to the quality of the film, however, which rated a 5.6 out of 10 among IMDb users. The uncommonly low rating for the Illumination picture might be a result of the success of the previous Grinch adaptation. The 2000 film was the first to delve into the backstory of the Grinch, leaving all others to meet the high expectations it created.

Many may remember the live action, award-winning film by Universal Pictures “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, starring Jim Carrey. According to IMDb, it made around $55 million opening weekend and $260 million overall nationwide. Since then, it has acquired 18 awards and 37 nominations.

While Jim Carrey’s performance was memorable, Benedict Cumberbatch did an excellent job of embodying the current Grinch’s character. The newest animated picture is a great modern adaptation of the Dr. Seuss classic, with modern quirks and humor that appeals to a different generation of children and families.