The soundtrack album consisted of 13 tracks, performed by several artists, including a re-created version of the Christmas song "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" by Elfman and rapper Tyler, the Creator, released on October 24.

Tyler also produced his debut extended play based on songs from the film, titled Music Inspired by Illumination & Dr. Seuss' The Grinch, and released by Columbia Records on November 16.

[6] Elfman revealed that recreating "You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" is a "slightly more complex task" on his collaboration with Tyler, and called it as "a definite bold move".

Jonathan Broxton wrote: "The main theme – once you find it – is good, the orchestrations and arrangements are rich and varied, the action music is at times wonderfully boisterous if a little scattershot, the emotional content often allows the score to reach some lovely heights, and it features many of Elfman’s most beloved compositional idiosyncrasies and instrumental combinations, some of which date all the way back to his 1990s heyday.

[16] Filmtracks.com wrote that "Dr. Seuss' The Grinch is a respectful and effective score, but it's Elfman clearly on auto-pilot, and don't be surprised if the score-only album provides you nothing more than a short-lived mood perk".