Walmart Launches Holiday Campaign Inspired by ‘How the Grinch stole Christmas’
NEW YORK – Oct. 26, 2025 – Walmart is kicking off its 2025 holiday marketing with a campaign centered around a Whoville-inspired aesthetic, aiming to capture the joyful chaos of the season and position itself as a destination for stress-free shopping. The retailer’s strategy marks a shift toward a unified seasonal concept,building on previous successful holiday ads featuring popular intellectual property.
This year’s effort is a departure from past campaigns like the 2023 Mean Girls reunion and the 2022 Office Space spot, which were components of broader, less-connected initiatives. Walmart is betting that a central theme throughout the holiday season will boost engagement, relatability, and cultural conversation. The launch coincides with Target‘s own holiday ad release, occurring during a critical sales period for both retailers. However, Walmart currently holds a stronger market position; its shares have risen approximately 123% over the last five years, while Target’s have fallen 65% since late 2021, with Target anticipating corporate layoffs of 8% this week.
Walmart has a history of leveraging entertainment and nostalgia in its holiday advertising. Last year, the company ran a 10-part series spoofing various film genres, including soap operas and action movies. “We’re leaning into IP that people know and doing it with a fun, modern take,” said Walmart’s marketing executive, White.
The decision to maintain a central idea throughout the season was deliberate. “Keeping a central idea throughout the season was meaningful,” White added. “We know it drives interest, relatability, and cultural conversation.”
Walmart’s Q2 revenue rose 4.8% to $177.4 billion,with global ecommerce sales increasing by 25%.
