Movie · 1979 · Family, Comedy, Adventure · 1h 35m · G · English
Curator score: 8.3/10 (165.2K ratings)
More entertaining than humanly possible!
Overview
The Muppets gather to watch their newly-finished big-budget rich-and-famous feature film: a talent agent persuades Kermit the Frog to leave the swamp to pursue a career in Hollywood. On his way there, he meets a bear, a pig, a whatever (his future muppet crew), and some special celebrity guest stars, while being chased by the desperate owner of a frog-leg restaurant!
Ratings
Curator score: 8.3/10
IMDb: 7.6/10
Letterboxd: 4.04/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 89%
Metacritic: 74
TMDB: 7.2/10
Director
James Frawley
Production
ITC Entertainment, Henson Associates
Cast
Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, Charles Durning, Austin Pendleton, Edgar Bergen, Milton Berle, Mel Brooks, James Coburn, Dom DeLuise, Elliott Gould, Bob Hope, Madeline Kahn, Carol Kane, Cloris Leachman, Steve Martin, Richard Pryor, Telly Savalas
Where to watch
Disney Plus
Curator Review
Verdict
A warm, genuinely funny road-trip musical that mixes old-school Hollywood charm with surprisingly sharp comedy and a big heart. Its songs, cameos, and handmade puppetry still play beautifully, and the movie’s optimism is infectious.
Best for
families looking for a cross-generational crowd-pleaser
viewers who like musical comedies with sincere sentiment
fans of classic Hollywood whimsy and celebrity cameos
people who enjoy inventive practical effects and puppetry
Skip if
you want fast-paced modern animation
you dislike broad family-friendly humor
you need a tightly plotted story over vibes and charm
you’re not interested in musical numbers or sentimental storytelling
Overview
The Muppet Movie is one of those rare family films that feels both completely innocent and slyly knowing. It understands show business as a place of dreams, hustles, and absurdity, but it never loses sight of the emotional core: friendship, belonging, and the stubborn hope that your life can become something bigger than your circumstances.
Worth noting
What makes it endure is the balance. The jokes are playful without being disposable, the cameos are genuinely delightful rather than cynical, and the songs are strong enough to stand on their own. Rainbow Connection in particular gives the movie a lasting tenderness that keeps it from becoming just a parade of gags.
Bottom line
Even now, the film’s handmade textures and elastic comic timing feel refreshing. It’s a road movie, a backstage musical, and a celebration of misfits all at once, and it remains one of the best introductions to the Muppets because it captures exactly why they matter: they’re funny, sweet, and a little bit anarchic.
Top Letterboxd reviews
demi adejuyigbe (5★) · 5319 likes
Was driving with a friend when she told me she did not know who the Muppets were. Not "hasn't seen a Muppet thing," had truly never heard of them. Do you know how insane I felt trying to explain the concept of Muppets? Like trying to define the word "soft."
"They're puppets, and some of them are animals, but some are just like, things. But they're all people too. And they're funny. Like actual funny, not 'trying' to be funny.… more
Karsten (3.5★) · 3649 likes
orson welles is delivering those two lines like his career depends on it
James (Schaffrillas) (3★) · 3239 likes
These Muppets gave a woman a severe allergic reaction to get an audition, they don't fuck around
demi adejuyigbe (4.5★) · 2730 likes
I just can't believe how good the music in this movie is. I think "Rainbow Connection" is one of the best songs ever written for a movie period. Paul Williams is a fucking king and Kenneth Ascher is a fucking prince. And then on top of that, this movie has Muppets in it, which is awesome
1986 · Adventure, Family, Fantasy · 1h 41m · PG · Curator 6.1/10 (643.5K ratings) · Where to watch: Netflix, Hulu, fuboTV, Peacock Premium, Night Flight Plus, Netflix Standard with Ads, Peacock Premium Plus
For viewers drawn to practical fantasy creatures, theatrical whimsy, and a sincere emotional center.