The Muppet Cinematic Universe

Photo courtesy of Jim Henson and the Walt Disney Company.

The Muppets are a group of eccentric and wacky characters created by Jim Henson in 1955. These characters were owned by the Jim Henson company for 5 decades, but were bought out by the Walt Disney Company in 2004. The Muppets first appeared on Sesame Street in the early to mid 1970s. They reached celebrity status once The Muppet Show came out in 1976. Today, I’m going to go through some of the films and TV shows that put The Muppets on the map.

The Muppet Show (1976-1981)

The Muppet Show is a variety sketch show comedy series that featured appearances from famous faces like Rita Moreno, Gene Kelly, Elton John, and Julie Andrews. The series ran from 1976 to 1981 and lasted for 5 seasons.

I had the DVD of the episodes with Julie Andrews, Elton John, and Gene Kelly. I used to watch them all the time when I was younger.

The Muppet Movie (1979)

The Muppet Movie is the first feature film that includes The Muppets. It tells the origin story of Kermit The Frog who embarks on a cross-country trip to Hollywood and he encounters The Muppets on his way there.

This film is loaded with nostalgia for me because I watched it so much when I was younger. This film is also what put The Muppets on the map.

The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)

The Muppets Take Manhattan is the third theatrical film featuring The Muppets. Brooke Shields, Joan Rivers, and Liza Minnelli guest star. It tells the story of Kermit and his friends who want to take their show and turn it into a Broadway show in New York City.

I mean, the wedding scene between Kermit and Miss Piggy is iconic. This film I don’t remember as much since I haven’t seen it as much as some of the other ones on list.

A Muppet Family Christmas (1987)

A Muppet Family Christmas aired in December of 1987 on TV. It tells the story of The Muppets surprising Fozzie Bear’s mom with a Christmas visit at her house, unaware she made plans for a Malibu getaway.

If there’s any film on this list that I’ve seen more than a million times, it’s this one. I don’t remember how I discovered it, but I’ve watched it after Thanksgiving every year. It’s one of my annual traditions. There’s something about this film that I love so much. The heart, the warmth, and the humor. Swedish Chef slipping on the icy path gets me every time.

Muppets From Space (1999)

Muppets From Space focuses on Gonzo’s origins. It features guest star appearances from Rob Schneider, Andie MacDowell, Jeffrey Tambor, and David Arquette. The film received mostly negative reviews from critics, and it was considered a box office flop. The irony is that it remains to be a cult classic to this day.

This is another film that takes me back in time. I’ve seen it quite a few times, and it’s such a fun premise.

The Muppets (2011)

The Muppets is essentially a reboot for The Muppet franchise. It tells the story of Walter, his human brother Gary (Jason Segel), and Gary’s human girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams) who come together to bring The Muppets back together. They all must raise $10 million to restore the Muppet Theater.

I think this film did a solid job of rebooting the Muppets, but it’s not one of my favorites. It doesn’t stand out like the other ones for me.

Muppets Most Wanted (2015)

Muppets Most Wanted is the sequel to The Muppets. It tells the story of The Muppets becoming involved in an international crime caper. There are appearances by Tina Fey, Ricky Gervais, and Ty Burrell.

I don’t have a lot to say about this one because it’s the film I’ve seen the least, so I don’t really remember it.

The Muppets (2015-2016)

The Muppets is a mockumentary comedy series that aired on ABC rain from 2015 to 2016. It was cancelled after its first season. The series felt more grown-up, focusing on adult topics.

Ugh, I love this show. I’m so bummed that it got cancelled. I rewatch it frequently because it’s so much fun. There are so many guest stars, and I love this concept of the series.

What’s Next for The Muppets?

Well, there have been a few film and television projects since The Muppets was cancelled back in 2016. The Muppets put their own spin on Haunted Mansion in October of 2021. The Disney Plus series, The Muppets Mayhem, premiered in March of 2022 and focused on the Electric Mayhem.

As for future projects, there haven’t been any announcements from Disney yet.