When one thinks about the longest-running film franchises out there, their minds tend to go to things like Star Wars. That makes sense since it premiered in 1977. However, one might overlook the fact that The Muppets released their first feature film way back in 1979 and are still making content today.
Of course, fans of the franchise have plenty of television shows that they can enjoy featuring the iconic characters. Not counting direct to video releases, there have been eight films starring The Muppets to hit theaters over the past few decades. Most are beloved by fans and critics alike but some certainly stand out more than others.
8 Muppets From Space (6.3)
For a long time, this was actually the last movie released centered on The Muppets. Hitting theaters in 1999, it ended up being a bit of a disappointment. Along with it scoring the worst reviews of the franchise (though the 6.3 IMDb rating and 63% on Rotten Tomatoes are far from bad), it was also a box office flop. It grossed just $22.3 million on a $24 million budget.
Muppets from Space centers on the idea that Gonzo is contacted by his alien race through his breakfast cereal. He gets kidnapped by government officials, meaning Kermit and the gang must rescue him to unite him with his family. With this being the first film in the series after creator Jim Henson's passing and the first to not be a musical, it felt a bit out of place.
7 Muppets Most Wanted (6.4)
After a successful 2011 reboot of sorts, there was an attempt at continuing the adventures of these characters in 2014. That led the world to Muppets Most Wanted, which did make some key changes to what made the 2011 version such a success. For example, the lead cast members were now Ricky Gervais, Ty Burrell, and Tina Fey. It did well enough, grossing $80.4 million on a $51 million budget.
It also scored solidly with ratings, including an 80% on Rotten Tomatoes. Muppets Most Wanted sees the gang caught up in a European jewel heist with a Kermit the Frog lookalike while on a world tour. The highlight might've been the cameos which included Christoph Waltz, Sean Combs, Lady Gaga, James McAvoy, Saoirse Ronan, Usher, Danny Trejo, and so many others.
6 The Muppets Take Manhattan (6.9)
It's the final entry to score under a 7.0 on IMDb. That being said, the 83% rating on Rotten Tomatoes is actually the third-highest in the franchise. Released in 1984, The Muppets Take Manhattan was the third film in the series and grossed $25.5 million on an $8 million budget. Rightfully so, this entire thing was actually filmed in New York City. It's also the only one directed by Frank Oz.
The premise of The Muppets Take Manhattan is about as New York as it can get. The Muppets, led by Kermit as usual, head to the city in an attempt to get their musical put on Broadway, though it ends up being way more difficult than they ever expected. The film is notable for having a segment that introduced the world to the Muppet Babies, which went on to become a show of its own.
5 Muppet Treasure Island (7.0)
By the time 1996 rolled around, the popularity of The Muppets had dwindled. It reached a point where, after many successful releases, Muppet Treasure Island only managed to gross $34.3 million on a $31 million budget, making it something of a failure. This movie is a simple case of delivering the Muppets' version of the 1883 novel Treasure Island.
Right off the bat, Muppet Treasure Island got praise for its casting choices, including placing the always incredible Tim Curry in the role of Long John Silver. This holds a 70% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which is right in line with its IMDb score. It might not feature as much of The Muppets as some other films but it does offer up some great laughs and music.
4 The Muppets (7.1)
If The Muppets were starting to wane in the '90s, then the franchise was mostly dead by the time the 2010s rolled around. So, the idea of bringing it back seemed like it wouldn't work. However, that proved to not be the case when 2011's The Muppets arrived and became a massive success. The film raked in $165.2 million against a $45 million budget and rejuvenated the series. It scored a whopping 95% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Written by Nicholas Stoller and Jason Segel (who also stars), they brought their love for the characters to the big screen. The story sees a devoted Muppet fan and his human brother come together to reunite the famous group. Amy Adams co-starred with cameos from Selena Gomez, Jim Parsons, Neil Patrick Harris, Donald Glover, and Emily Blunt, among many others. The film won an Oscar for Best Original Song, "Man or Muppet."
3 The Great Muppet Caper (7.2)
In 1981, the second Muppets film ever came out and it was the sole one directed by creator Jim Henson, which was also his directorial debut. As the title suggests, this movie focuses on a heist as the gang gets caught up with jewel thieves while investigating a robbery in London, England.
With an impressive 76% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, this movie proved that the success of the first was no fluke. It also had a box office of $31.2 million on a $14 million budget. Plus, you can't help but love something starring the late great Diana Rigg of Game of Thrones fame.
2 The Muppet Movie (7.6)
Sometimes, it's difficult to beat the originator. As noted, that came way back in 1979 with the arrival of The Muppet Movie. Helmed by James Frawley, it was indeed the first movie to star the popular Muppets characters. It didn't have the gimmicks that the later entries did like being centered around a holiday or a heist.
The premise is simple enough, seeing Kermit lead his buddies on a trip to Hollywood as they try to become stars. It was a huge success, grossing $76.7 million on a minuscule $8 million budget. Along with an 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and the way it launched a franchise, it also was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.
1 The Muppet Christmas Carol (7.7)
There's a very good chance that this is the most famous and popular Muppets film ever released. It makes sense that it ranks at the top on IMDb, even if the 75% rating on Rotten Tomatoes puts it towards the middle of the franchise. The Muppet Christmas Carol arrived in 1992 and is a retelling of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol.
It was a modest box office hit ($27.2 million on a $12 million budget) but it has had a lasting impact. The film, which stars the great Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge, is a constant for audiences whenever the holiday season rolls around. It was praised for being heartwarming, funny, and having quality songs.