THE MUPPETS MOVIE TRILOGY: The Puppets’ Adventures in Hollywood

Perhaps the greatest testament to the genius of Jim Henson, Frank Oz, and the other puppeteers behind The Muppet Show lies in the fact that the guest stars appearing on the show—such as Rita Moreno, Paul Williams, Steve Martin, and Liza Minnelli—would often forget that their on-screen partners were puppets. Thanks to the talent of the puppeteers, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, and Fozzie Bear ceased to be mere pieces of felt and became full-fledged actors performing in front of the camera. Henson’s series, produced in the format of a vaudeville revue, not only granted the puppet characters the status of legitimate screen stars but also helped popularize puppetry as an art form in the United States. However, Henson’s true ambition became evident with the Muppets’ transition to the silver screen.

Journey to the Other Side of the Rainbow

By 1979, when The Muppet Movie, directed by James Frawley, hit theaters, The Muppet Show had already become one of the most popular series worldwide, and Kermit and his friends were well-established celebrities. From this perspective, it might seem surprising that no studio was initially willing to fund a film about the puppets’ adventures. Jim Henson’s production struggles mirrored the film’s plot, which recounts the humble beginnings of the Muppets’ rise to fame. Kermit’s story—leaving his cozy swamp in Florida and setting out for Hollywood with a group of like-minded dreamers—is a clear metaphor for Henson’s own career.

Almost fifty years after its release, it’s easy to overlook the revolutionary nature of The Muppet Movie. Until then, the Muppets had never ventured beyond the controlled environment of a television studio or interacted with the “real” world. From a technical standpoint, Frawley’s film remains impressive—particularly in one of the opening scenes, where Kermit sits on a log in the middle of a vast swamp, singing Rainbow Connection (still considered the Muppets’ unofficial anthem). Henson’s talent shines through as he ensures viewers never doubt that these felt puppets are believable film characters. The illusion remains intact—even when the Muppets frequently break the fourth wall, reminding us that we’re watching a movie. This meta-narrative is introduced in the opening sequence, where the entire puppet cast gathers in a theater to watch a film about the origins of the Muppet troupe—or, as Kermit puts it, “more or less, approximately” how it all happened.

Despite the self-referential humor, the film doesn’t lose its emotional core. While The Muppet Movie is full of slapstick, wordplay, and celebrity cameos (Orson Welles makes a memorable appearance as a Hollywood producer), its heart lies in the story of a group of lovable eccentrics fighting for their place in a harsh world. Kermit and his friends’ journey to Hollywood reflects Henson’s unwavering idealism—the film is a celebration of optimism and self-belief in the face of adversity. Even if such a philosophy might make cynics cringe, the absurd Muppet humor keeps the film from feeling trite. Though The Muppet Movie was the Muppets’ cinematic debut, no subsequent film has encapsulated their essence quite as effectively.

A Vaudeville Sketch on the Big Screen

While the first Muppet movie adhered to the narrative framework of a classic road movie, Henson’s directorial debut, The Great Muppet Caper (1981), leaned fully into the vaudeville sketch style of The Muppet Show, stretched to feature length. The film’s crime plot served merely as a backdrop for a series of wild gags. The Muppets broke the fourth wall even more aggressively—Kermit, Fozzie Bear, and Gonzo openly tell viewers at the start that they’re making a movie, in which they play reporters investigating the theft of a valuable diamond. What follows is an homage to classic Hollywood genres.

Henson and his team constantly raised the bar set by The Muppet Movie. If audiences marveled at the sight of Kermit riding a bicycle in the first film, this time they were treated to an entire peloton of puppet cyclists. Musical numbers evolved into full-fledged sequences with complex choreography and lavish staging reminiscent of Busby Berkeley musicals. The underwater ballet scene with Miss Piggy remains particularly striking.

The film ultimately becomes a loosely connected series of sketches, showcasing the Muppets at their comedic peak—Peter Falk as a homeless watch peddler, the gang’s stay at a rundown hotel, and a climactic showdown with thieves staged as a baseball game. While some viewers might miss the emotional simplicity of the first movie, the absurd humor has always been central to the Muppets. Early in his career, Henson admitted that when he couldn’t think of a punchline, he’d end a joke with a puppet exploding. The Great Muppet Caper operates on a similar logic: the Muppets’ adventures may not always make sense—but who says they need to?

Kermit and Piggy Tie the Knot

In contrast to its predecessors, Frank Oz’s The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984) stands out for its relatively grounded tone. Like The Muppet Movie, it tells the story of the Muppets’ early struggles but with more bitterness and subdued humor.

The shift is evident early on, as the characters pitch their Broadway show idea to various producers. Despite their determination and the song “They’ll Never Say No,” the doors to success remain closed. After a string of failures, the Muppets decide to part ways, each pursuing their own path. The emotional farewell, accompanied by the song Saying Goodbye, is one of the film’s standout moments.

Of course, the ending is predictable—after various mishaps, Kermit and the gang finally perform their Broadway spectacular, culminating in Kermit and Piggy’s wedding. Their romantic dynamic has always been central to the series, so it’s no surprise that the film’s finale continues to spark debates: was the wedding real, or just part of the show? Henson and Oz added to the ambiguity by giving contradictory answers in promotional interviews.

The film also introduced the “Muppet Babies,” whose musical sequence was so popular that it spawned a TV spinoff. While Muppet Babies received positive fan reactions, it also inspired a wave of “childified” versions of beloved series—such as A Pup Named Scooby-Doo. Despite this, the film’s sequence remains a showcase of Henson’s technical mastery and the emotional sincerity of his creations.

The Future of the Muppets

In a poignant scene from James Bobin’s The Muppets (2011), Kermit reflects on the troupe’s golden years and wonders if they can reunite for one last performance. At the time, it seemed the Muppets’ heyday was behind them. While the film’s success suggested a revival, the brand’s direction since then has been uncertain, with most new Muppet series lasting only a single season.

Today, the Muppets feel like relics of the past—fondly remembered but rarely revisited. Yet, as Kermit and company teach us, even naive optimism can pay off. Perhaps their next renaissance is just around the corner.

Written by Jedrzej Paczkowski