Of all of the iconic creations credited to Jim Henson, there are perhaps none more beloved than the Muppets. Through various TV shows, the numerous members of the comedic group of singing and dancing puppets have conquered the hearts of kids and adults alike all across the world but, to some, their finest hours were in the theatrically-released movies starring the group.
As the Muppets have a movie legacy stretching back all the way to the 1970s, and such deep personal connections to viewers stretching all the way back to early childhood, it can leave some newcomers wondering which entries into the franchise are considered the best. Here are all of the theatrically-released Muppet movies and their score on review aggregate site Metacritic to help paint a clearer picture of the series' ups and downs over the decades.
Muppets from Space (53)
The last theatrically-released Muppet movie before a long hiatus, that was finally broken by the number one movie on this list, Muppets from Space was somewhat of a departure for the movies, which mostly reflected the musical nature of the original show, and featured pop music in lieu of original songs.
This contributes quite a bit to a lack of personality in the movie and it's quite representative of the more generic style that the following Muppet movies would incorporate on TV with It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie and The Muppets' Wizard of Oz as well as straight-to-video release Kermit's Swamp Years.
Muppets Most Wanted (61)
The most recent Muppet movie harkened back to the original sequels from the 1980s and took the main Muppet gang on a globetrotting crime caper after shedding Jason Segel and Amy Adams' characters.
The movie maintains a lot of star power, however, with supporting performances from Tina Fey and Ty Burell as well as an impressive roster of cameos from actors and musicians like Tom Hiddleston and Lady Gaga.
The Muppets Take Manhattan (64)
Possessing a fairly self-explanatory title, The Muppets Take Manhattan offers a different kind of origin story for the core group of Muppets as they graduate from college and attempt to make their dreams come true on Broadway, as opposed to Hollywood in the original movie.
The sequel is sadly notable for being the last Muppet movie before the death of original creator Jim Henson but, on a happier note, also for introducing the Muppet Babies and launching their own very successful TV show.
The Muppet Christmas Carol (64)
The Muppets' adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic Christmas story is by far one of their most deeply loved endeavors ever. Joined by Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge, the main Muppet cast took on various roles from the famous tale and added their own sense of comedy with timelessly catchy songs from Paul Williams.
A perennial holiday must-watch, The Muppet Christmas Carol, whilst neither tremendously faithful nor unfaithful to the source material, has become the definitive movie version of the story to many people.
Muppet Treasure Island (64)
Continuing a streak of hits that, according to Metacritic's calculations, did equally well as each other with critics, Muppet Treasure Island adapted Robert Louis Stevenson's iconic novel into another musical comedy starring the main Muppets alongside supporting actors as the main characters.
Though a generally entertaining entry into the franchise, it's perhaps Tim Curry's terrific turn as Long John Silver that really anchors the movie as Michael Caine did in Muppet Christmas Carol.
The Great Muppet Caper (70)
The second Muppet movie was the first to take the characters on a global tour and the crime element would go on to inspire Muppets Most Wanted in particular.
The only Muppet movie directed by creator Jim Henson, The Great Muppet Caper was the first cinematic appearance of the characters after the end of The Muppet Show and critics welcomed them back with open arms.
The Muppet Movie (74)
The first cinematic outing of the characters released back in 1979, The Muppet Movie provided audiences with an origin story for the group of characters in the musical style that fans were accustomed to along with the group's typically impressive roster of cameos, with stars ranging from Steve Martin and Mel Brooks to Bob Hope and even Orson Welles.
Whilst still the kind of breezy screwball road trip comedy that would define so many of the sequels, the first movie has a surprising level of depth and surrealism that plays around with narrative form to a degree that could even be called meta-cinematic.
The Muppets (75)
The Muppets' return to the big screen after a 12-year absence following Muppets from Space, the simply-titled revamping of the franchise was a big hit with audiences and critics, reinvigorating interest in the characters for a newer audience and even winning an Oscar for Best Original Song.
The movie's plot acknowledges the characters' absence from screens and tells a 'getting the gang back together' story that ultimately touched the hearts of audiences whilst delivering all of the hallmarks that the Muppets and their movies had developed over the many years.