• Tweet
• 

• Tweet
• 

Like many people my age, The Muppets are an entity very close to my heart. I grew up watching the specials and films on VHS (taped from TV most likely) over and over. I can still recite every line in certain scenes, and I can sing every song. As I got older and began revisiting these films, I realized what a huge impact they had on my life. As cheesy as it may sound, I feel I owe a great deal of who I am to Jim Henson. Through his vision and his puppets, he taught me about loyalty, friendship and optimism. I am so indebted to that man and his creations that I find it hard to articulate it. So here, in list form, are the 10 Muppet films that changed my life.
Note: Labyrinth & The Dark Crystal are being purposely excluded from this list.

Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas (1977)

Emmet Otter will forever live in infamy in my household. As a child, the tale of Emmet and his Ma struggling to get by had the ability to bring both myself and my own Ma to tears, like clock work. With original songs by Paul Williams (?!), Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas is a heartfelt, loving (and sometimes melancholy) look at the holidays. It finds itself at number 10 simply because I can’t seem to find it in myself to re-watch it. It really tugs at my heartstrings.

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

As the Muppets entered the 90′s (and the aughts for that matter), they stopped appealing to me. Partly because of my age at the time of their release, but also because of the lack of Henson. Not to mention by that time, Disney had sunk its claws in… The Muppet Christmas Carol got it right. The Muppets integrated themselves into this well known and timeless tale with ease. Casting Michael Caine, and not a Muppet, as Scrooge was one of many things the film did right. It injected relatable humor while still maintaining the poignancy of the original story. Casting Robin as Tiny Tim was truly inspired… and sob inducing.

A Muppet Family Christmas (1987)

There is a Christmas theme forming here. I promise I will break it soon. This special played more like, well, a holiday TV special. There was less of a narrative and more of a celebratory vibe. It showcases not just Muppets, but Fraggles, Sesame Street alum and Henson himself! It is like one gigantic party. And there’s a snowman that sings! The reason it ranks so high for me is the singing of classic holiday songs by characters I love.

The Muppet Movie (1979)

“Why isn’t this number 1?”, you ask. I don’t have a great reason. This film was released in 1979 and I have seen it many times. And while I enjoy it, it just never hit that sweet spot for me. The cast is on point; Dom DeLuise, Orson Wells, Mel Brooks, Paul Williams, Bob Hope, Elliott Gould! All of my favorite characters are represented; Sweetums and Robin. And there is no question that the music is outstanding. But I must stand by my list. The Muppet Movie was and still is amazing, but there are 6 more entries that had greater impact on my tiny sensibilities.

The Tale of the Bunny Picnic (1986)

Bunny Picnic is part Boy Who Cried Wolf and part lesson in empathy. Plot: A villainous dog appears to decimate  a happy bunny village. But this is so much more than an Easter special about bunnies in peril. With a soundtrack that can bring me to tears just by thinking of it, and a poor dog cowering in front of his dick master, The Tale of the Bunny Picnic conjures up themes of community, tolerance, forgiveness and faith. This is the perfect introduction to Bean Bunny and it is why he is one of the few later additions to the Muppet family I embrace.

I hope you enjoyed the first portion of my look at 10 of my favorite (semi life altering) Muppet films. In part 2 I will list my top 5 and talk about Jason Segel. In the meantime, what are your favorites Henson productions?