Though they got their start on television as brilliant creations of Jim Henson, the Muppet movies helped solidify the legacy of Kermit and the gang. For nearly 50 years, The Muppets have inhabited diverse worlds, retold traditional tales, and spoofed popular stories and genres. With a witty writing team initially led by Henson, these characters have indelibly found a way to capture hearts and minds through hilarious one-liners, absurd scenarios, and the instantly loveable Muppet characters. That translated to the big screen adventures, though not every Muppets movie was a success.

While Henson's Muppets have experienced a long period of television success, their theatrical releases have not always been received well by audiences and critics alike. Some have been flops that lost track of what Muppets movies should be, some put The Muppets in exciting stories where they didn't seem to belong, and some were Oscar-winning box-office hits that reminded audiences of the magic of this franchise and its wonderful characters.

8 Muppets Most Wanted (2014)

Kermit Is Mistaken For An International Criminal

Rather than have The Muppets remake another movie or classic story as they have in the past, the next movie following their successful theatrical comeback was a sequel that continued on with the story, albeit with a new focus and new human cast. Muppets Most Wanted finds Kermit discovering that he is the doppelgänger of an international criminal known as Constantine, which leads to him being thrown in prison.

...appearances from Tina Fey, Ricky Gervais, and Ty Burrell fail to match the sweetness of Jason Segel and Amy Adams in the previous movie.

Being a sequel to a popular film, Muppets Most Wanted was already going to face greater scrutiny from critics and fans, with many enjoying the first iteration of the gang's reboot. This film is proof that pulling in a wide range of celebrity cameos does not always work, as appearances from Tina Fey, Ricky Gervais, and Ty Burrell fail to match the sweetness of Jason Segel and Amy Adams in the previous movie.

By following similar plots to more successful Muppet adventures, this crime caper puts Kermit and Miss Piggy in the forefront, as usual, forcing the ing Muppet cast into minimal screen time and occasional one-liners. As a result, Muppets Most Wanted couldn't find its emotional foothold, fails to have a cohesive narrative, and thus struggled commercially and critically upon release.

7 Muppets From Space (1999)

Gonzo Believes He Is An Alien

While Kermit and Miss Piggy are usually the ones put at the forefront of the Muppet movies, Muppets in Space allowed another iconic member of the ensemble to step into the spotlight. The film focuses on Gonzo as he struggles with his own identity before discovering he might be an alien from another planet. This leads the government to capture him and Kermit and the gang have to save him.

The movie's inventive premise and Gonzo's starring role make it a unique entry into the franchise, but it is ultimately one that does not fully work. Despite the fact that there are some sweet elements to the story, it is a rather thin adventure that is unnecessarily padded with other subplots that give the other Muppets something to do. The movie was also a box office flop that led to the Muppet franchise abandoning theatrical releases for many years.

6 Muppet Treasure Island (1996)

The Muppets Cross Paths With A Famed Pirate

Following a Muppet twist on a certain Charles Dickens classic being a success, Muppet Treasure Island decided to follow the same formula in simply allowing the Muppets to step inside an existing story. In this case, The Muppets the high-seas adventure of Robert Lous Stevenson's Treasure Island. Gonzo and Rizzo kick off the story by ing young boy Jim Hawkins on an adventure aboard a pirate ship to find a buried treasure while meeting the nefarious pirate Long John Silver (Tim Curry).

Muppet Treasure Island is the darkest and most linear of the Muppet feature films, serving as an almost beat-by-beat adaptation of Treasure Island and incorporating many of the twists and turns found in the original novel.

However, because of its accuracy in the literature, the Muppets and, in turn, their songs feel incredibly out of place. To further add to the fact that it doesn't quite feel like a Muppet movie, it is the first time the iconic puppets had the show stolen from them by a human actor, as Curry is a blast as the charming villain.

5 The Great Muppet Caper (1981)

Kermit And The Gang Investigate A Jewel Heist

For the second theatrical Muppets movie, the franchise decided to add a little danger to the characters while still very much keeping things family-friendly. The movie finds Kermit in his investigative journalism role as he travels to England to investigate a jewel heist. When Miss Piggy arrives in London, she finds herself framed for the crimes, leading Kermit and the others to clear her name.

The Great Muppet Caper continued the Muppets' trend to spoof pop culture, combining elements of a heist movie as well as a musical for some hilarious results

This film deserves its spot in the middle of the pack as a strong comedic outing for the Muppet characters and their human counterparts whilst also displaying some impressive early filmmaking techniques. The Great Muppet Caper continued the Muppets' trend to spoof pop culture, combining elements of a heist movie as well as a musical for some hilarious results. However, with Jim Henson leading the show, the film is hefty on slapstick humor and one-liner set-ups, leaving much of the plot until the final act and making The Great Muppet Caper's runtime feel imbalanced as a result.

4 The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)

The Muppets Put On A Broadway Show

Playing out almost identically to the first movie in the franchise, The Muppets Take Manhattan replayed the working formula of keeping the gang together as they prepare for their next big show. However, this adventure is given an extra bit of drama by the fact that Kermit is left with amnesia following an accident and has to learn about his place in The Muppets all over again.

While this can feel a little repetitive when watching, it is a premise that works for this large cast of colorful characters. The film is still full of plenty of jokes and funny sequences, while also holding onto the emotional drive set up by the Muppet stresses, which are served by director Frank Oz's more focused approach. Another reason for the success of this film could be due to the involvement of the wider Muppet cast, utilizing more than just Kermit, Piggy, Gonzo, and Fozzy.

3 The Muppet Movie (1979)

The Origin Story Of The Muppets

The Muppets' first venture remains one of the gang's best. The Muppets, hot off of the small screen, were thrown together on a winding road trip, highlighting the differences and obscurities of the characters in a positive light. The premise wisely keeps things simple, focusing on the origin story of The Muppets and how they all came together to form the beloved troupe that eventually felt more like a family.

The Muppet Movie utilizes cameos to great success, breaks the fourth wall often enough to engage with the audience, and establishes a strong origin story for this loveable cast of puppets. With a limited home release following The Muppets Show, this was one of the first universally available pieces of Muppets content and broke several puppetry conventions, such as Kermit riding a bike and showing his legs. Despite being several decades old, it is the second highest-grossing Muppet movie and earned two Oscar nominations, including one for the iconic song "Rainbow Connection."

2 The Muppets (2011)

Two Brothers Reunite The Muppets

Reigniting a cast of dated and tired puppets, The Muppets was the successful reboot the franchise needed in 2011. More than a decade after Muppets in Space, the Muppets returned to the big screen with this new adventure that paid loving homage to the franchise. Jason Segel wrote the movie and stars as a man who, alongside his Muppet brother, sets out to reunite the group and put on a new show.

It also marked the biggest box-office success of the franchise.

The film plays expertly on the heritage established by the Muppet legacy whilst dragging their dated jokes into the 21st century. Recruiting Flight of the Conchords' Brett McKenzie as a music consultant, the songs are catchy, funny, and emotional, winning the franchise its first Oscar for McKenzie's song, "Man or Muppet." With a wide variety of spot-on celebrity cameos and a heartfelt and emotional narrative, The Muppets gave this gang a second chance on the big (and small) screen and revitalized Henson's beloved puppet troupe in the modern era. It also marked the biggest box-office success of the franchise.

1 The Muppets Christmas Carol (1992)

The Muppets Scrooge In The Classic Christmas Tale

Not only is The Muppets Christmas Carol the best of the Muppets movies, but it has also become one of the most beloved Christmas films of all time, enjoyed by many fans every holiday season. Michael Caine steps into the role of Ebeneezer Scrooge, who is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve in the hopes of showing him the error of his ways before it is too late.

The Muppets Christmas Carol has proven to be a timeless retelling of a Dickens classic whilst also showcasing the very best that the Muppets have to offer. Taken out of their usual formulaic three-point narrative of trying to save the gang, the Muppets instead take on roles within Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. The limelight is provided to a variety of the team at various points, with Gonzo and Rizzo an oddly inspired pair of narrators.

While the film does rely on many slapstick moments and cheesy one-liners, it also leans heavily into the emotional acting of Caine, who brings true gravitas to the movie. As a result, The Muppets' entire ensemble of songs, actors, and plots here make The Muppets Christmas Carol their best venture on the big screen to date.