Parents' Guide to

A Muppet Family Christmas

By Charles Cassady Jr., Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 3+

A short-and-sweet, tuneful holiday reunion.

Movie NR 1987 42 minutes
A Muppet Family Christmas Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

age 6+

Based on 2 parent reviews

age 9+

Fun Movie

As far as Christmas Crossover Movies go... this one's a win! Highly recommended for TMS, SS, and FR fans.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
age 2+

for anyone who likes reunions

A big part of the fun is the get-together with the Muppets from THE MUPPET SHOW, SESAME STREET and FRAGGLE ROCK. So rarely do they all see each other. As for this generic nonChristmas holiday, the reason why they have that rather than a specific holiday (Hanukkah, etc.) was so they wouldn't offend anyone. To that end, great care was made.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (4):

Muppets from three separate Jim Henson universes get together for Christmas in the countryside in this rib-tickling holiday movie. Muppets from Sesame Street arrive in force, and Miss Piggy makes a dramatic entrance. There's a strained moment when the Swedish Chef wants to serve up Big Bird in lieu of a Christmas turkey. The yellow fowl's selfless gift-giving causes the cook to have a change of heart.

With no pretenses other than to capture a gentle holiday spirit, A Muppet Family Christmas is a worthy addition to Jim Henson's Muppets series. While light on plot, there's an unbridled joy in watching Muppets join together from various Henson productions. For maximum impact, young viewers should already be familiar with these characters, but it's OK if they aren't. Numerous Christmas carols, mostly secular ("Jingle Bell Rock"), are performed, although the absence of subtitles for the lyrics makes this a little less than a pure sing-along. Putting in a warm cameo appearance at the end is none other than Jim Henson himself, doing the dishes in the kitchen during the party. "They seem to be having a good time out there," the Muppet mogul says. The statement could equally apply to mirthful young viewers.

Movie Details

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