Parents' Guide to

Muppet Treasure Island

By Sarah Wenk, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Hilarious high seas adventure with lots of pirate action.

Movie G 1996 99 minutes
Muppet Treasure Island Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all
age 9+

Based on 6 parent reviews

Kathryn B.
Kathryn B. Parent of 6-year-old
September 3, 2022
age 9+
We watched this with my almost 6yr old based on the ratings here. Whilst this says there is no language there were numerous insults and uses of “bloody”. The level of violence and scariness was higher than expected. Overall I was disappointed in the movie and the rating

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
Amanda F.
Amanda F. Parent of 5 and 7-year-old
November 29, 2021
age 9+

Love this movie, but...

Started watching with my 5 and 7 year old, and both were scared in the first 15 minutes and decided not to watch anymore. While done with some comic relief, it still witnessed the death of a character, (though appears to be from heart attack, and is not a violent death), and Muppet pirates throwing Mal tov cocktails through the windows of the building. Then Gonzo and Rizzo accidently set the building on fire, while the pirates fight the landlady. It was too much for my kids at that point. I myself like the movie, but maybe wait until they're bigger and can handle the scariness.

This title has:

Too much violence
See all 6 parent reviews

What's the Story?

The Muppets take to the high seas in this lively version of Robert Louis Stevenson's novel. The adventure begins when pirate Billy Bones (Billy Connelly) gives a treasure map to young orphan Jim Hawkins (Kevin Bishop) and his friends Gonzo and Rizzo the Rat. After a narrow escape from map-seeking pirates, the three manage to get on board the ship of Captain Smollet (Kermit the Frog). But trouble brews when nasty pirate king Long John Silver (Tim Curry) and his monster Muppet minions appear, dead set on getting the map and treasure. Wild comedic adventure ensues, including a narrow escape from a gang of wild boars and their very beautiful queen (Miss Piggy), who's livid at the frog captain for abandoning her at the altar.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (6):
Kids say (14):

This loose adaptation of the classic tale is full of the kind of humor the Muppets are famous for, from jokes about Disney to a pirate with a talking lobster instead of a talking parrot. Tim Curry has a blast as the pirate Long John Silver, and Kevin Bishop is believable and earnest as young Jim Hawkins. There are funny songs, zany characters, and an entrance by Miss Piggy that's right up there with Elizabeth Taylor's in Cleopatra.

Through all the joking, though, the message of loyalty, friendship, and finding your destiny comes through loud and clear. This is a very funny movie that both kids and adults will enjoy.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the violence in this movie. Did anything seem too intense for a kids' movie? What's the difference between funny and scary action?

  • How does this Muppet movie compare to others? What makes a movie endure through time?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate