Release OrderRecommended
0 / 8 watchedThe eight theatrical films in release order. Each one stands alone, so this doubles as the story order.
Original trilogy
- 1 The Muppet Movie Kermit's road trip origin story with Rainbow Connection. Start here.
- 2 The Great Muppet Caper Kermit, Fozzie and Gonzo as reporters on a jewel heist in London.
- 3 The Muppets Take Manhattan The gang takes a stage show to Broadway. Closes the original trilogy.
Brian Henson era
- 4 The Muppet Christmas Carol Dickens with Michael Caine as Scrooge and Kermit as Bob Cratchit.
- 5 Muppet Treasure Island Stevenson with Tim Curry as Long John Silver.
- 6 Muppets from Space Gonzo's alien origins take center stage.
Disney revival
- 7 The Muppets The gang reunites to save the Muppet Theater. Best entry point after the original.
- 8 Muppets Most Wanted A world tour with a Kermit lookalike. Latest theatrical film.
Complete Order (with TV movies and specials)
0 / 13 watchedEverything in release order: the theatrical films plus the TV movies and streaming specials for completionists.
Theatrical films
- 1 The Muppet Movie Kermit's road trip origin story with Rainbow Connection. Start here.
- 2 The Great Muppet Caper Kermit, Fozzie and Gonzo as reporters on a jewel heist in London.
- 3 The Muppets Take Manhattan The gang takes a stage show to Broadway. Closes the original trilogy.
- 4 The Muppet Christmas Carol Dickens with Michael Caine as Scrooge and Kermit as Bob Cratchit.
- 5 Muppet Treasure Island Stevenson with Tim Curry as Long John Silver.
- 6 Muppets from Space Gonzo's alien origins take center stage.
- 7 The Muppets The gang reunites to save the Muppet Theater.
- 8 Muppets Most Wanted A world tour with a Kermit lookalike.
TV movies and specials
- 9 Kermit's Swamp Years Direct to video prequel about a young Kermit. Optional.
- 10 It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie NBC TV movie where Kermit gets the Wonderful Life treatment. Optional.
- 11 The Muppets' Wizard of Oz ABC TV movie with Ashanti as Dorothy. Optional.
- 12 Muppets Haunted Mansion Disney+ Halloween special built around Gonzo. Optional.
- 13 The Muppet Show Aired February 4, 2026 on ABC and Disney+ with Sabrina Carpenter. Optional.
About The Muppets
Kermit, Miss Piggy and the gang reset continuity in nearly every film, so release order is the simple answer across eight theatrical movies from 1979 to 2014.
Start with The Muppet Movie (1979), then go in release order, and treat the TV movies and the 2026 Muppet Show special as optional extras.
Good to know
The Muppet Show special aired February 4, 2026 on ABC and Disney+ and won four Emmys, but no follow-up is in development as of September 2026. No new theatrical Muppet film has been announced.
