Is the 'Kermit getting hit by a car' scene scary?

Not really. It's very 'cartoonish'—he gets bumped by a taxi, his hat flies off, and he wakes up with amnesia. There's no blood or realistic injury, though the idea of him 'forgetting' his friends might be a little sad for very young children.

Do I need to have seen the other Muppet movies first?

Not at all. While there are nods to their history, the plot starts with them graduating college and is a completely standalone story. It's actually one of the best entry points for the franchise.

Will modern kids find the puppetry boring compared to CGI?

Usually, the opposite happens. Kids are often fascinated by the fact that these are real physical objects on screen. The 'Muppet Babies' sequence and the big musical numbers are visually stimulating enough to keep them engaged.

Are there any 'adult' jokes I should worry about?

The humor is very clean. There are some references to 80s NYC culture and Broadway that will go over kids' heads, but nothing inappropriate. It's one of the few truly 'G' rated movies that doesn't feel babyish.

The Muppets Take Manhattan – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Muppets Take Manhattan

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie1984

88%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

The Muppets struggle to make it on Broadway, Kermit gets amnesia and joins an ad agency, and the Muppet Babies make their first-ever appearance.

6.9/10

85%

76%

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The Muppets Take Manhattan

movie

G, 1984

88%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

The Muppets struggle to make it on Broadway, Kermit gets amnesia and joins an ad agency, and the Muppet Babies make their first-ever appearance.

6.9

85%

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6.9/10

85%

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Screenwise Verdict

This is the best of the classic Muppet sequels. It captures that specific 1980s New York grit but keeps it entirely accessible for kids. While the pacing is slower than a modern Pixar flick, the physical comedy and the songs carry it through.

It’s a high-quality pick for a family movie night that won’t drive parents crazy. It’s wholesome without being preachy and imaginative enough to keep even the 'I only watch YouTube' kids curious about how the puppets actually work.

Age Fit

Perfect for ages 5 and up. It's a G-rated classic that doesn't have the 'scary' elements of some other Muppet entries, making it a great first Muppet movie.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

It is classic Muppet energy—friendship, loyalty, and a group of weirdos sticking together against the odds. The tone is sweet without being saccharine.

Imaginative

The puppetry is peak Jim Henson era, including the debut of the Muppet Babies in a dream sequence that basically launched a franchise. Creative set pieces and Broadway-style numbers are top-notch.

Safe

Extremely safe. There is a brief moment where Kermit gets hit by a car (leading to his amnesia), but it is handled with Muppet physics and zero gore.

Enriching

Models grit and the reality that dreams take hard work. It also features some great NYC history and cameos that parents will appreciate more than kids.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Classic Henson Puppetry that still feels more alive than modern CGI, especially in the big musical numbers.
The Muppet Babies debut is a legendary sequence that usually captivates kids even if they don't know the spinoff show.
Great NYC cameos from the 80s including Joan Rivers, Gregory Hines, and Liza Minnelli.
A genuine heart that focuses on the group's bond being more important than their individual success.

⚠

What to Watch For

Kermit's amnesia plot involves him getting hit by a taxi; it's not graphic, but sensitive kids might find the 'forgotten identity' bit a little sad.
The pacing is 1984-style, meaning there are some slower stretches of dialogue about Broadway production that might lose kids used to modern hyper-pacing.

Conversation Starters

"Why did the Muppets stay together even when they didn't have any money?"
"What would you do if you forgot who your best friends were like Kermit did?"
"Which Muppet would you want to be in a Broadway show with?"
"Is it harder to get a job in NYC as a human or as a frog?"

Deep Dive

The Muppets at their most human

By 1984, the Muppets were global icons, and Manhattan feels like a victory lap for the original crew. Directed by Frank Oz, the movie leans into the 'let's put on a show' trope but anchors it in the very real struggle of post-college life—or at least the Muppet version of it.

What makes this one stand out is the amnesia subplot. When Kermit loses his memory and becomes 'Phil' the advertising executive, it’s a weird, hilarious pivot that works because the Muppets treat it with total sincerity. The 'Muppet Babies' sequence is the clear highlight for kids, offering a stylistic break that feels like a fever dream of 80s nostalgia.

Does it hold up in 2026?

Surprisingly, yes. The practical effects and the sheer scale of the puppetry in the finale—the wedding scene is a masterpiece of logistics—still look impressive. It’s a great way to show kids that you don't need a rendering farm to create a believable world. If your kid is used to the snarky, meta-humor of the 2011 reboot or the more recent Disney+ series, this might feel a bit more 'earnest,' but that's actually its strength. It’s a movie that believes in its own magic, and that’s a rare find these days.

What Parents Ask

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