---
title: "The Muppets: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-muppets/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-muppets"
critics_score: 78
critics_reviews: 23
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# The Muppets (2011): what the critics said

Critics' score 78 from 23 reviews: 19 positive, 4 mixed, 0 negative.

Most critics welcome The Muppets as an affectionate, funny revival that recaptures the characters’ warmth without losing their taste for absurdity. Praise clusters around the musical numbers, knowing jokes and ensemble comedy, with the puppets’ timing and cheerfully inept performances drawing particular approval. The reviews generally find room for both childhood nostalgia and grown-up wit, and several see the film as welcoming to newcomers as well as longtime fans.

The differences concern how much sentiment the comedy can bear. The AV Club finds that nostalgia too often overwhelms the humour, while The Hollywood Reporter faults the thinly written human characters, particularly Amy Adams’s sidelined role. Other reservations concern uneven pacing, weak romantic subplots and Walter’s blandness. The spread runs from enthusiastic approval to qualified enjoyment rather than outright rejection: even the more cautious reviews tend to find charm and worthwhile jokes amid the sentiment.

## IndieWire — James Rocchi

Rating A. 18 November 2011. 

Rocchi calls the film an unexpectedly brilliant, emotionally resonant work and one of the year’s best. He especially praises its heartfelt characterization and storytelling, while noting that the finale’s key reveal is not set up earlier.

[Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/review-the-muppets-is-inspirational-celebrational-one-of-the-years-best-films-115055/)

## Empire — Olly Richards

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 5 February 2012. 

Richards finds the film a joyful, cheering return to the Muppets’ spirit. He especially praises their charmingly inept performances and gleeful surreal humor.

[Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/muppets-review/)

## The New Yorker

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 

The critic finds the film a joyful, nostalgic love letter to childhood. The reunion of the Muppets and its infectious affection for Jim Henson’s creations are singled out for praise.

[Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/the-muppets-2)

## Variety — Justin Chang

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 18 November 2011. 

Chang finds the film a charming, unexpectedly successful revival that balances knowing humor with old-fashioned musical warmth. He especially praises its upbeat songs and the creative team's affectionate, irreverent handling of Muppet tradition.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/2011/film/reviews/the-muppets-1117946604/)

## Los Angeles Times — Betsy Sharkey

Fi1m's normalised score 82/100 (inferred from the text). 23 November 2011. 

Sharkey finds the film a warm, fuzzy musical comedy that is also sharp and subversive, with only a few stumbles. She praises its smart parody and the fresh edge contributed by James Bobin and Bret McKenzie.

[Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2011-nov-23-la-et-the-muppets-20111123-story.html)

## Radio Times — Terry Staunton

Rating 4/5. 

Staunton praises the film as a laugh-out-loud return to the Muppets’ roots. He singles out its successful revival of the familiar characters, aided by Jason Segel and Amy Adams.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-ufpjug/the-muppets/)

## Time Out — Tom Huddleston

Rating 4/5. 1 February 2012. 

The review is strongly positive, calling the film a great comic act. It singles out the Muppets’ impeccable timing as the key to its comedy.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-muppets-1)

## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert

Rating 3/4. 22 November 2011. 

Ebert finds the film entertaining and warmly affectionate toward the Muppets. He particularly praises its nostalgic spirit and musical comedy.

[Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-muppets-2011)

## Slant Magazine — Bill Weber

Rating 3/4. 19 November 2011. 

Weber finds the film ultimately irresistible, though its nostalgia sometimes comes at the expense of its child-friendly elements. He praises the fourth-wall jokes and the Cee Lo Green cover, while criticizing Walter as bland and some cast members as underused.

[Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-muppets/)

## The AV Club — Keith Phipps

Rating B-. 22 November 2011. 

Phipps finds the film fundamentally likable, though its nostalgia and sentiment often overwhelm its humor. He praises the songs and witty gags for capturing the Muppets’ irreverent, warm spirit.

[Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-muppets-1798170621)

## The Hollywood Reporter — Todd McCarthy

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 17 November 2011. 

McCarthy finds the film a breezy, mostly winning return that should entertain longtime fans and attract a new generation. He praises the Muppets’ charm and the film’s good-cheer direction, while faulting the underwritten human characters, especially Amy Adams’s sidelined role.

[Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/muppets-film-review-262541/)

## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 25 July 2018. 

Ebiri finds the film uneven as a movie but warmly effective as pop nostalgia. He singles out Jason Segel’s earnest, awkward performance and the affectionate return to the Muppets’ familiar show format.

[Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2011/11/movie-review-the-touching-pop-nostalgia-of-the-muppets.html)

## The Guardian — Henry Barnes

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 26 January 2012. 

Barnes finds the reboot charming and entertaining, though its enforced cheerfulness is shadowed by sadness. He praises the chirpy songs and knockabout humour, while noting that Amy Adams is underused.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/jan/26/the-muppets-film-review)

## Screen Daily — Tim Grierson

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 18 November 2011. 

The page identifies this as a Screen review, but the review text is behind a registration prompt. Its verdict and any specific praise or complaint cannot be determined from the available text.

[Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/the-muppets/5034683.article)

## The New York Times

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 

The URL identifies a New York Times review of the 2011 film, but the page content is blocked. The critic’s verdict and any specific praise or complaint cannot be verified.

[Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/23/movies/the-muppets-with-jason-segel-and-amy-adams-review.html)

## NME — Owen Nicholls

Fi1m's normalised score 95/100 (inferred from the text). 8 February 2012. 

The critic calls the film an exceptionally fun, joyous return for the Muppets. They praise the affection behind its musical numbers and the blend of silly jokes with clever humor.

[Read the review](https://www.nme.com/blogs/the-movies-blog/the-muppets-film-review-779208)

## The Playlist

Fi1m's normalised score 95/100 (inferred from the text). 18 November 2011. 

The headline gives the film a strongly favorable verdict, calling it one of the year's best. The accessible page provides no further detail about what the reviewer praises.

[Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/review-the-muppets-is-inspirational-celebrational-one-of-the-years-best-films-20111118/)

## Collider — Matt Goldberg

Rating A-. 22 November 2011. 

The critic praises the film as a warm, intelligent, and consistently funny return that works for both children and longtime fans. He singles out its clever balance of silliness and wit, while noting that Mary is underwritten and her song is the weakest.

[Read the review](https://collider.com/the-muppets-review/)

## The Wrap — Alonso Duralde

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 22 November 2011. 

The review calls the film a glorious, faithful return to the Muppets’ anarchic spirit, despite a few slow moments. It especially praises Kermit’s expressive performance and the film’s absurd humor, songs, and ensemble comedy.

[Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/muppets-return-inspirational-celebrational-comedy-32995/)

## Eye for Film — Anton Bitel

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 23 January 2012. 

Bitel finds the film charming and relevant, with its idealism and self-parody still entertaining. He particularly praises the fast pacing, improbably great songs, and clever cinematic deconstructions.

[Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-muppets-film-review-by-anton-bitel)

## Digital Spy — Simon Reynolds

Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 6 February 2012. 

The critic finds this an affectionate, poignant revival that should please longtime fans and newcomers. The musical numbers and the puppets’ old-school charm stand out, though the human story and villain occasionally disappoint.

[Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a354323/the-muppets-review/)

## /Film — Angie Han

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 21 November 2011. 

Han finds the film a solid return to form that can please newcomers and longtime fans alike. She praises its balance of childlike innocence and grown-up wit, while criticizing the romantic subplots involving Mary and Miss Piggy.

[Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/518622/the-muppets-review/)

## The Skinny — Thom Atkinson

Rating ★★★. 2 February 2012. 

Atkinson finds the film a hoot, though not quite as sensational as its Muppet-inspired exuberance promises. He praises Segel and Stoller's meta-movie humor and the film's lively parade of celebrity cameos.

[Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/the-muppets)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-muppets.md