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The following is a list of Muppet Mentions made in movies outside of the Henson/Sesame fold, all of which are too brief or minor to constitute having their own page in the Movie Mentions category. See also: Minor TV Mentions.
Alice
In Woody Allen's 1990 comedy Alice, a friend of the title character says that her son cries whenever he has to leave the house, "especially if Sesame Street is on."
- Connections
- Alec Baldwin played Ed
- Mia Farrow played Alice
- William Hurt played Doug Tate
- Julie Kavner played a decorator
- Bernadette Peters played the muse
Another Perfect Stranger
A 2007 film about a teenage girl who has conversations about life and religion with a stranger she meets on an airplane. In one scene, a woman is holding a baby who is wearing Elmo overalls.
Bart Got a Room
As Danny goes through a list of potential prom dates, he asks his friend for an opinion of Sokolov. He replies, "Too tall for you. Like, Big Bird tall."
- Connections
- Cheryl Hines played Beth Stine
- William H. Macy played Ernie Stine
- Jon Polito played Bob
Bee Movie
A 2007 computer animated feature by DreamWorks Animation, about a bee name Barry B. Benson deciding what to do after graduating from college. When Barry talks to Mr. Klauss Vanderhayden, since he is suing Honey Farms for taking the bee's honey, he finds the image of a bear as the jar of honey inappropriate to represent honey. However, Mr. Vanderhayden replies that they're very lovable creatures and names a few bears, including Fozzie.
- Connections
- Matthew Broderick voiced Adam Flayman
- John Goodman voiced Layton T. Montgomery
- Larry King voiced a bee version of himself
- Ray Liotta voiced himself
- Megan Mullally voiced Trudy
- Michael Richards voiced Bud Ditchwater
- Chris Rock voiced Mooseblood the Mosquito
- Jerry Seinfeld voiced Barry B. Benson and was the writer and producer
- Patrick Warburton voiced Ken
- Oprah Winfrey voiced Judge Bumbleton
The Benchwarmers
The Benchwarmers is a 2006 sports parody film. According to IMDB, Muppets in Space was one of the many movies on self at the video store.
Beyond the Mat
In this 1999 wrestling documentary, World Wrestling Federation (WWF) Senior Vice President of Merchandising Jim Bell claims the following:
- "There's a direct similarity between WWF and the Muppets. Family owned company, whole business based in performance and characters, with real human beings playing characters. In our case, they just don't happen to be using puppets."
- Connections
- Ron Howard produced
The Big Year
A 2011 movie about birding. In one scene, Stu Preissler (Steve Martin) is on a boat and get seasick. Commenting on his complexion, Preissler states, "It's not easy being green."
- Connections
- Corbin Bernsen plays Gil Gordon
- Jack Black plays Brad Harris
- John Cleese narrates a historical montage
- Anjelica Huston plays Annie Auklet
- Rashida Jones plays Ellie
- Steve Martin plays Stu Preissler
- Joel McHale plays Barry Loomis
- Jim Parsons plays Crane
- Kevin Pollak plays Jim Gittelson
- Al Roker plays "New York Weatherman"
- Ben Stiller executive produced
Borat
2006 comedy film starring Sacha Baron Cohen as a character from Da Ali G Show. About 11 minutes into the film, Borat stands in the center of Times Square and the camera circles around him. During this, a large billboard with a picture of Kermit the Frog from the Values.com ad campaign can be seen prominently.
Brewster McCloud
1971 dark comedy film starring Bud Cort and directed by Robert Altman. In one scene an old man in a limo keeps shouting about how he needs to get home so he can watch Sesame Street.
Broadway Danny Rose
This 1984 Woody Allen film includes a brief visual of Big Bird, appearing in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
- Connections
- Woody Allen played Danny Rose, wrote, and produced the film
- Milton Berle played himself
- Mia Farrow played Tina Vitale
Clerks
Dante and Randal are debating which Star Wars movie was better: Return of the Jedi or The Empire Strikes Back. Dante prefers Empire, pointing out that "All Jedi had was a bunch of Muppets!"
Click
This 2006 parody comedy features a woman holding a Big Bird plush.
Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope
2011 documentary directed by Morgan Spurlock about Comic-Con. Holly Conrad, a designer of custom creatures and costumes, is one of the film's subjects.
- Holly: Why can't we bring puppets and animatronics back?
- Colleague: Because Jim Henson died.
- Holly: Well, you know what? We need to be the next Jim Henson, and make people realize these things are what brings magic out into the real world.
Later, during the masquerade portion of the con for which Holly was preparing, each contestant is announced by their number while the audience responds saying "ah, ah, ah" à la Count von Count.
- Connections
- Seth Green appears as himself
- Stan Lee appears as himself
- Seth Rogen appears as himself
Crazy for Christmas
A 2005 Christmas TV movie, it features billionaire Fred Nickells, who has suffered a nervous breakdown, giving early retirement to all his staff. Two members stay on, the doorman and Nickell's lawyer, Arthur Finnegan. Finnegan (Daniel Fathers) is gay. Telling Nickell's new driver about his relationship, he says "he works on Sesame Street. He plays Snuffleupagus' back end." The boyfriend appears at the end, however the role was not credited.
- Connections
- Joe Flaherty played Roger the doorman
- Joyce Gordon played Mrs. Granger
Death to Smoochy
A dark comedy following Sheldon Mopes' (Edward Norton) rise to stardom with his Barney-like character Smoochy the Rhino, and all the amoral inner workings of the children's entertainment that he encounters. Early in the film, Sheldon states "I was born on November 11th, 1970. You know what else happened on that day? [The] first broadcast of Sesame Street!" (The statement is factually incorrect by one year and one day.) Later, while Robin Williams' character Randolph Smiley (aka Rainbow Randolph) smashes Angelo's television set, he calls Smoochy a "Muppet from hell," during a barrage of expletives. The film also features the Leonard Bernstein song "I Feel Pretty," which the Muppets have performed numerous times.
- Connections
- Danny DeVito directed and co-starred as Burke Bennett
- Harvey Fierstein played Merv Green
- Todd Graff played Skip Kleinman
- Jon Stewart played Marion Frank Stokes
- Robin Williams played "Rainbow" Randolph Smiley
Dinner for Schmucks
Steve Carell's character tells a couple from Switzerland that he speaks some of their language, and proceeds to deliver some mock Swedish.
- Connections
- Paul Rudd played Tim
Dogma
In Kevin Smith's 1999 movie about two fallen angels, Bartleby is on a killing spree with his wings fully spread. To stall him, Jay yells, "Hey Big Bird! Ready for the counting game?! Count the shells!" and proceeds to fill the angel with bullets from an uzi.
- Connections
- Alan Rickman played Metatron
- Chris Rock played Rufus
Elf
In this 2003 comedy, some scenes taking place at Gimbel's Department Store feature various Sesame Street toys in the background.
- Connections
- Edward Asner played Santa Claus
- Zooey Deschanel played Jovie
- Bob Newhart played Papa Elf
- Andy Richter played Morris
- Amy Sedaris played Deb
- Mary Steenburgen played Emily
The Expendables
In this 2010 action film, Toll Road (played by Randy Couture) says, "It's not easy being green" while explaining how he got his cauliflower ear.
- Connections
- Eric Roberts played James Munroe
- Mickey Rourke played Tool
- Arnold Schwarzenegger played Trench
- Sylvester Stallone played Barney Ross
- Bruce Willis played Mr. Church
The Five-Year Engagement
A scene between a woman and her friend involves an argument done in the voices of Cookie Monster and Elmo to amuse her daughter. (YouTube)
- Connections
- Jason Segel co-wrote the movie and played Tom Solomon
- Nick Stoller co-wrote and directed the movie
- Emily Blunt played Violet Barnes
Flushed Away
A 2006 computer animated feature by Aardman Animation, about a mouse trapped in the sewer. At one point, heroine Rita addresses the villainous toad with "Hoy! Kermit!"
- Connections
- Sean Barrett supplied additional voices
- Hugh Jackman voiced Roddy
- Miriam Margolyes voiced Rita's Grandma
- Andy Serkis voiced Spike
- Kate Winslet voiced Rita
Helvetica
A 2007 independent feature-length documentary film about typography and graphic design, centered around the typeface of the same name. During the montage of the usage of the Helvetica font for video media, a clip of Telly Monster talking about D words with the letter D is shown.
Also, when graphic designer Michael C. Place is introduced, and the camera goes to his company office, a Big Bird Kubrick is seen behind figurines of his own creation.
Hot Fuzz
In one scene, Sergeant Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg) tells PC Danny Butterman (Nick Frost) the story of how he always wanted to become a policeman. At one point, he adds "Barring the summer of 1979, when I wanted to be Kermit the Frog." When he finishes, Butterman comments, "I think you'd have made a great Muppet."
The DVD's "Fuzz Facts" text commentary explains that Simon Pegg's favorite Muppet is actually Animal, which didn't fit the character.
- Connections
- Bill Bailey played the twin Sergeants Turner
- Jim Broadbent played Inspector Frank Butterman
- Martin Freeman played the Metropolitan sergeant
- Billie Whitelaw played Joyce Cooper
- Edward Woodward played Tom Weaver
I Love You, Man
When Peter Klaven gets set up on a man-date with a guy from his brother's gym, he gives him the nickname Elmo because of his high, squeaky voice.
- Connections
- Jane Curtin played Joyce Klaven
- Rashida Jones played Zooey Rice
- OK Go played the wedding band
- Paul Rudd played Peter Klaven
- Andy Samberg played Robbie Klaven
- Jason Segel played Sydney Fife
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
In one scene, director Chaka Luther King claims the white man stole his idea for Sesame Street, which would have been known as "NWP" ("Niggas With Puppets").
- Connections
- Jason Biggs played himself
- Mark Hamill played Cocknocker
- Brian Lynch played Comic Book Shopper #1 (uncredited)
- Chris Rock played Chaka Luther King
- Jon Stewart played Reg Hartner
Jingle All the Way
Walk-arounds of Ernie and Bert appear in the Christmas parade sequence. Additionally, some Sesame Street toys can be seen in the background in the toy store scenes, particularly Elmo, Big Bird, Cookie Monster and Zoe.
- Connections
- Harvey Korman played the President
- Richard Moll played Dementor
- Marianne Muellerleile played a tow truck driver
- Laraine Newman played the First Lady
- Arnold Schwarzenegger played Howard Langston
- Judy Sladky played Snoopy during the Christmas parade
Just Go with It
In the 2011 film, someone refers to a big nosed person as Snuffleupagus.
- Connections
- Kevin Nealon played Adon
- Adam Sandler played Danny Maccabee
Love, Actually
A 2003 romantic comedy directed by Richard Curtis, who had attended Jim Henson's Memorial at St. Paul's Memorial in London. The wedding sequence was inspired by the memorial. Curtis explained the inspiration in the DVD commentary, though his memory erred in at least one detail:
- Connections
- Rowan Atkinson played Rufus the jewelry salesman
- Martin Freeman played John
- Duncan Kenworthy produced the film
- Peter Marinker played a US expert
- Liam Neeson played Daniel
- Bill Nighy played Billy Mack
- Denise Richards played Carla
- Alan Rickman played Harry
- Thomas Sangster played Sam
The Manhattan Project
A scene from the 1986 film (about 25 minutes in) features Paul Stephens (Christopher Collet) discussing the presence of plutonium in a supposed medical facility in his town with his study date. In the background, his younger brother is watching The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence, specifically the "Aggression" sketch. The 1975 special was written by Marshall Brickman, who directs this film.
- Connections
- Marshall Brickman co-wrote and directed the film
- John Lithgow played Dr. John Mathewson
- Philippe Sarde (who scored The Bear) scored the film
Miss Congeniality 2
Gracie Hart, wearing a flamboyant, feathered Las Vegas costume: "You can do this, you know you can because you are Sam fuller F.B.I. Nothing and nobody scares you. And I am Gracie Hart and at this moment I am also Big Bird and nothing scares me except... except loosing Cheryl, because having a friend like her and having any friend for me is a really really rare thing. Okay?"
- Connections
- Sandra Bullock played Gracie Hart
- Regis Philbin played himself
- William Shatner played Stan Fields
- Candice Bergen played Kathy Morningside in the first movie
- Michael Caine played Victor Melling in the first movie
Miss Representation
2011 documentary by Jennifer Siebel Newsom about the disparaging portrayals of women in media. During a comment in which Jackson Katz says "People learn more from media than any other single source of information", a clip is briefly shown of children watching Sesame Street. Later in the film, Katie Couric's comments are illustrated with a screenshot of an article on Jezebel.com featuring a photo of Couric with Elmo.
- Connections
- Margaret Cho is interviewed
- Katie Couric is interviewed
- Geena Davis is interviewed
- Rosario Dawson is interviewed
- Jane Fonda is interviewed
- Rosie O'Donnell provides an introduction to the television broadcast
- Oprah Winfrey provides an introduction to the DVD release
The Mist
The 2007 film adaptation of Stephen King's The Mist tells the story of a group of small town residents trapped together in a food store as the outside world experiences a disaster that begins picking off lives. Mrs. Carmody (Marcia Gay Harden) riles a group of religious fanatics who begin chanting "expiation!" in response to God's will in the face of unknown dangers. Observing the loss of control exhibited by her followers, Ollie Weeks (Toby Jones) remarks, "Welcome to Sesame Street, kids. Today's word is 'expiation'."
The home video release of the film includes a featurette called Drew Struzan: An Appreciation of an Artist. In addition to showing off some of Struzan's Muppet posters, footage of his studio reveals that he keeps a Kermit the Frog photo puppet replica overlooking his painting area.
- Connections
- Kelly Collins Lintz played Steff Drayton
Morning Glory
When Becky Fuller (Rachel McAdams) is unsuccessful at rebooting a fourth place morning show, station executive Jerry Barnes (Jeff Goldblum) sarcastically suggests that she might go to PBS, "to kill Sesame Street."
Mr. Jealousy
In the 1997 romantic comedy, Eric Stoltz's character says he does a "pretty good Muppet walk" as he bounces off-screen with his head tilted into the air.
Mr. Mom
Mr. Mom is a 1983 comedy written by John Hughes about a family man who loses his job, and stays at home to care for the family while his wife goes off to work. The younger of the two sons, Kenny, wears Ernie and Bert slippers (one on each foot) which are seen at several points throughout the movie. Kenny also wears a t-shirt adorned with an image of the Electric Mayhem.
- Connections
- Michael Keaton played Jack
- Christopher Lloyd played Larry
- Edie McClurg played a check-out lady
- Jeffrey Tambor played Jinx
Mr. Popper's Penguins
Mr. Popper's Penguins is a 2011 movie starring Jim Carrey loosely based on the 1938 children's book of the same name. At one point in the movie, while the main character, Thomas Popper Jr., is talking about penguins, he mentions that Big Bird is a Muppet.
The book was an optioned property by Jim Henson Pictures in 1995, but was never produced.
- Connections
- Jim Carrey played Mr. Popper
- Philip Baker Hall played Franklin
- Jeffrey Tambor played Mr. Gremmins
Noises Off
Noises Off is a farcical play about the behind-the-scenes troubles of a new play. In a scene shot for the film version in New York City, an advertisement poster for Kodak can be seen displaying an image of Elmo and Big Bird.
- Connections
- Carol Burnett, Michael Caine, Christopher Reeve and John Ritter appeared in the film.
- T. R. Knight appeared in the Broadway revival.
- Louise Gold appeared in the last month of a West End revival (October 2003).
- Paxton Whitehead played Frederick Fellowes in the original Broadway production.
Notting Hill
William Thacker, played by Hugh Grant, opens the 1999 movie Notting Hill, talking about the location of the same name. His voice-over describes a montage of scenes:
- "Notting Hill -- my favorite bit of London... There's the market on weekdays, selling every fruit and vegetable known to man... the tattoo parlour -- with a guy outside who got drunk and now can't remember why he chose 'I Love Ken'..."
- (A woman with hair dyed bright blue exits a hair salon) "The radical hairdressers where everyone comes out looking like the Cookie Monster, whether they want to or not."
Poltergeist
The 1982 film written by Steven Spielberg features a poster of Every Body's Record on the childrens' bedroom wall.
Preschool Power 3
When a little girl pretends to be a doctor with her doll as her patient, the Muppet University Kermit plush can be seen in the background.
Private Parts
In this 1997 film loosely based on Howard Stern's memoir (and starring Stern as himself), when Howard goes to Detroit, the on-air morning man comments that Stern looks like Big Bird. He also jokes that Big Bird will have Kermit the Frog on the upcoming show.
- Connections
- Allison Janney played Dee Dee
- Ozzy Osbourne played himself
- John Popper played himself
- Richard Portnow played Ben Stern
- Reni Santoni played Vallesecca
Problem Child 3
A Big Bird doll appears in the background in one scene.
- Connections
- Gilbert Godfried played Dr. Peabody
- Jack Warden played Big Ben Healey
The Pursuit of Happyness
A scene from the 2006 film, which is set in 1981, shows protagonist Christopher Gardner with a Sesame Street lunchbox featuring Grover, Big Bird, Prairie Dawn, Oscar the Grouch, Barkley, Lefty the Salesman and Sherlock Hemlock.
- Connections
- Dan Castellaneta played Alan Frakesh
- Will Smith played Chris Gardner
Rumble in the Bronx
In the 1995 Jackie Chan movie, a little girl wears a blue sweater with Bert's head on it. She can be seen building large sandcastle when Keung (Jackie Chan) comes ashore with the hovercraft.
- Connections
- Greg Berg provided voices in the English dub
The Sasquatch Gang
The 2006 film features a scene in which Gavin (Jeremy Sumpter) and Sophie (Addie Land) discuss their favorite fantasy films, including Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal.
- Connections
- Stephen Tobolowsky played Ernie Dalrymple
She's All That
Mackenzie asks Laney when was the last time she tweezed her eyebrow. When Laney mentions she never did, Mackenzie asks if she watches Sesame Street and if she knows the character Bert.
- Connections
- Jarrett Lennon played Naylon
- Matthew Lillard played Brock Hudson
- Kevin Pollak played Wayne Boggs
Skinny Tiger and Fatty Dragon
Skinny Tiger and Fatty Dragon
1990 buddy cop martial arts comedy movie starring Sammo Hung as a policeman. In one scene, when he impersonates a jewel thief to foil a robbery, he finds several robbers wearing cartoon masks (mostly Sesame Street characters).
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
1974 movie about a New York subway car that's hijacked and held for ransom.
- Lt. Zachary Garber (played by Walter Matthau): Rico, you want to make yourself useful? Get personnel and tell them to get together a list of all motormen discharged for cause during the past five to ten years.
- Lt. Rico Patrone: What are you looking for?
- Lt. Zachary Garber: Somebody down there knows how to drive a train. You don't pick that up watching Sesame Street. Tell them we want it today.
- Connections
- Bill Cobbs played a man on the subway platform
- Doris Roberts played the mayor's wife
- Jerry Stiller played Lt. Rico Patrone
Tower Heist
The titular heist in the 2011 comedy is set at a tower on the route of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. A Kermit balloon is featured in the parade, his theme music being "Disco Frog" from Sesame Street. When Charlie, the building manager, wonders if anything suspicious is going on at The Tower, a CCTV monitor responds that Miss Piggy has been cut from the parade.
- Connections
- Alan Alda played Arthur Shaw
- Matthew Broderick played Mr. Fitzhugh
- Judd Hirsch played Mr. Simon
- Eddie Murphy played Slide
- Ben Stiller played Josh Kovacs
Waiting for Superman
Waiting for Superman is a 2010 documentary about the American school system. In one scene, a Bear in the Big Blue House book is seen in a little girl's room.
- Connections
- John Legend performs the theme song from the movie
What Would Jesus Buy?
What Would Jesus Buy? is a 2007 documentary produced by Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me) about American consumerism. Several Sesame Street toys are featured including various incarnations of Tickle Me Elmo.
Wreck-It Ralph
Wreck-It Ralph is a 2012 animated Disney film about a video game villain, Wreck-It Ralph, who searches for respect and admiration within his video game world.
In a scene where King Candy enters the Sugar Rush game code, he searches for Ralph's medal among the other character's coins. As he does so, he says to himself, "One of these things is not like the others."
- Connections
- Jane Lynch voices Sergeant Tamora Jean Calhoun
- Sarah Silverman voices Vanellope von Schweetz