The Muppet Movie at 40: Home Video Releases!

With celebration of The Muppet Movie's 40th anniversary, we look back at the variety of formats on which people have been able to watch the film at home. 

After it's massive theatrical debut in the summer in 1979, The Muppet Movie made its way to home video in 1980. 


Among it's first releases was this laserdisc released in 1980 by Magnetic Video:

Which was basically the same as their concurrent VHS release:

In addition to laserdisc, and VHS, Magnetic Video also released The Muppet Movie on another now long forgotten format, Beta:

RCA released the film on Selectivision 1981, 

and The Muppet Movie was major part of the company's ad campaign for their VideoDisc System. 

In the 80's through 90's The Muppet Movie was released and rereleased on VHS.

CBS/Fox Video released versions in 1982 and 1984. 

In 1993, Disney released The Muppet Movie on VHS with a free watch, 

as well as a laserdisc that would mark the first time the film was released in Widescreen.

Sony's dual format releases in 1999 marked two occasions, the first time The Muppet Movie was released on DVD and the last time it was released on VHS in the US.

The scant bonus features included director Jim Frawley's camera tests as well as Kermit, Miss Piggy, and Rizzo Muppetisms initially made for the Odessay network. 

Soon after acquiring The Muppets, Disney released The Muppet Movie: Kermit's 50th Anniversary Edition in recognition of Kermit's 50th anniversary. 

The sole bonus feature was Pepe Profiles: Kermit. 

In 2011, Disney released the first ever Bluray of The Muppet Movie with their Nearly 35th Anniversary Edition.   

This release saw the return of Pepe’s Profiles: Kermit - A Frog's Life, an extended version of Jim Frawley's camera test, along with Doc Hopper's Commercial, Original Theatrical Trailers, Frog-E-Oke Sing-Along/ Disney Intermission, and a hidden easter egg of Kermit's bicycle outtakes

This was the film's first HD release, check out this comparison on the upgraded picture from the previously released DVD. 

The Muppet Movie has also been released on home video around the world, but two UK releases stand out among the rest, and for the exact opposite reason. 

This 1987 UK VHS release by Palace, Virgin/PVG is notable for having many differences from the US theatrical version. 

It runs a full 5 minutes longer and includes a slightly longer comedy club performance from Fozzie, a longer dance number with Kermit, a short opening and closing speech from Doc Hopper on his French Fried Frogs Legs commercial, a longer conversation between Doc Hopper and Max before they encountered Kermit and Fozzie in the rainbow-painted Studebaker, Dr. Teeth gives a more in-depth reading from the script over scenes from the film, an extra verse is added to "I Hope That Something Better Comes Along", a different instrumental track is used for "Never Before, Never Again", and the Muppets' conversations during the end credits can be heard.

You can watch Dr. Teeth's extended script reading and hear the alternate music during "Never Before, Never Again" below:

By far the most interesting release of The Muppet Movie though was its VERY first home video release in 1980 on Super 8 film. 

The home video market was just starting and no format (VHS, Beta, or laserdisc) had really taken hold yet, and therefore there weren't any real standard players. Super 8 film was popular for recording home movies and therefore many people already had the projectors in their homes.

The studios wanted to capitalize on this accessibility, so they released many popular films on the format including Star Wars. One of the problems though was how much content could fit on the small reel of film. The full length of feature films was too long for the reels so they needed to be edited in order to fit. 

The total run of this version is a scant 18 minutes. Most of the running gags, most second verses of songs were all cut. New sound effects and audio cues were created. All the guest stars appear, though some of their lines were cut, and except for the shot were Doc Hopper and Max get hit with the giant pie, they are neither seen nor mentioned. 

You can watch the entire Super 8 version below:

Remember, you can celebrate The Muppet Movie's 40th Anniversary not just at home, but at a theater near you too thanks to Fathom Events. 

And here's something you'll only see in the theater, the Universal logo. 

According to Jim Henson Legacy President Craig Shemin, while ATV was the original distributor, and The Jim Henson Company owned the rights for a while, and though Disney owns the rights to film now, Universal owns the exclusive theatrical rights in perpetuity!

I hope you enjoyed this look back at the many sizes, shapes, and formats The Muppet Movie has been released. 

Who know what formats will be next, but someday we'll find it....until then, check out the alternate end credit sequence from the extended version where you can actually hear the Muppets dialogue during the credits.