Minor Movie Mentions

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 and Minor Documentary Mentions.

All Nighter

In the 2017 film about the adventures of the estranged father and ex-boyfriend of a seemingly missing girl, father Mr. Gallo refers to the ex as Kermit several times due to his banjo playing.

Connections

• Taran Killam played Gary
• Kristen Schaal played Roberta
• J. K. Simmons played Mr. Gallo

American Fiction

A 2023 film about an African-American author who, fed up with the success of novels that play on black stereotypes, writes one under a pseudonym that employs those same stereotypes to the extreme, only to be shocked when it becomes a huge success.

As Thelonious "Monk" Ellison prepares for a meeting under the guise of his alter ego, his agent, Arthur, criticizes his choice of clothing, saying, "I told you to dress street." When Monk says he did, wearing a simple gray t-shirt and jeans, Arthur responds, "Fucking Sesame Street."

Connections

• Sterling K. Brown played Dr. Clifford "Cliff" Ellison
• Issa Rae played Sintara Golden
• Tracee Ellis Ross played Dr. Lisa Ellison
• Miriam Shor played Paula Baderman
• Leslie Uggams played Agnes Ellison
• Jeffrey Wright played Thelonious "Monk" Ellison

Animal Crackers

A 2017 computer animated film about magical animal crackers. When leaving the circus after a memorial service for their aunt and uncle, Owen and Zoe receive a box of animal crackers. When their daughter Mackenzie discovers them, they claim that it'll turn her into a Cookie Monster. Later, when returning to the circus, Chesterfield the clown greets Owen, who has turned into a bear as a result of eating the animal crackers, as Fozzie. Fozzie Bear's name also appears in the end credits of the film.

Connections

• Emily Blunt played Zoe Huntington
• Danny DeVito played Chesterfield
• Harvey Fierstein played Esmerelda
• Gilbert Gottfried played Mario Zucchini
• John Krasinski played Owen Huntington
• Ian McKellen played Horatio P. Huntington
• Sylvester Stallone played Bulletman
• Tara Strong played Talia
• Raven-Symoné played Binkley
• Patrick Warburton played Brock

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.

Argo

In this 2012 Best Picture Oscar-winning movie, Ben Affleck plays CIA agent Tony Mendez who's trying to convince his superiors to agree to his plan for the rescue of six US Embassy employees in 1980 Iran. When meeting with Cyrus Vance (US Secretary of State) and Stansfield Turner (Director of Central Intelligence), his boss Jack O'Donnell tells him, "Brace yourself. It's like talking to those two old fucks on the Muppets."

Connections

• Alan Arkin played Lester Siegel
• John Goodman played John Chambers
• Bob Gunton played Cyrus Vance
• Philip Baker Hall played Stansfield Turner
• Richard Kind played Max Klein

Baby Driver

During an early scene where Baby talks with his deaf foster father Joseph, Baby holds a banana in his ear, and says "Sorry, I couldn't hear you. I have a banana in my ear," referencing the Ernie and Bert sketch on Sesame Street.

Connections

• Jamie Foxx played Leon
• Jon Hamm played Jason
• Paul Williams played the Butcher

The Babysitter

A 2017 Netflix Comedy/Horror film about a group of teens in a demonic cult.

After getting covered in blood John complains to Allison, commenting on her yellow cheerleading uniform "What the hell are you wearing? Looking like Big Bird's side bitch."

Connections

• Bella Thorne played Allison

Bad Moms

Amy, Carla and Kiki are out to dinner with their kids and discuss Amy's chances at the candidate night for the PTA president position. They begin to talk about their own kids' flaws and Carla says "My son still watches Sesame Street. And he doesn't get it."

Connections

• Christina Applegate played Gwendolyn
• Kristen Bell played Kiki
• Kathryn Hahn played Carla
• Mila Kunis played Amy
• Lilly Singh played Cathy
• Martha Stewart played herself
• Wanda Sykes played Dr. Karl

The Band's Visit

In a scene set in a child's bedroom, an Elmo doll is seen on the shelf.

Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar

As Barb and Star gloss over a menu, Star wants to try the frogs' legs. Barb is immediately reminded of the bicycle scene with Kermit in The Muppet Movie; the scene itself is excerpted later in a "life flashing before eyes" montage.

In the audio commentary, Greenbaum refers to the title characters as having "Bert and Ernie beds."

Connections

• Vanessa Bayer played Debbie
• Reba McEntire played Trish
• Wendi McLendon-Covey played Mickey

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

The Benchwarmers

Muppets from Space on bottom shelf, farthest left

The Benchwarmers is a 2006 comedy film. On a video store shelf, Muppets from Space can be briefly glimpsed.

Connections

• Terry Crews played a poker player
• Jon Lovitz played Mel
• Rob Schneider played Gus

Big

A 1988 fantasy-comedy film directed by Penny Marshall.

Late in the film, as Josh and Susan discuss developing a new product line, a Big Bird StoryMagic plush is seen in the background.

Connections

• Elizabeth Perkins played Susan
• Tom Hanks played Josh
• Jon Lovitz played Scotty

Big Sky River

In the 2022 Hallmark Movies & Mysteries film, Sheriff Boone Taylor of Parable, Montana, owns two horses named Bert and Ernie.

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 played Gil Gordon
• Jack Black played Brad Harris
• John Cleese narrates a historical montage
• Anjelica Huston played Annie Auklet
• Rashida Jones played Ellie
• Steve Martin played Stu Preissler
• Joel McHale played Barry Loomis
• Jim Parsons played Crane
• Kevin Pollak played Jim Gittelson
• Al Roker played a New York weatherman
• Ben Stiller executive produced

Blended

After an unsuccessful blind date, Jim and Lauren find themselves stuck together in a resort with their kids. They go to the dining room where they are met by Mfana, who says "Hello, Mr. Snuffleupagus." Jim corrects him by saying "Heh, Theodopolis."

Connections

• Drew Barrymore played Lauren
• Terry Crews played Nickens
• Joel McHale played Mark
• Wendi McLendon-Covey played Jen
• Adam Sandler played Jim
• Bella Thorne played Hilary

Bon Cop Bad Cop 2

A sequel to a popular Canadian film, this bilingual title was released in 2017. When David Bouchard introduces himself as from the Sûreté du Québec, the American cops decide he can't be speaking French. Suggesting German and Swedish, they conclude he speaks like the Swedish Chef.

Boulevard

In this 2014 movie featuring Robin Williams, a game show is playing on a hospital TV, where the contestants compete under a category called Famous Lovers. One of the questions is, "One of TV's most unusual romances involved two characters from The Muppet Show, one is a pretty porker named Miss Piggy." The contestant correctly answers Kermit the Frog.

The Bucket List

The 2007 movie about two elderly men, diagnosed with cancer. They make a shared "Bucket list" with things they want to do before they die of their cancer. While Carter watches Jeopardy, one of the questions is "These two Muppets are roommates on the long-running show Sesame Street". Carter says the answer out loud, "Who are Bert and Ernie?"

Connections

• Morgan Freeman played Carter
• Sean Hayes played Thomas
• Alex Trebek played himself

Carry On, Emmannuelle

1978 entry in the Carry On series of bawdy British comedies, with a repertory company broadly spoofing occupations or movie genres, and the final entry until the 1992 reunion Carry On Columbus. In this parody of the French sex comedy Emmannuelle, servants peep at their employer and his wife in the bedroom. The butler tells the elderly boot boy he should look through the keyhole. When he asks what he'll see, the butler says, "Well, it certainly won't be The Muppet Show."

Castle in the Sky

A 1986 Japanese animated film directed by Hayao Miyazaki, known as Laputa: Castle in the Sky outside of America, about a young boy and girl who attempt to keep a magic crystal from military agents while searching for the titular castle. The film has two English dubs, one produced in 1989 by Magnum Video Tape and Dubbing to be played for international Japan Airlines flights, and distributed by Streamline Pictures in the United States, and a dub recorded by The Walt Disney Company in 1998 and released in 2003.

In the Magnum dub, after Pazu falls through the roof of his house, Sheeta falls on top of him, and asks if he's OK, he responds, "Are you kidding? I'm built like a brick Muppet if Muppets were made of brick."

Connections

• Barbara Goodson voices Sheeta in the Magnum dub
• Mark Hamill voices Colonel Muska in the Disney dub
• Cloris Leachman voices Dola in the Disney dub
• James Van Der Beek voices Pazu in the Disney dub
• Frank Welker does creature voices in the Disney dub

Cats Don't Dance

A 1997 animated film that takes place in an alternate history 1939 where a dancing orange tabby cat named Danny wants to be a movie star like Fred Astaire. One of the movie posters parodied at the end of the movie before the credits is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, with T.W. Turtle as Raphael.

Connections

• Don Knotts voices T.W. Turtle
• Kathy Najimy voices Tillie Hippo
• Frank Welker voices Farley Wink.

Chairman of the Board

In this 1998 film, Edison (Carrot Top) is fired from his job as a restaurant's chicken mascot. A telegram arrives. Asked who Edison is, a roommate identifies him as Big Bird.

A Christmas Kiss

2011 TV movie about an assistant who falls in love with her boss's boyfriend. After the two have decorated the Christmas tree of the future, Adam Hughes suggests that they see Charlie Brown's Christmas, The Grinch, It's a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Story and The Muppet Christmas Carol. Wendy asks him if he's sure that he's game to watch all of them, even the Muppets, and Adam says that he is.

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 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, uncredited.

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.

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

Barry tells a couple from Switzerland that he speaks some of their language, and proceeds to deliver some mock Swedish.

Connections

• Steve Carell played Barry
• Jemaine Clement played Kieran
• Zach Galifianakis played Therman
• Randall Park played Henderson
• Paul Rudd played Tim
• Kristen Schaal played Susana
• Octavia Spencer played Madame Nora

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
• Sylvester Stallone played Barney Ross
• Bruce Willis played Mr. Church

Firebreather

A 2010 made for TV Cartoon Network animated movie about the life of Duncan, the son of a human female and male kaiju.

• During biology class, Duncan creates a distraction so he can rescue a tiny kaiju by bouncing around a frog set for dissection and screaming "They're waterboarding Kermit!"

Connections

• Kevin Michael Richardson voiced Belloc
• Nicole Sullivan voiced Dr. Alexandrine Pytel

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.

Connections

• Emily Blunt played Violet Barnes
• Kevin Hart played Doug
• Mindy Kaling played Vaneetha
• Kumail Nanjiani played Pakistani Chef
• Randall Park played Ming
• Jason Segel co-wrote the movie and played Tom Solomon
• Molly Shannon played Onion Chef
• Nicholas Stoller co-wrote and directed the movie

Fletch Lives

In the 1989 sequel to 1985's Fletch, following a scene in which he's made a man squeal like a pig in order to get a termite out of his ear, the title character begins an internal dialogue, "After my close call with Miss Piggy, I couldn't wait to get home."

Connections

• Chevy Chase played Irwin "Fletch" Fletcher in both movies
• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played himself in Fletch
• Richard Belzer played Phil in Fletch Lives
• Geena Davis played Larry in Fletch
• Richard Libertini played Frank Walker in both movies
• George Wendt played Fat Sam in Fletch

Ghostlight

A 2024 dramedy about a family working through their grief while performing in a production of Romeo and Juliet.

One of the actresses in the production, Rita, is seen wearing a Cookie Monster t-shirt several times throughout.

Girls Just Want to Have Fun

1985 comedy written by Amy Spies. Janey Glenn, arguing with her father about getting to go out at night shouts, "We made a deal when I was seven and a half, nightlife was The Muppet Show!"

Connections

• Helen Hunt played Lynne Stone
• Sarah Jessica Parker played Janey Glenn
• Jonathan Silverman played Drew

Go Back to China

When spoiled rich girl Sasha Li blows through most of her trust fund, she is cut off by her father and forced to go back to China and work for the family toy business. When Sasha takes her father's designers to Hong Kong to look at products and get new ideas for toys, she takes them to a toy store where Sesame Street Backpack Buddies Elmo and Sesame Street Mini Collection Bert can be seen in the background.

Go Figure

In the 2005 Disney Channel movie about figure skating, the main character Katelin owns a Big Bird plush, which is dressed up in a blonde wig and googly eyes.

Connections

• Brittany Curran played Pamela
• Kristi Yamaguchi played herself

Golden Age

A 2006 animated mockumentary by Augenblick Studios Inc. which parodies various animated characters in media. In the Hansel and Gretel segment, Ernie and Bert are shown as lovers as an example of romantic inclinations.

Gregory's Girl

A school hallway in this 1980 Scottish teen comedy is decorated with a poster featuring Kermit the Frog, Fozzie Bear, Animal, and Dr. Teeth that reads, "Listen kids! Don't forget to brush your teeth every morning and every night because — Clean teeth don't decay! —ask Dr. Teeth here..."

Connections

• John Gordon Sinclair played Gregory

Grimsby (a.k.a The Brothers Grimsby)

2016 comedy film starring Sacha Baron Cohen. At the beginning of the opening credits a group of teenagers are walking down the street and a poster of The Swedish Chef promoting Warburtons Giant Crumpets can be seen in the background.

Connections

• Penélope Cruz played Rhonda George
• Ian McShane played MI6 Spy Boss

Head Over Heels

2024 romantic movie for the Hallmark Channel. During a party, Addison utilizes a whisper campaign to get guests to visit Austin's section of the party. She cites that she got the idea from The Muppets Take Manhattan.

Hot Pursuit

In a fight over a gun, Rose Cooper calls Daniella Riva's slurs dirty and disgusting. Riva responds, "Dirty? I'm gonna show you dirty, Miss Piggy."

Connections

• Sofía Vergara played Daniella Riva
• Reese Witherspoon played Rose Cooper

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

• Aziz Ansari as Eugene
• 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

I Wonder Who's Killing Her Now

1975 comedy about a man who hires a hitman to kill his wife and changes his mind, only to find the hit was passed on continually to a weird array of characters. One of them, the vampire-like mad surgeon Dr. Binay, speaks with a Transylvanian accent, prompting a waiter to ask, "Are you on Sesame Street?"

Connections

• Bob Dishy played Jordan Oliver
• Richard Libertini played Jack Kirsten/waiter
• Pat Morita played Heshy Yamamoto

In Search of the Ultra-Sex

Fisher-Price Miss Piggy puppet getting it on with Barbie's Ken.

The 2015 film is the English subtitled version of A la Recherche de l'Ultra-Sex, a French comedy film written, directed, and edited by the comedy duo Nicolas & Bruno, who used around a hundred (more or less non explicit) excerpts from vintage porn movies from the 1970s and 1980s, of which they re-dubbed all male and female characters to create a plot loosely revolving around a global pandemic that infects the world with infinite lust.

In one brief scene, a Fisher-Price Miss Piggy puppet can be spotted, simulating sex with a Mattel Ken doll. It is not directly stated which original porn movie the scene is to be credited to.

Jack and Jill

Regis Philbin is filming a Pepto-Bismol commercial, produced by Jack (Adam Sandler). Philbin is perturbed that the stomach puppet is getting better lines than him. A scraggly puppeteer pops up from under the bed. "What do you mean cut, man? I got to be at Sesame Street by one."

Connections

• Johnny Depp made a cameo
• Eugenio Derbez played Felipe
• Katie Holmes played Erin
• Caitlyn Jenner made a cameo
• Norm Macdonald played Funbucket

Just Go with It

In the 2011 film, someone refers to a big nosed person as Snuffleupagus.

Connections

• Rachel Dratch played Kristen Brant
• Keegan-Michael Key played Ernesto
• Nicole Kidman played Devlin Adams
• Adam Sandler played Danny Maccabee

Joy Ride

Early in the film, Lolo comments that she and Audrey are as iconic a pair as "Bert and Elmo." Audrey corrects her that Ernie is part of that duo.

Connections

• Seth Rogen was a producer for the film

Killer Condom

The 1996 German horror film includes a scene in which the main character, a detective played by Udo Samel, searches a New York City apartment containing two pieces of Miss Piggy memorabilia.

The King of Staten Island

In the 2020 film, Scott's mom Margie says his first tattoo was of Kermit the Frog smoking a joint. He got it when he was 16. "I don’t remember that episode of Sesame Street," Ray jokes.

Connections

• Moises Arias played Igor
• Robert Smigel played Alan Moskowitz
• Marisa Tomei played Margie Carlin

The Kitchen

In the 2012 film, Pam (Catherine Reitman) says "Kenneth? It's like the Cookie Monster walked in here. So loud."

Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector

Complaining about his new partner, the titular character grouses "You ever see that program, Sesame Street? Bert and Ernie, them little fellas? You ever see them, that was a team, all right? They got all their work done, to get to have dadgum fun."

Learning to Drive

In the 2014 film, Jasleen is watching Sesame Street to learn English. She watches the Spanish animated insert, "Peligro," and sounds out the word.

Connections

• Samantha Bee played Debbie
• John Hodgman played a car salesman
• Ben Kingsley played Darwan Singh Tur

Let Go

A woman finds Ed Asner's elderly character standing in front of a crosswalk on a busy street and asks him if he needs help. He replies, "Yeah, you can help. I'm looking for the barn. Can you point the way, Miss Piggy?" The woman breaks down crying claiming that her therapist says her nose is exotic.

Connections

• Ed Asner played Artie
• Kevin Hart played Kris Styles

Lisa Frankenstein

The titular character's crush Michael asks her stepsister Taffy to have a moment alone with Lisa, quoting Oscar Wilde as a means of appeasing her, to which Taffy rebuttals "Oscar Wilde may have said that, but Oscar the Grouch said "Scram!"".

Connections

• Cole Sprouse played The Creature

Little Miss Sunshine

In a scene near the beginning of the film, Frank Ginsberg can be seen sitting in one of his sister's children's rooms with a Sesame Street pillow behind him.

Connections

• Alan Arkin played Edwin Hoover
• Steve Carell played Frank Ginsberg
• Paul Dano played Dwayne Hoover
• Greg Kinnear played Richard Hoover
• Gordon Thomson played Larry Sugarman

Little Monsters

At one point in the film, Audrey serenades some children with "I Don't Want to Live on the Moon."

Connections

• Josh Gad played Nathan Schneider/Teddy McGiggle
• Lupita Nyong'o played Audrey Caroline

Loose Cannons

During the climactic shootout, neo-Nazi assassin Grimmer (Paul Koslo) corners Detective Mac Stern (Gene Hackman) and taunts him, saying "All right, hold it, Cookie Monster."

Connections

• Dan Aykroyd played Detective Ellis Fielding
• Reg E. Cathey played Willie
• Dom DeLuise played Harry "The Hippo" Gutterman
• David Alan Grier played Drummond

MaXXXine

2024 horror film about an adult film star trying to break into mainstream cinema while fending off a serial killer stalking her. Maxine brings up Brooke Shields as an example of a contemporary movie star while discussing her ambitions. Leon responds, "Brooke Shields didn't do porn." Maxine retorts, "So? She still got naked and now she's in a fucking Muppet movie."

Connections

• Bobby Cannavale played Detective Torres
• Giancarlo Esposito played Teddy Knight
• Toby Huss played a coroner
• Michelle Monaghan played Detective Williams

Meatballs

1979 comedy directed by Ivan Reitman (Ghostbusters) and starring Bill Murray as a summer camp counselor. One of the kids has a Cookie Monster on his bed.

Connections

• Elmer Bernstein scored the film
• Jack Blum played Spaz
• Chris Makepeace played Rudy Gerner

Meteor

1979 disaster film featuring Sean Connery and Natalie Wood about the Cold War politics involved in the detection of an asteroid on a collision course with Earth. During a farewell ceremony at the airport, Brian Keith's character carries a gift bag holding a Fozzie Bear plush doll.

Connections

• Henry Fonda played The President
• Martin Landau played General Adlon

Morning Glory

2010 film. When Becky Fuller is unsuccessful at rebooting a fourth place morning show, station executive Jerry Barnes sarcastically suggests that she might go to PBS, "to kill Sesame Street."

Connections

• Ty Burrell played Paul McVee
• Jeff Goldblum played Jerry Barnes
• Morley Safer played himself

Mother's Day

2016 film. A standup comedian is talking about how his girlfriend is obsessed with their daughter picking up his British accent. "All the other kids are watching Sesame Street, our baby is sat down in front of Downton Abbey."

Connections

• Sarah Chalke played Gabi
• Jennifer Garner played 2nd Lieutenant Dana Barton
• Jon Lovitz played the comedy club owner
• Garry Marshall directed and co-wrote the story
• Penny Marshall narrated
• Timothy Olyphant played Henry
• Julia Roberts played Miranda Collins
• Jason Sudeikis played Bradley Barton

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. Popper's Penguins

2011 movie 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

My Year of Dicks

Based on Pamela Ribon's 2014 memoir Notes to Boys: And Other Things I Shouldn't Share in Public, the 2022 Oscar-nominated short film My Year of Dicks tells the story of the author's attempts to lose her virginity during her teenage years. In Chapter 3, Pam tells her best friend Sam that birds value their relationships which she explains by telling the story of how nobody believed Big Bird's best friend Mr. Snuffleupagus was real until producers realized this was teaching kids that no one might believe them if they had big secrets, so they made everyone see Snuffy. Sam responds to her tearful delivery by asking if she thinks that Big Bird is a real bird.

Neighbors

In the 2014 comedy movie (directed by Nicholas Stoller, starring Zac Efron and Seth Rogen), while trying to make synonyms for "bros before hoes", Teddy (Efron) says "Bert and Ernie before Squirt and Spermy."

The trailer starts with an a capella version of "The People in Your Neighborhood".[1]

Connections

• Adam Devine played one of the historical members of Delta Psi Beta.
• Anders Holm played one of the historical members of Delta Psi Beta.
• Andy Samberg played one of the historical members of Delta Psi Beta.

Office Christmas Party

When Clay Vanstone prays to God to bless the office Christmas party, he also says, "Oh, and tell Prince and David Bowie how much they meant to everybody. I mean, Labyrinth, Purple Rain....they know."

Connections

• Jason Bateman played Josh Parker
• Vanessa Bayer played Allison
• Rob Corddry played Jeremy
• Kate McKinnon played Mary Winetoss
• Olivia Munn played Tracey Hughes
• Randall Park played Fred

Once I Was a Beehive

In this 2015 film about a Latter-Day Saint (Mormon) summer camp, one of the girls asks the others whether they'd prefer marrying a serial killer they really loved, or a man who only says "mahna mahna."

Picture This

Kevin Pollak's father character, Tom Gilbert, is baby-sitting. Looking to entertain the child with a DVD, he says "Sesame Street's always good, as is Barney."

Connections

Ashley Tisdale played Mandy Gilbert

Please Stand By

2018 film about a young woman in assisted living who struggles to submit her Star Trek script to a writing contest.

• Audrey tells her sister Wendy that her daughter Ruby can now say momma, dadda, and Elmo, "[laughs] she loves Elmo."

Connections

• Dakota Fanning played Wendy

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

In this 1995 TV movie sequel, a plush Big Bird appears in the background when Junior talks to a therapist.

Connections

• Gilbert Gottfried played Dr. Peabody
• Marianne Muellerleile played Miss Hicks
• Jack Warden played Big Ben Healy

The Pursuit of Happyness

A scene from the 2006 film, which is set in 1981, shows protagonist Christopher Gardner (Will Smith) 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

Reno 911! The Hunt for QAnon

During a scene when Lieutenant Dangle and his bicycle are lifted in the air by a bunch of balloons, Deputy Jones comments that he "looks like Gonzo up there," referring to Gonzo's balloon flight in The Muppet Movie.

Later, the officers argue if Mr. Snuffleupagus' name is pronounced "Snuffleupagus" or "Snuffleuffagus."

Rocketman

A photo of Elton John's performance of "Crocodile Rock" from The Muppet Show is shown during the end credits.

Connections

• Jamie Bell played Bernie Taupin
• Taron Egerton played Elton John
• Elton John was executive producer and co-wrote "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again"
• Gemma Jones played Ivy
• Steven Mackintosh played Stanley Dwight

Roller Boogie

Linda Blair's character in the 1979 teen exploitation film has a Miss Piggy "Pig Power" poster hanging on her closet door.

Rollercoaster

In this 1977 crime drama directed by James Goldstone, two kids are throwing a frisbee over a man's car while he's washing it. The man yells at them, "Go home and watch Sesame Street!"

Connections

• Henry Fonda played Simon Davenport
• Helen Hunt played Tracy Calder

Ron's Gone Wrong

When an altercation between B-Bots breaks out at the school, the observing Bubble staff remark that the sight is like "Mad Max meets Sesame Street."

Connections

• Zach Galifianakis voiced Ron
• Ed Helms voiced Graham
• Liam Payne voiced a B-bot

Rubber

In the 2010 movie, an old Ernie plush doll could be seen in the desert in the opening along with other old junk.

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 playing within a large sandcastle and is rescued by Keung (Jackie Chan) from an approaching 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

Save the Last Dance 2: Stepping Up

When Franz notices Miles and Sara are in a relationship and go together, he says they are like Bert and Ernie.

Connections

• Ne-Yo played Mixx

Set It Up

The 2018 Netflix film features a scene in which Harper tells Charlie that her boss, Kristen, is if Miss Piggy and Voldemort had a baby.

Connections

• Tituss Burgess played Creepy Tim
• Taye Diggs played Richard "Rick" Otis
• Lucy Liu as Kirsten Stevens

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

• Sarah Michelle Gellar played a Girl in Cafeteria (uncredited)
• Jarrett Lennon played Naylon
• Matthew Lillard played Brock Hudson
• Kevin Pollak played Wayne Boggs
• Gabrielle Union played Katarina "Katie" Darlingson

A Simple Wish

In the 1997 family comedy, an Elmo figure can be seen in the background in Anabel's room.

Connections

• Alan Campbell played Tony Sable
• Ruby Dee played Hortense
• Teri Garr played Rena
• Martin Short played Murray
• Kathleen Turner played Claudia

The Singing Detective

2003 film starring Robert Downey, Jr. as a detective novelist with a skin disease. In one scene, a nurse (Katie Holmes) applies ointment to his body, and he tries to think of unsexy things in order not to get aroused. One of the phrases he says to himself is "Muppets and puppets!"

Connections

• Mel Gibson played Dr. Gibbon
• Jon Polito played Second Hood
• Alfre Woodard played Chief of Staff

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 Smokers

2000 movie directed by Kat Slater, starring Dominique Swain and Thora Birch. One character does a Kermit the Frog impression and laments over what kids would call him when he was short and ugly in the eighth grade, "Kermit the Frog coming to you live from The Muppet Show".

Step It Up 2: The Streets

Moose says, “Yeah, we're her crew! We're getting ready to battle at the streets.“ Felicia replies back, “What street? Sesame Street?”

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

• Thomas Barbour played the TA chairman
• Bill Cobbs played a man on the subway platform
• Doris Roberts played the mayor's wife
• Jerry Stiller played Lt. Rico Patrone

Strange Darling

2024 thriller with a non-linear structure about a man and woman who engage in a one-night stand that devolves into a cat-and-mouse game of murder. During the one-night stand, while coming up with a stop word, the man and woman agree on "Mr. Snuffleupagus" being said phrase. As the film is divided into chapters, "chapter 1" is referred to on-screen as "Mister Snuffle".

They Cloned Tyrone

In this 2023 sci-fi comedy, Slick Charles suspects a conspiracy when the "Muppet-looking motherfucker" he killed the previous night reappears, alive, as the manager of a fried chicken restaurant.

Connections

• Jamie Foxx played Slick Charles
• David Alan Grier played the Preacher

Together Together

During a conversation scene in the 2021 comedy, main character Matt (played by Ed Helms) compares his father to Dr. Bunsen Honeydew while talking to his child's surrogate mother Anna. Anna, being 21 years his junior, is unfamiliar with the character. Matt explains to her who Honeydew is and his dynamic with Beaker, to which Anna bluntly responds "I guess that makes me your Beaker."

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
• Judd Hirsch played Mr. Simon
• Eddie Murphy played Slide
• Ben Stiller played Josh Kovacs

The Trip

The Trip is a British 2010 comedy starring Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon. Twice in the movie, Brydon's impressions are compared to Muppets.

The War of the Roses

1989 film about a couple's escalating divorce proceedings. About ten minutes into the movie, Barbara Rose is walking in the snow, and while the camera starts to zoom out, "We Wish You a Merry Christmas", with the Sesame Street cast, starts playing in the background. As the camera moves across a rooftop, Oliver Rose is seen sitting at a desk saying "Okay, that's the sixth time, now turn it off honey," and the music stops playing.

Connections

• Dan Castellaneta played the man in the chair
• Danny DeVito played Gavin D'Amato and directed
• Kathleen Turner played Barbara Rose
• David Wohl played Dr. Gordon