Muppet Treasure Island
| Industry | Film production and distribution |
|---|---|
| Founded | October 16, 1923 in Burbank, California, United States |
| Founder | Walt Disney |
| Headquarters | Burbank, California , United States |
| Products | Films, television programs |
| Parent | The Walt Disney Company |
Muppet Treasure Island is a 1996 American musical adventure comedy directed by Brian Henson, marking the fifth Muppets feature released theatrically. Loosely based on Robert Louis Stevenson's 1883 novel Treasure Island, the movie follows the approach used in The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992), featuring human actors in principal roles supported by Muppet characters. The cast includes Muppet performers Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Jerry Nelson, Kevin Clash, Bill Barretta, and Frank Oz, with Tim Curry portraying Long John Silver and introducing Kevin Bishop as Jim Hawkins.
The film premiered in the United States on February 16, 1996, distributed by Buena Vista Pictures Distribution. It earned $47 million globally and garnered mostly favorable critiques. This project represents the second Muppets film produced under Walt Disney Pictures, which later acquired the franchise in 2004.
Plot
Jim Hawkins, an orphaned youth, resides at an English inn alongside his companions Gonzo and Rizzo. After pirate Billy Bones recounts stories of hidden treasure and entrusts Jim with a treasure map before his death, Jim and his friends evade a pirate assault on the inn.
They present the map to Squire Trelawney (Fozzie Bear), who finances an expedition aboard the ship Hispaniola. Jim, Gonzo, and Rizzo join as cabin boys, accompanied by Trelawney, Dr. Livesey (Bunsen Honeydew), Beaker, Captain Smollett (Kermit the Frog), and first mate Mr. Arrow (Sam Eagle). They encounter cook Long John Silver (Tim Curry), who befriends Jim but secretly orchestrates a pirate revolt.
Silver tricks Mr. Arrow into abandoning the ship, steals the map during Arrow’s memorial service, and unveils his scheme to claim the treasure for himself. Discovering Silver’s treachery, Smollett attempts to outsmart the pirates by sending non-pirate crew members ashore first; however, Silver kidnaps Jim to gain leverage.
On Treasure Island, Silver pressures Jim to join his pirate crew using Jim’s father’s compass; Jim refuses to comply. Meanwhile, Smollett and his group are captured by a native pig tribe led by Benjamina "Mina" Gunn (Miss Piggy), who is revealed to be Smollett’s former lover.
The pirates locate Flint’s treasure cave only to find it empty, triggering a mutiny against Silver. Despite being a pirate himself, Silver shows genuine concern for Jim and allows him to escape. After Smollett and Mina are captured and nearly executed, Jim rescues them with assistance from Mr. Arrow, regains command of the ship, and defeats the pirates during a battle on the beach.
Silver surrenders but attempts to flee at night using keys belonging to Mr. Arrow. In a tense confrontation with Jim, neither side resorts to violence; Silver departs after returning Jim’s compass but becomes stranded on the island due to his boat being unfit for sailing.
The Hispaniola then sets sail as scuba-diving rats recover the treasure from beneath the ocean.
Cast
- Kevin Bishop portrays Jim Hawkins, an innocent orphan working at the Admiral Benbow Inn who dreams of adventure yet unwittingly forms a bond with pirate Long John Silver.
- Tim Curry plays Long John Silver, a charismatic pirate masquerading as a ship’s cook who guides Jim while secretly plotting to seize control of the Hispaniola. He shares an implied romantic history with Benjamina Gunn and unexpectedly shows kindness toward Jim.
- Billy Connolly appears as Billy Bones, a former pirate from Captain Flint’s crew who passes along the treasure map to Jim before dying from a heart attack.
- Jennifer Saunders acts as Mrs. Sarah Bluveridge, the strict yet caring proprietor of the Admiral Benbow Inn, known for her keen hearing and protective attitude toward Jim and his friends.
Muppets performers
| Performer | Muppet character | Treasure Island role |
|---|---|---|
| Dave Goelz | Gonzo | Himself |
| Bunsen Honeydew | Dr. Livesey | |
| Waldorf | Figurehead | |
| Zoot | Crew member | |
| Mudwell the Mudbunny | Himself | |
| Steve Whitmire | Kermit the Frog | Captain Alexander Smollett |
| Rizzo the Rat | Himself | |
| Beaker | Assistant to Dr. Livesey | |
| Original | Walleye Pike | |
| Frank Oz | Miss Piggy | Benjamina Gunn |
| Fozzie Bear | Squire Trelawney (voice only) | |
| Sam Eagle | Mr. Samuel Arrow (voice only) | |
| Animal | Himself (voice only) | |
| Jerry Nelson | Statler | Figurehead |
| Lew Zealand | Crew member | |
| Floyd Pepper | Crew member | |
| Originals | Blind Pew | |
| Mad Monty | ||
| Old Joe | ||
| Calico | ||
| Old Tom | ||
| Spotted Dick |
Production
Following The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992), the subsequent Muppet feature was selected as an adaptation of a timeless tale. Co-writer Kirk Thatcher advocated for Treasure Island, a choice embraced by the creative team as ideal for the Muppets. Originally, the roles of Jim and Hawkins were intended for Gonzo and Rizzo the Rat, but the studio opted for a human actor to portray Jim Hawkins to provide emotional grounding, ultimately casting Kevin Bishop after nearly one hundred auditions.
In May 1993, Brian Henson revealed plans for a loose Treasure Island adaptation starring the Muppets, with shooting scheduled in London during autumn and aiming for a spring 1994 release. Despite initially lacking a distributor, a first-look agreement was held by Walt Disney Pictures. Due to directing obligations, veteran puppeteer Frank Oz was largely unavailable on set; consequently, fellow performer Kevin Clash operated Oz’s characters—Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Sam Eagle, and Animal—during filming, while Oz later provided their voices in post-production. Clash referred to Oz’s recorded script sessions to preserve character authenticity.
Music
The soundtrack for The Muppet Treasure Island: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack features a score composed by Hans Zimmer, complemented by songs crafted by renowned pop songwriters Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. The film’s closing sequence showcases the reggae number "Love Power," performed by Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, which was released as a single accompanied by a music video featuring Marley alongside the Muppets.
Musical numbers
- "Shiver My Timbers" – performed by The Pirates; composed by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil
- "Something Better" – sung by Jim, Gonzo, and Rizzo; written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil
- "Sailing for Adventure" – delivered by The Hispaniola crew; composed by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil
- "Cabin Fever" – performed by The Hispaniola crew; crafted by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil
- "A Professional Pirate" – sung by Silver and the Pirates; written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil
- "Boom Shakalaka" – performed by Island Natives; composed by Hans Zimmer
- "Love Led Us Here" – sung by Smollett and Benjamina; written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil
- "Love Power" (end credits) – performed by Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers; composed by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil
- "Love Led Us Here" (end credits) – performed by John Berry and Helen Darling
Release
To promote the movie's theatrical debut, a behind-the-scenes documentary featuring both the filmmakers and Muppets was broadcast on the Disney Channel on February 2, 1996. Subsequently, on February 14, 1996, Jim Henson Video issued a direct-to-video Muppet Sing Alongs VHS titled Muppet Treasure Island, hosted by Kermit the Frog and including two musical performances from the film.
Home media
Muppet Treasure Island marked the second collaboration between the Muppets franchise and Walt Disney Pictures, following The Muppet Christmas Carol. Its initial release on VHS was managed by Walt Disney Home Video alongside Jim Henson Video on September 10, 1996, achieving approximately 5 million copies sold. A "Special Edition" DVD version was subsequently issued in Region 1 on August 8, 2000.
The earliest U.S. DVD re-release on June 4, 2002, was available only in fullscreen format; later editions included widescreen options and additional content such as "Hidden Treasure Commentary," "The Tale of the Story Behind the Tail," and a "Treasure Island Sing-Along." On November 29, 2005, Walt Disney Home Entertainment reissued the DVD featuring both fullscreen and widescreen versions to celebrate Kermit the Frog's 50th anniversary. The film made its debut on Blu-ray Disc on December 10, 2013, packaged together with The Great Muppet Caper.
Box office
When Muppet Treasure Island premiered on February 16, 1996 across 2,070 theaters, it generated $7.9 million during its opening weekend, securing third place at the U.S. box office behind Broken Arrow and Happy Gilmore. At that time, it set a new record for the largest February opening weekend for any Disney release. The movie ultimately grossed $34.3 million domestically and accumulated $47.2 million worldwide.
Critical reception
On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 71% approval rating based on 28 critiques, with an average score of 6.3/10. The site's consensus reads: "While it features fewer Muppets than the original trilogy, Muppet Treasure Island delivers an upbeat and lively adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's timeless adventure story, complete with characteristic humor." On Metacritic, it earned a score of 64 out of 100 from 18 reviews, signifying "generally favorable reviews." Audience polling by CinemaScore resulted in an average grade of "A−."
Stephen Holden of The New York Times commended the Muppets' whimsical style for keeping the narrative amusingly unconventional and well-suited to their improvisational talents. Writing for Entertainment Weekly, Ken Tucker awarded a B+ grade, highlighting the film’s visually striking darker tone and effective integration of Muppets with live actors, along with humor that resonates with adult viewers.
In his review for the Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert gave two-and-a-half stars out of four, praising Tim Curry’s portrayal but describing the screenplay as less sharp and considering the film a "near miss." In contrast, Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune rated it two stars out of four, expressing disappointment over how the Muppets were incorporated into a traditional treasure story and favoring their appearance as themselves rather than as pirate characters.
Video game
In 1996, Activision launched a video game adaptation of the movie for both Windows and Mac OS platforms.
Lawsuit
Hormel Foods Corporation, the producer of Spam, initiated legal action against Jim Henson Productions regarding the use of the name "Spa'am" for a pig character representing a tribe. The case was dismissed on September 22, 1995, as the plaintiff was unable to demonstrate any harm. The presiding judge remarked that Hormel might even appreciate the connection to an authentic pork product. Subsequently, when Spa'am appeared in Muppet RaceMania, the character was listed under the name "Pig Chief".