Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas (1977)

80% of users liked it
(4,949 ratings)

Rating, Runtime: G, 48 min.
Directed By: Jim Henson
Written By: Lillian Hoban, Jerry Juhl, Russell Hoban
Genres: Musical & Performing Arts, Kids & Family

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1977 Wide
On DVD: Nov 6, 2001

Critic Reviews

Charles Cassady, Common Sense Media
Early Muppet TV special with warmth, tunes, critters.
David Cornelius, eFilmCritic.com
A thing of wonder, one of the all-time great Christmas specials.
Gregory Weinkauf, ÜberCiné
The greatest agnostic redneck holiday puppetshow ever devised.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Tim S

One of my favorite Christmas stories from childhood.
Michael G

Loved this when I was a kid and even then it kind of depressed me. I know it was the 70s but how the hell can anyone get excited about earning 50 cents or even winning $50? I'll admit that's my own baggage. The old school puppetry is still great and the Riverbottom Nightmare… More
Loved this when I was a kid and even then it kind of depressed me. I know it was the 70s but how the hell can anyone get excited about earning 50 cents or even winning $50? I'll admit that's my own baggage. The old school puppetry is still great and the Riverbottom Nightmare Band still rocks 30 years later. I'll openly admit that most of the appeal for Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas is its nostalgia but it's still fun (even if it is hokey) and doesn't really overstay its welcome.
Jason S

Cute for the kids.
James A

I may have watched this 1000 times when I was little.
Matthew Y

A fun and apparently completely forgotten little Muppet Christmas film. It is out-shined by The Muppet Christmas Carol and The Christmas Toy which might account for it not taking on as a the Holiday film it was intended to be. The Story is a reworking of sorts of the short story… More
A fun and apparently completely forgotten little Muppet Christmas film. It is out-shined by The Muppet Christmas Carol and The Christmas Toy which might account for it not taking on as a the Holiday film it was intended to be. The Story is a reworking of sorts of the short story "The Gift of Magi" where each character makes a personal sacrifice to try and afford a Christmas gift for the other. Emmet Otter and his mother both enroll in a talent competition to raise the money and amazing neither wins and the local hooligan band gets the prize money. The Otter's do not get any presents and are technically worse off than they were. A surprising moral lesson that life can be harsh, cruel and unfair and good things don't always happen to good people.
Sarah P

A childhood Xmas favorite!