The Happytime Murders

"No sesame. All street."

2018 1h 31m EN

😐

5.8

MID

★5.8TMDB · 1,116

ActionCrimeComedy

Synopsis

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In a world where humans coexist with puppets—who are seen as lesser citizens—cast members of a beloved 1990s children's television series begin getting murdered one by one. Puppet Phil Philips, an ex-LAPD detective-turned-private eye, takes on the case at the request of his old boss in order to assist his former partner, Detective Connie Edwards.

“No sesame. All street.”

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Cast

Melissa McCarthy
Detective Connie Edwards
Bill Barretta
Phil Philips / Junkyard / Boar (voice)
Leslie David Baker
Lt. Banning
Elizabeth Banks
Jenny
Joel McHale
Agent Campbell
Maya Rudolph
Bubbles
Dorien Davies
Sandra (voice)
Drew Massey
Goofer / Vinny (voice)

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Brian Henson
Writers: Todd Berger, Todd Berger, Dee Austin Robertson
Languages: English
Countries: China, United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 69% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 8 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: China, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Brian Henson, shot by Mitchell Amundsen. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Christopher Lennertz. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Editor Brian Scott Olds shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Melissa McCarthy and Bill Barretta and Leslie David Baker carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "No sesame. All street.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Brian Henson directs. Mitchell Amundsen behind the camera. Christopher Lennertz scores. Brian Scott Olds cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in China, United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 69% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
2Released 8 years ago.
3International production across 2 countries: China, United States of America.
4Directed by Brian Henson, shot by Mitchell Amundsen. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Christopher Lennertz. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Brian Scott Olds shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Melissa McCarthy and Bill Barretta and Leslie David Baker carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "No sesame. All street.".
9IMDB entry: tt1308728 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Classified under 8 themes, including "prostitute", "fbi", "adult humor", "puppet".

The technical file

Cinematography: Mitchell Amundsen
Original score: Christopher Lennertz
Editing: Brian Scott Olds
Production design: Chris L. Spellman
Costume design: Arjun Bhasin
Makeup / hair: Ma Kalaadevi Ananda
VFX supervisor: Sam Nicholson
Sound: Marc Fishman
Stunt coordinator: Luci Romberg
Runtime: 91 min · 1h 31m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $40,000,000
Box office: $27,506,452
Return: 69% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: The Happytime Murders (2018)

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Brian Henson

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What people are saying

Gimly2020-08-12
★ 3/10
I honestly don't think I've ever loved a Melissa McCarthy led comedy, but I did dare to dream when it came to an R-rated Muppets movie. But when The Happytime Murders came to tread on my dreams, it did not tread softly. Final rating:★½: - Boring/disappointing. Avoid where possible.
jw2022-10-21
★ 5/10
Puppet stories. Why do they have to be over the top? But I get it, it's not the puppets, it's the humans. Pretty much standard plots, standard characters combined; but that's kind of the point. The same thing, but more gross - and more honest. About "more funny", it wasn't my taste. But hey, different tastes. Some will have laugh themselves silly. I haven't heard of Melissa McCarthy before; but it appears this kind of humour is right up her, err, alley; and if you share it, then up yours, too. (yes, that type of humour.)