A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa

Name: A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa
Released: 2008
Duration: 60 min

64/100Festive FactorWhy it scores 64 ↓

Not BBFC rated60 min · TV special
Comedy · Family

A pleasant, slight Muppet errand that never quite earns its big finish.

Plan this film night ↓Can the kids watch? ↓

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Explore this film 3 sections

The CineClaus Christmas score

Festive Factor

Christmas all the way through.

Five ingredients make the Festive Factor.
Open an ingredient to find out more.

Christmas in the storyChristmas drives it, firmly.25/30

What we ask: Take Christmas out. Does the plot survive? Worth up to 30 of the 100 points.

A world dressed for ChristmasVisibly Christmas for most of it.15/20

What we ask: How much of the running time is visibly Christmas? Worth up to 20 of the 100 points.

The little seasonal details4 of the 10 kinds of Christmas icon we count turn up on screen.6/15

What we ask: How many kinds of Christmas icon turn up on screen: trees, lights, snow, carols and the rest? Worth up to 15 of the 100 points.

A Christmas heartHow far the ending rests on goodwill, family and belief: substantially.15/20

What we ask: Does the ending depend on what Christmas means: goodwill, family, redemption, belief? Worth up to 20 of the 100 points.

A returning traditionNiche at Christmas (under 25,000).3/15

What we ask: Is it actually watched at Christmas in the UK? Worth up to 15 of the 100 points.

77/100

Cosiness Rating Rating

Warm in tone. Nothing bad can really happen. A happy ending.

How we score →

What do these scores mean?

Festive Factor measures how Christmassy a film is. Five ingredients add up to 100: story (30), setting (20), seasonal details (15), emotional heart (20) and returning tradition (15).

Cosiness is a separate score for warmth of tone, sense of safety, visual comfort, a reassuring ending and how easily you can settle into it.

How the Festive Factor works →

The story

About A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa

On Christmas Eve, Gonzo's coat swallows three children's letters to Santa during a post office mishap, and the Muppets decide to get them to the pole themselves. Their errand takes in a bossy airport security officer, a taxi ride, a pair of mob heavies who take against Pepe, and a flight that ends with a sleigh ride. Kermit is pulled between helping his friends and Miss Piggy's holiday plans. It is a made-for-TV musical with four original songs by Paul Williams and a cast of celebrity cameos.

The CineClaus verdict

A pleasant, slight Muppet errand that never quite earns its big finish.

Letters to Santa go astray on Christmas Eve, and the gang cross an airport, a taxi and a plane wing to fix it, with a parade of cameos along the way. The jokes are gentle, the songs are fine and nothing here will worry anyone.

Gonzo's promise to a lonely neighbour gives it a small heart, but Miss Piggy barely gets a look in. Put it on for the youngest, with low expectations and a mince pie.

The family desk

Can the kids watch?

Not BBFC rated

Our take: fine for young children: there is no real threat, only slapstick and a long fall from a plane wing that ends safely in the snow.

Content advice & accessibility

Not BBFC rated: The BBFC has no classification for this film, so it has no UK certificate. Our age guidance above is editorial, not an official rating.