Recently someone on Twitter, and I’m not naming names, referred to Muppet Treasure Island as “garbage.”

Now, if I insist on calling myself a Muppet heretic (and I do), I probably don’t have the right to complain when other people insult Muppet things that I love. But then again, when has not having the right ever stopped anyone from complaining?

Muppet Treasure Island is on an equal footing with The Muppet Movie as my absolute favorite. It’s a return to form after the exercise in healing and experiment in straight storytelling that was The Muppet Christmas Carol. It restored my faith that the Muppets could survive and still be funny even without Jim Henson, and as such, it has always had a special place in my heart. 

Now, I don’t necessarily believe that Muppet Treasure Island is objectively the best, or one of the two best, Muppet movies. However, I think there’s a valid case to be made, and because I’m feeling cranky, I’m going to argue that Muppet Treasure Island is better than every other theatrically released, non-Sesame Muppet movie, except THE Muppet Movie because that is perfection and nothing could possibly ever be better. 

The Great Muppet Caper

Muppet Treasure Island‘s coherent plot makes it far superior. (Of course, that could also be said of literally any other Muppet movie and most other movies in general.)

The Muppets Take Manhattan

Kermit isn’t bitter, angry, and depressed in Muppet Treasure Island the way he is throughout most of The Muppets Take Manhattan.

The Muppet Christmas Carol 

Muppet Treasure Island puts a unique Muppet-y spin on an existing story that The Muppet Christmas Carol is sadly lacking.

Muppets From Space

Muppet Treasure Island has original songs; Muppets From Space does not. 

The Muppets

There are 100% fewer fart shoes in Muppet Treasure Island than there are in The Muppets.

Muppets Most Wanted

Tim Curry > Ricky Gervais (as a villain and also just as a human being).

So there you have it, folks. Conclusive proof that Muppet Treasure Island is better than almost every other Muppet movie, at least according to internet standards, which are apparently all that count anymore.