You’re sitting on the couch, craving that specific 1980s New York grit mixed with felt puppets, and you open Disney Plus. You type it in. Nothing. You try "Manhattan." Still nothing. It feels wrong, doesn't it? Disney owns the Muppets. Disney Plus is the "home" of the Muppets. Yet, The Muppets Take Manhattan streaming remains one of the most frustrating vanishing acts in digital media.
Honestly, it’s a licensing nightmare that makes even Kermit the Frog want to scream.
While almost every other piece of Jim Henson’s legacy—from The Muppet Movie to the 2011 reboot—sits comfortably behind the Disney paywall, this 1984 classic is the outlier. If you want to watch the gang try to get "Manhattan Melodies" on Broadway, you have to look somewhere else. Usually, that means opening your wallet for a digital rental.
The Sony Problem: Who Actually Owns This Movie?
The biggest misconception is that Disney owns everything with a pinging "Wocka Wocka" in it. They don't.
Back in 1984, the Muppets weren't a Disney property. The Muppets Take Manhattan was produced by TriStar Pictures. If you look at the logo on the opening credits, it’s not a castle; it’s a pegasus. TriStar is owned by Sony Pictures.
When Disney bought the Muppets in 2004, they bought the characters and most of the library, but they didn't get the distribution rights for the films owned by other studios. This created a fractured landscape. Sony kept the keys to The Muppets Take Manhattan and Muppets from Space.
Because Sony holds the distribution rights, they aren't about to hand them over to their biggest competitor, Disney, for free. This is why, as of early 2026, you won't find it on Disney Plus alongside Great Muppet Caper.
Where Can You Find The Muppets Take Manhattan Streaming Right Now?
Since it isn't on a major "free with subscription" service like Netflix or Disney Plus, you have to go the VOD (Video on Demand) route. Basically, you're looking at a digital rental.
The film is widely available for purchase or 48-hour rental on:
- Amazon Prime Video
- Apple TV / iTunes
- Google Play Store
- Fandango at Home (formerly Vudu)
In Canada, sometimes it pops up on Crave, but for US viewers, it’s almost exclusively a "pay-per-view" situation. Prices usually hover around $3.99 for a rental or $12.99 to buy it outright.
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Is It Worth the Extra Five Bucks?
Look, I’m biased. But yes.
This movie is peak Frank Oz. It’s his solo directorial debut, and you can feel the shift in energy. It’s faster, cynical in a way that feels very "80s NYC," and features the debut of the Muppet Babies.
Think about the diner scene. Pete’s Diner is a character in itself. The "Rat Scullery" sequence is some of the best puppetry in the franchise. If you’re a parent trying to introduce your kids to the Muppets, this is the one that actually feels like a "real" movie rather than just a series of skits tied together by a road trip.
The 4K Upgrade You Might Have Missed
If you are a hardcore fan, stop looking for The Muppets Take Manhattan streaming in HD and look for the physical 4K UHD release.
Sony actually did something right a couple of years ago. They released a 4K disc that looks incredible. Most streaming versions are compressed and look a bit muddy, especially during the darker scenes in the New York alleys. The 4K restoration cleaned up the grain while keeping the filmic look. If you own a high-end TV, the digital rental version won't do it justice.
Why This Movie Hits Differently in 2026
We live in an era of CGI perfection. Watching The Muppets Take Manhattan now is a reminder of what practical effects can do. When Kermit gets amnesia and becomes "Phil," an advertising executive, there's a tangible weight to the character that a digital render just can't replicate.
Also, the cameos. Joan Rivers. Gregory Hines. Brooke Shields. It’s a time capsule of a New York that doesn't really exist anymore—grungy, hopeful, and slightly dangerous.
Actionable Steps to Get Your Muppet Fix
Don't spend an hour scrolling through Disney Plus hoping it'll magically appear. It won't. If you want to watch it tonight, here is the move:
- Check your digital libraries: You might have bought it years ago on an old account and forgotten.
- Use a search aggregator: Use a tool like JustWatch to see if it has recently moved to a service like Peacock or Hulu, as Sony frequently licenses its mid-budget catalog to those platforms for short windows.
- Buy, don't rent: Since it rarely stays on a subscription service for more than a month or two, the $10-$13 purchase price is actually a better deal for Muppet fans.
- Wait for the 2026 Special: With the new Muppet special starring Sabrina Carpenter hitting Disney Plus in February 2026, there is a small chance Disney might try to cut a temporary deal with Sony to host the older films as a "collection." Keep an eye on the "New on Disney Plus" announcements next month.
If you’re tired of the "streaming shuffle," this is one of those titles where owning the physical Blu-ray or a permanent digital copy is the only way to ensure it's there when you need it.
Next Steps for Muppet Fans:
If you've already rewatched Manhattan and need more, check out the 2026 revival of The Muppet Show on Disney+. It features the first major variety show format we've seen in years, and the production quality is reportedly much closer to the Frank Oz era than the 2015 mockumentary style.