Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey
Seen it?2011 | 80 min | Documentary
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Critics loved it (95% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had almost no lasting buzz and soft box office. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for the curious. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Eye-opening.
- The pace
- Moves along nicely, at 1 hr 20 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Beloved by children of all ages around the world, Elmo is an international icon. Few people know his creator, Kevin Clash, who dreamed of working with his idol, master puppeteer Jim Henson. Displaying his creativity and talent at a young age, Kevin ultimately found a home on Sesame Street. Narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, this documentary includes rare archival footage, interviews with Frank Oz, Rosie O’Donnell, Cheryl Henson, Joan Ganz Cooney and others and offers a behind-the-scenes look at Sesame Street and the Jim Henson Workshop.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
95% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
7.2 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$311K worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactWeak
About 6K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
Won't You Be My Neighbor?
Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed documentary that fewer people know today.
Katy Perry: Part of Me
Weeknight WatchAnother documentary, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Supersonic Sunday Safe BetAnother documentary, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
The Pixar Story Sunday Safe BetAnother documentary, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
Miss Americana
Saturday SpecialAnother documentary that's easy to miss.
Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks
Cast & crew
Directed by Constance Marks
- Whoopi GoldbergNarrator (voice)
- Frank OzSelf
- Kevin ClashSelf
- Bill BarrettaSelf
- Fran BrillSelf
- Joan Ganz CooneySelf
- Arsenio HallSelf
- Hugh JackmanSelf
- Kermit LoveSelf
- Martin P. RobinsonSelf