The Happytime Murders (2018)

When the puppet cast of a '90s children's TV show begin to get murdered one by one, a disgraced LAPD detective-turned-private eye puppet takes on the case.

Director:

Brian Henson

Writers:

Todd Berger (screenplay by), Todd Berger (story by)

Stars:

Melissa McCarthy, Elizabeth Banks, Maya Rudolph

1 win & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Melissa McCarthy	...	Detective Connie Edwards
Elizabeth Banks	...	Jenny
Maya Rudolph	...	Bubbles
Leslie David Baker	...	Lt. Banning
Joel McHale	...	Agent Campbell
Cynthy Wu	...	Brittenie Marlowe
Michael McDonald	...	Ronovan Scargle
Mitch Silpa	...	Tommy
Hemky Madera	...	Tito
Benjamin Cole Royer	...	Rick
Brekkan Spens	...	Dick
Ryan Tran	...	Phil
Fortune Feimster	...	Robin
Brian Palermo	...	Paramedic (as Brian Joseph Palermo)
Damon Jones	...	Police Station Guard John / Puppet Doctor

Storyline

A murder mystery set in a world where humans and puppets co-exist, but puppets are viewed as second-class citizens. When the puppet cast of an '90s children's TV show begins to get murdered one by one, a former cop, who has since become a private eye, takes on the case.

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Plot Keywords:

wisecrack humor | fictional drug | violence | f word | murder mystery | 

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Taglines:

No Sesame. All Street.

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong crude and sexual content and language throughout, and some drug material

Details

Official Sites:

Facebook Instagram

Country:

USA China

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 August 2018 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Happytime Murders

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$9,532,425, 26 August 2018, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$20,706,452, 27 September 2018

Company Credits

Production Co:

STX Entertainment, Huayi Brothers Media, Black Bear Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

DTS SDDS Dolby Atmos

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Melissa McCarthy, Maya Rudolph and Ben Falcone were in Bridesmaids (2011).

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Goofs

When Edwards goes to speak to Phil after he was arrested, she states that the incident between Phil and Sandra's father happened 20 years ago. Later, during the scene at the airport, Phil states to Jenny that the incident was 12 years ago.

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Quotes

Agent Campbell: I'll have your badge for this! I'm in the fuckin' FBI!
Phil Philips: Oh yeah what's that stand for, "fuckin' big idiot?"

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Connections

Referenced in WatchMojo: Top 10 Summer 2018 Movies Not on Your Radar (2018)

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Soundtracks

Low Rider
Written by Thomas Allen (as Thomas Sylvester Allen), Harold R. Brown (as Harold Brown), Morris D. Dickerson (as Morris Dickerson), Jerry Goldstein (as Gerald Goldstein), Lonnie Jordan (as LeRoy L Jordan), Lee Oskar (as Lee Oskar Levitin), Charles Miller (as Charles W. Miller), Howard E. Scott
Performed by War
Courtesy of Far Out Productions, Inc.
By arrangement with BMG Rights Management (US) LLC

User Reviews

Terrible, but funny.

It would be the easiest thing in the world to alate this film and brand it terrible, but I'm going to focus on the positives, the media hate seems this the worst film of the year, and true it's not good. However is very different, it's very original, and at times it had myself and the whole cinema laughing loudly. They took a risk, and I'm unsure it will have paid off, they went for a safe pair of comedy hands with Melissa McCarthy, and personally I found her really funny. Obviously the film has limitations with what it can do, and where it can go, but it's not so bad as it's being made out to be. The Sharon Stone scene is absolutely hilarious.

It's not a wow, but at least it's different, that deserves some credit in this day and age, right? 6/10