The Bert & Ernie Movie

The Bert & Ernie Movie is a 2022 buddy cop mystery comedy film directed by Shannon Flynn in her feature film debut. and is the third feature film based on the popular children's television series Sesame Street, after 1985's Follow that Bird and 1999's The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland. The movie stars the Muppet characters from Sesame Street, as well as Jonathan Groff, Tilda Swinton, and James Marsters as Sid Ponzi, a serial killer whose plan is to murder everyone he feels contributed to his impoverished childhood (growing up in Los Angeles, Sid's family never had enough money to afford a home, food, or healthcare, and the government turned a blind eye to people like him in favor of shining the spotlight on the lifestyles of the rich and powerful), and eventually, using television and social media to rile up like-minded individuals and anti-government groups into doing the dirty work for him.

Bert and Ernie receive a mysterious phone call from the chief of the Los Angeles Police Department (Groff) telling them to "come quick". It turns out that a long string of murders has taken place throughout the city, and the department's most skilled officers have been either killed or missing in action. The Muppet duo, in spite of their protests that they have no job experience, teams up with street-smart detective Melissa Stokes, AKA Mel (Swinton), in a quest to find the killer, knowing that they may never leave L.A. alive. Along the way, they discover the horrible truth about California's justice system...

Meanwhile, the other Sesame Street residents, discovering Ernie and Bert's exodus to L.A. on the news, make plans to go there and bring them home safely. Once they discover why they're in L.A. to begin with, their plan becomes to help them save the day, with a little help from an old friend, and many of his own friends...

Throughout the story, it is revealed that the film is a pitch made by Ernie to the Warner Bros. board of directors (comprised of Looney Tunes characters), all of whom find the story hard to either keep up with or understand. At the end, the Tunes turn down Ernie's pitch, claiming that a film like that would lose them money.

Produced by Sesame Workshop and Castle Rock Entertainment, the film was released by Warner Bros. Pictures on January 14, 2022. Like its two predecessors, the film received positive critical reviews, but was a box office bomb, earning $21 million against a $15 million budget. The film is dedicated to Caroll Spinney, the longtime puppeteer and voice of Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, who passed away in December 2019. The film was also the first Sesame Street production to receive a PG rating, as it includes scenes that may be too scary for children. The Muppets (i.e. Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy) appear in the film with permission from The Walt Disney Company.

Principal photography occurred between late March and early July 2021 on location in Los Angeles, with scenes featuring the Sesame Street set filmed in New York City.

Cast
Peter Linz as Ernie, Walter, Statler, Robin, Herry Monster, Link Hogthrob, Lips

Eric Jacobson as Bert, Grover, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Oscar, Sam Eagle, Two-Headed Monster, Guy Smiley, The Newsman

Tilda Swinton as Mel

James Marsters as Sid Ponzi

Jonathan Groff as Goodman

Violet Tinnirello as Charlie

Jensen Ackles as Ted

Ving Rhames as Bain

Sean Bean as Enron

Matt Vogel as Kermit the Frog, Big Bird, The Count, Floyd Pepper, Uncle Deadly, Lew Zealand, Sweetums, Mr. Johnson, Camilla

Kevin Clash as Elmo

David Rudman as Cookie Monster, Scooter, Janice, Baby Bear, Beaker, Two-Headed Monster

Dave Goelz as Gonzo, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Zoot, Waldorf, Beauregard

Bill Barretta as Rowlf, Pepe the Prawn, Dr. Teeth, The Swedish Chef, Bobo

Martin P. Robinson as Telly, Snuffy

Leslie Carrara-Rudolph as Abby

Jennifer Barnhart as Zoe

Carmen Osbahr as Rosita

Ryan Dillon as Trevor Monster

Stephanie D'Abruzzo as Prairie Dawn, Little Bird

Warrick Brownlow-Pike as Gonger

Frankie Cordero as Rudy

Stacey Gordon as Julia

Forest Whitaker as Mayor Mulberry

Kevin Bacon as The Mayor's Assistant

William Atherton as Bartender

Charles Hubbell as Lead Protester

Joey Calvan as Woman in Bar

Tyler James Williams as Man in Bar

John Williams III as Captain John-John

Tyrel Jackson Williams as Pink's Hot Dogs Customer

Joe Sabatino as Thug in Bar

Chris Knowings as Chris

Suki Lopez as Nina

Alan Muraoka as Alan

Eric Bauza as Bugs Bunny, Tweety Bird, Marvin the Martian, Speedy Gonzales

Jeff Bergman as Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, Sylvester, Foghorn Leghorn, Pepe Le Pew

Fred Tatasciore as Yosemite Sam, Tasmanian Devil

Bob Bergen as Porky Pig

Additional L.A. Muppet Performers: Louise Gold, Brian Henson, Karen Prell, Brad Abrell, Catherine Adell, Christian Anderson, Joe Annabi, Rachel Appelbaum, Steve Axtell, Grant Baciocco, Greg Ballora, Kristy Baltezore, David Barclay, Tim Barnes, Erwin Jake Bayan, Nate Begle, Sarah Berman, Carol Binion, Ronald Binion, Tim Blaney, Darren Bluestone, Phoebe Bottoms, Jordan Brownlee, Julianne Buescher, Kevin Carlson, Kristin Charney, Brian Clark, Anita Coulter, Nathan Danforth, Dorien Davies, Marsian DeLellis, Alice Dinnean, Steven Dirckze, Amie Enriquez, Artie Esposito, Peggy Etra, Mary Faber, Molly Fite, Genevieve Flati, Thom Fountain, Lexy Fridell, Dan Garza, Chris Guerra, BJ Guyer, Josh Han, Terri Hardin, Langston Hatch, Andy Hayward, Rachel Herrick, Gwen Hollander-Schrader, Alissa Hunnicutt, Morgana Ignis, John Jennings, Jan Johns, Patrick Johnson, Scott Johnson, Sean Johnson, Victoria Johnson, Brian Michael Jones, Kelvin Kao, Kate Katz, Chris M. Kauffmann, Jonathan Kidder, Donna Kimball, Andy Rocco Kraft, Erik Kuska, Tim Lagasse, Scott Land, Frank Langley, Bruce Lanoil, Adrian Rose Leonard, Len Levitt, Cheryl Lewis, Jayden Libran, Paul Louis Muller, Derek Lux, Amanda Maddock, Stefanie Malouf, Dawnie Marie, Emily Marsh, Drew Massey, Jess McKay, Ted Michaels, Danny Montooth, Alison Mork, James Murray, Sarah Sarang Oh, Michael Oosterom, Brett O'Quinn, Christine Papalexis, Chris Patstone, Michael Paul, Janine Pibal, Felix Pire, Mike Quinn, Jared Ramirez, Rachel Redleaf, Amber Reeder-Vega, Steven Ritz-Barr, Emory Royston, Carla Rudy, Paul Rugg, Keith Saltojanes, Nicolette Santino, Stoph Scheer, Benjamin Schrader, Joe Selph, Benjamin Siemon, Michelan Sisti, David Skelly, Colleen Smith, Jaime Soria, Jeff Speetjens, Kenny Stevenson, David Strassman, Ryne Strom, Brittaney Talbot, John Tartaglia, Taylor Tofflemire, Allan Trautman, Cheri Lynne VandenHeuvel, Art Vega, Jack Venturo, Alex Villa, Russ Walko, Robin Walsh, Rob Wight, Jonathan C.K. Williams, Mark Bryan Wilson, Chase Woolner, Victor Yerrid, Michelle Zamora (Uncredited: Marky Andrews, Jackson Barretta, Rachel Burson, Bryan Forrest, Alex U. Griffin, Sam Koji Hale, Darci Lynne Farmer, Zoe Rose Palladino, Trey Stokes, Norman Tempia)

Additional N.Y. Muppet Performers: Pam Arciero, Tyler Bunch, R. Bruce Connelly, Latoryah Alexander, Drew Allison, Packy Anderson, Heather Asch, Connor Asher, Billy Barkhurst, Aretta Baumgartner, Lawrence Basgall, Jake Bazel, Tau Bennett, Evy Berman Wright, Kirk Bixby, David Bizzaro, Cheryl Blaylock, Marcelo R. Bottaro, Adam Bourque, Rickey Boyd, Lindsey Z. Briggs, Matthew Brooks, Harrison Bryan, R. Lee Bryan, Lisa Buckley, Melvin Campbell, Andrew A. Cano, Jessica Carleton, Raymond Carr, Frank Cesario, Weston Chandler Long, Ceili Clemens, John Cody, Jimmica Collins, Austin Michael Costello, Melissa Creighton, Carole D'Agostino, Emily DeCola, Jamie Donmoyer, James Retter Duncan, Ben Durocher, Jodi Eichelberger, David Matthew Feldman, Hope Fennig, David Fino, Galen Fott, Bradley Freeman Jr., Matthew Furtado, Mark Gale, Aymee Garcia, Cameron Garrity, James Godwin, Sam Jay Gold, Jenny Hann, Elizabeth Hara, Forrest Harding, Zachary Haumesser, Christopher Thomas Hayes, Scott Hitz, Jon Hoche, Patrick Daniel Holmes, Cedwan Hooks, Keri Horn, Jason Jacoby, Haley Jenkins, Avery Lee Jones, Laura Kay, James Kemp, Vicki Kenderes-Eibner, John Kennedy, Kathleen Kim, Kay Koch, Joe Kovacs, Mary Robinette Kowal, Adam Kreutinger, Jim Kroupa, Matthew Krygier, Michael Latini, Spencer Lott, Jon Ludwig, Rick Lyon, Lara MacLean, Noel MacNeal, David Manley, Jim Martin, Ed May, Cathy McCullough, Paul McGinnis, Tracie Mick-Shoemaker, Kristy Moon, Andrew Moriarty, Jason Murphy, Kelly Nesheim, Sarah Nolen, Anney Ozar, Chris Palmieri, Annie Peterle, Marc Petrosino, Megan Piphus, Jen Ponton, David Quesal, Kiera Robbins, Julie Dansby Scarborough, Michael Schupbach, Michael Schwabe, Yinan Shentu, Brandon Smith, G. Scott Spence, Thom Stanley, David Stephens, Andy Stone, Lisa Sturz, Ian Sweetman, Thomas Trinh, Gabriel Velez, Michael T. Verdi, Jordi Wallen, Chad Williams, Noel Williams, James Wojtal Jr., Eric Wright, Gretchen Wylder, Bryant Young (Uncredited: Liz Joyce, Matthew Lavin, Joey Rudman, Jack Vogel, Daniel Weissbrodt, Dante Zuccaro)

Crew
Directed by Shannon Flynn

Screenplay by Rob Letterman

Story by Christine Ferraro and Ken Scarborough

Produced by Andrew Scheinmann, Lisa Henson, Kay Wilson Stallings, Benjamin Lehmann, Alex Rockwell

Executive Producers: Rob Reiner, Brian Henson, Joe Dante, Kirk R. Thatcher, Martin G. Baker

Director of Photography: Alan Caso, ASC

Production Designer: Sean Haworth

Edited by Alan E. Baumgarten, ACE

Music by Michael Giacchino

Additional Music by Andy Blythe and Marten Joustra

Music Supervisor: John Debney

Creature Shop
Puppet Captain: Kevin Clash

Creative Supervisor: Jason Weber

General Manager: Constance Peterson

Production Crew: Melissa Creighton, Alana De Matteo, Jonathan Ehrich, Brad Elliott, Carolyn Fanelli, Alex "Jurgen" Ferguson, Scott Johnson, Peter MacKennan, Casey Miller, Joseph Roddy, David Skelly, Russ Walko

Muppet Stunt Coordinator: Fred Buchholz

Project Supervisor: Paul Hartis

Muppet Designers and Builders: Paul Andrejco, Heather Asch, Ed Christie, Edward Eyth, Jane Gootnick, Paul Hartis, Michelle Hickey, Rollie Krewson, Jim Kroupa, Peter MacKennan, Lara MacLean, Tom Newby, John Orberg, Anney Ozar, Connie Peterson, Stephen Rotondaro, Polly Smith, Jason Weber, James Wojtal Jr., Robert H. Bennett, Carol Binion, Ronald Binion, David Bizzaro, Cheryl Blaylock, Mary Brehmer, Matthew Brennan, Jamie Bressler, Matthew Brooks, Rachel Burson, Michael Bush, Brian Carson, Ceili Clemens, John Cody, Gretchen Crookes, Carole D'Agostino, Alana De Matteo, Andrea Detwiler, Isabelle Dufour, Ben Durocher, Richard Dyar, Victoria Ellis, Henri Ewaskio, Alex "Jurgen" Ferguson, Bob Flanagan, Rob Gardner, Joel Gennari, Vanessa Gifford Gillis, Deborah Glassberg, James Godwin, BJ Guyer, Tyler Hall, Elizabeth Hara, Deborah Hertzberg, Scott Hitz, Joshua Holden, Ann Marie Holdgruen, Cedwan Hooks, J. Douglas James, Scott Johnson, Jean Marie Keevins, James Kemp, Ariella Knight, Joe Kovacs, Janet Kuhl, Sarah Lafferty, Tim Lagasse, Michael Latini, Spencer Lott, Kari Love, Amanda Maddock, Laura Manns, Cathy McCullough, Jess McKay, Tom McLaughlin, Leah N. Olbrich, Gabriella Padilla, Anna Paniccia, Marc Petrosino, Jane Pien, Kenneth Rainey, Kate Rusek, Rob Saunders, Sierra Schoening, Michael Schupbach, Jessica Simon, David Skelly, Erin Slattery Black, Keely Snook, Norman Tempia, Whitney Thayne, Mari Tobita, David Parkinson Valentine, Russ Walko, Robin Walsh, Stacey Weingarten, Jean-Guy White, Noel Williams, Julie Zobel (Uncredited: Julianne Buescher, Artie Esposito, Patrick Johnson, Sean Johnson, Adam Kreutinger, Frank Langley, Rick Lyon, Drew Massey, Michael Oosterom, Victor Yerrid)

Muppet Costume Supervisor: Polly Smith

Muppet Costumes: Lisa Bober, Lisa Davis, Vanessa Gifford Gillis, Marian Keating, Muriel Stockdale Grabe, Haley Who

Puppet Wranglers: Heather Asch, Gretchen Crookes, Andrea Detwiler, Rob Gardner, Michelle Hickey, Tim Lagasse, Lara MacLean, Amanda Maddock, Anney Ozar, Rob Saunders, Michael Schupbach, Jessica Simon, Russ Walko, Stacey Weingarten

Muppet Special Effects Technicians: Fred Buchholz, Jim Kroupa, Frank Langley, Tom Newby

Muppet Props Masters: Brad Elliott, Susan Pitocchi

Trivia
An alternate opening was filmed where Chief Earl "Snarl" Goodman knocks out guards to release Sid Ponzi from prison, an event which headlines the L.A. Times. While it was eventually removed so the film could introduce the Sesame Street characters first, it was repurposed as a major plot point, as Bert and Ernie watch footage of this scene and discover that the chief of the LAPD is actually a sleazy turncoat willing to allow the people he swore to protect to be gunned down in cold blood so he can fatten his pockets with their tax dollars and life savings. This leads the disgusted duo to ask the L.A. police force to stand up to their chief, lest they be seen as complicit in his corruption.

Benjamin Bratt, Josh Brolin, Nicolas Cage, Chris Evans, William Fichtner, William Forsythe, David Harbour, Christopher Lloyd, Al Pacino, and Sam Rockwell all auditioned for the role of the film's villain before James Marsters was cast.

Before Tilda Swinton was cast as Mel, Bryce Dallas Howard, Zoe Kravitz, Kate McKinnon, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Alicia Silverstone, Kristen Stewart, Sigourney Weaver, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead all auditioned.

Chief Goodman is played by Jonathan Groff. Jensen Ackles, Paul Dano, Jesse Eisenberg, Santino Fontana, Josh Gad, Toby Kibbell, Jared Leto, and Chris O'Donnell also eyed for the part.

Ryan Dillon was unavailable for much of the film's production, due to him being busy with shooting content for Sesame Street in New York, so one of his characters, Trevor Monster, was puppeteered on-set by Colleen Smith, with Dillon dubbing the voice in post-production (his other main character, Elmo, was performed by Kevin Clash).