Synopsis

After accidentally losing his beloved blanket during a quarrel with Zoe, Elmo follows it into Grouchland, a strange world hidden inside Oscar's trash can. There, the greedy Huxley claims the blanket as his property. With help from new friends and encouragement to be brave, Elmo journeys to Huxley's castle, rescues the blanket, and learns the value of sharing and friendship.

Factoids & Trivia

• Released on October 1, 1999, the film was the second theatrical feature based on Sesame Street, following Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird (1985).

• The production shot the Grouchland sequences at EUE/Screen Gems Studios in Wilmington, North Carolina. The set was raised so the puppeteers could work standing up instead of crouching below the streets, as they usually did on Sesame Street.

• Bert and Ernie appear as commentators who address the audience during the story. Their scenes were filmed later in New York, after the main production had wrapped.

• The film was produced by Columbia Pictures, Jim Henson Pictures, and Children's Television Workshop. It was one of the relatively few Sesame Street projects produced directly by The Jim Henson Company.

• John Debney composed the score, while the musical numbers brought together songwriters including Siedah Garrett and the songwriting team of Michael and Patty Silversher.

• With a reported production budget of $26 million, the film earned approximately $11.7 million in domestic theatrical release, making it a significant box-office disappointment.

• The story was expanded into a trilogy of Random House children's books published in 1999: Happy Grouchy Day, The Grouchiest Lovey, and Unwelcome to Grouchland.

• Columbia TriStar released the film on VHS and DVD on December 21, 1999. A double-feature DVD pairing it with Thomas and the Magic Railroad followed in 2007.