Family time at the movies

BRIAN WILLIAMS, anchor: Finally tonight, we will hand you off to the holiday weekend with this. This is always a big movie weekend because families are together, but if that includes kids, it's sometimes dicey to find something appropriate at the multiplex. But not this year. From Muppets to penguins, there's suddenly a lot out there, and the current crop of family movies is being rewarded with people's business. From Hollywood tonight, here's NBC 's Miguel Almaguer .

MIGUEL ALMAGUER reporting: It may have taken them 12 years...

ALMAGUER: ...but the Muppets have staged a big-screen comeback.

ALMAGUER: Their return comes during one of Hollywood 's biggest holiday weekends, and " The Muppets " are just one headliner in a marquee full of family friendly flicks.

Unidentified Woman: It's nice to have movies you can see with the kids.

Unidentified Girls: "Happy Feet Two."

ALMAGUER: From dancing penguins in "Happy Feet Two"...

ALMAGUER: ...to a house of animals in "We Bought a Zoo," Hollywood 's plot this weekend, a family affair .

Mr. BORYS KIT (The Hollywood Reporter): What's really interesting is that all the family movies are getting really great, awesome reviews, and that's really quite unheard of.

ALMAGUER: For Hollywood , going family could mean big bucks . The studios could rake in an estimated $270 million this extended holiday weekend alone.

Mr. PAUL DERGARABEDIAN (Hollywood.com President): If it's the right family movie , people will reach into their pocketbook. It's certainly going to be in the top two or three Thanksgiving weekends of all time.

ALMAGUER: And while the stars have always been able to pull in the kids...

ALMAGUER: ...this year it seems they also have a plan to lure in the adults.

Mr. JON STEWART: What are you plugging?

Mr. JIMMY FALLON: Give it up for Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy , everybody.

ALMAGUER: Hollywood going late night to make sure this weekend is one the entire family remembers.

ALMAGUER: Miguel Almaguer, NBC News, Hollywood .