This article chronicles the history of the depiction ofLego building toys in media franchising with emphasis on film and television co-produced by ownerThe Lego Group.
Brickfilms (films usingLego) have existed since the 1970s. In 2003, Lego officially made its first collaboration to make films based on its toy property. They choseBionicle as the property and they made a deal withMiramax to make a trilogy of Bionicle films. After the trilogy ended, a new trilogy based on Bionicle was planned withUniversal Pictures after the Miramax film contract ended and the first film in the new trilogy would be titledBionicle: The Legend Reborn, but plans broke down between Lego and Universal, resulting in the fifth film being cancelled. Another film was later released, entitledLego: The Adventures of Clutch Powers. The film received positive reviews from fans and critics and, after the DVD release, a sequel was set to star Clutch as the hero again. A short film based on Clutch Powers was later released but a full sequel never materialized. The name "Clutch Powers" is a tribute to the term the LEGO Group uses in quality control tests to describe characteristics of the ABS plastic: "clutch power" describes the force with which studs and anti-studs adhere.[1]
In the summer of 2009, Lego made a deal withWarner Bros. Pictures to make a film based on the property. In the same year,Lego also planned the concept for the now successful themeLego Ninjago. In 2011, Lego released a TV series titledNinjago: Masters of Spinjitzu andNinjago series achieved popularity. A video game based on the show was later released and the show reached its planned conclusion after a two-year run.
A new show titledLegends of Chima aired in January 2013 and was intended to beNinjago's successor. The show received mixed reviews, however, with Lego fans instead demanding the return ofNinjago. Lego revivedNinjago: Masters of Spinjitzu in 2014 with a new season and continued to release 1–2 seasons every year.
Initially titledLego: The Piece of Resistance, the film was later renamedThe Lego Movie by Warner Bros. and was released in February 2014. Due to the critical and commercial success of the film, it launcheda franchise, and its sequel,The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, was released five years later, while its spin-offs,The Lego Batman Movie andThe Lego Ninjago Movie, were released in 2017, with an animated television series titledUnikitty! premiering in the same year.The Lego Ninjago Movie is not connected to the events shown in the television show.
In 2014,Mixels also debuted. In late 2015,Nexo Knights was introduced, replacingLegends of Chima.
In late 2016,Ninjago released a Halloween TV special for its fifth anniversary.
An additional film with Warner Bros namedBillion Brick Race was planned, but cancelled in 2018 for unknown reasons. Little is known about what the film was supposed to be, with the exception of some concept artwork shared by director Jorge Gutierrez.
In March 2019,Ninjago released an 88-minute TV movie calledMarch of the Oni on Cartoon Network, which also celebrated the 100th episode of the show. The show reached its 11th year of airing having released season 15 in 2022.
By April 2020,Universal Pictures established a five-year deal for exclusive rights for the production of further Lego films with The Lego Group; the four existing Lego films made by Warner Bros. (The Lego Movie,The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part,The Lego Batman Movie, andThe Lego Ninjago Movie) would stay with that studio. This move potentially allows Universal to make Lego films based on its own catalog of properties such asWoody Woodpecker,Curious George,Jaws,Back to the Future,Jurassic Park,Fast & Furious,The Land Before Time,Despicable Me,The Secret Life of Pets,Johnny English,Sing,Bourne,Ted,Child's Play / Chucky,Shrek,Trolls,Madagascar,Kung Fu Panda,How to Train Your Dragon,The Boss Baby,Spirit,Shark Tale,The Bad Guys,Over the Hedge,Monsters vs. Aliens,Megamind,The Croods,Ruby Gillman, andThe Wild Robot.[2][3][4]
On August 5, 2022, in a podcast interview withThe Ankler, Dan Lin revealed that he'll produce an upcomingLego film that is in development, saying "We know we have to switch it up and take to a different art form that's still true to LEGO." Lin promised that the creative team had "reinvented" the Lego world for the film, but it does not yet have a release date.[5][6] By July 2023, it was announced that it will be a live-action/animation hybrid similar to the films ofThe Lego Movie franchise, and thatAaron and Adam Nee were attached to direct the film.[7][8]
In January 2024, it was announced thatPharrell Williams was making an animatedbiographical film of his career, titledPiece by Piece, in Lego form. It was released on October 11, 2024, byFocus Features the United States and Canada, and Universal Pictures internationally.[9]
In October 2024, Universal Pictures confirmed the production of three new LEGO films, each directed byJake Kasdan,Patty Jenkins, andJoe Cornish. Kasdan's film is based on an original concept by Matt Mider and Kevin Burrows, featuring a script by Andrew Mogel andJarrad Paul. Jenkins is working withGeoff Johns to write the screenplay of her film. Cornish, in turn, is revising a draft byHeather Anne Campbell based on a treatment bySimon Rich. These films are announced to be set in live-action.[10] A new live-action film set in theLego Ninjago theme is also confirmed, and will be written byDan and Kevin Hageman, who were initially the head writers of the first nine seasons of the originalNinjago television series.[11] It remains unclear whether these films will incorporate animation in any form or be entirely live-action.
In July 2025,Kenny Ortega was announced as an executive producer to a live-actiontelevision musical based on theLego Friends theme, set to release in 2026.[12][13]
In August 2025,James Morosini was revealed to be developing a Lego film with Universal titledInner Child fromspec script originally written for live-action.[14]
| Year | Title | Co-production with | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Jack Stone | Artworld UK | Released onVHS.[29] |
| Monty Python & the Holy Grail in Lego | Spite Your Face Productions | Released as a bonus feature on theMonty Python and the Holy GrailDVD release. | |
| 2002 | Lego Racers 4D | Unknown | Shown in the Legoland theme parks. |
| 2005 | Lego Star Wars: Revenge of the Brick | Treehouse Animation | Premiered onCartoon Network. |
| 2006 | Lego Batman: Bricks, Bats & Bad Guys | ||
| Spellbreaker 4D | Unknown | Shown in the Legoland theme parks. | |
| 2008 | Lego Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Brick | M2Film | Premiered on Cartoon Network |
| 2009 | Lego Star Wars: The Quest for R2-D2 | ||
| 2010 | Lego Clutch Powers: Bad Hair Day | Tinseltown Toons Threshold Animation Studios | Released as a bonus feature on theLego: The Adventures of Clutch Powers DVD release. |
| LEGO Prince of Persia Mini Movie | Unknown | Aired onDisney XD. | |
| Lego Star Wars: Bombad Bounty | M2Film | Premiered on Cartoon Network. | |
| 2011 | Lego City: A Clutch Powers 4D Adventure | Threshold Animation Studios | Shown in theLegoland theme parks. |
| 2012 | The Lego Story | Lani Pixels | Produced to celebrate The Lego Group's 80th anniversary. |
| Lego Marvel Super Heroes TV Short | Unknown | Aired onDisney XD. | |
| 2013 | Legends of Chima: 4D Movie Experience | M2Film | Shown in theLegoland theme parks. |
| 2014 | Enter the Ninjago | Warner Animation Group Animal Logic | Released as a bonus feature onThe Lego Movie DVD and Blu-ray release. |
| 2016 | The Lego Movie: 4D – A New Adventure | Pure Imagination Studios | Shown in the Legoland theme parks. |
| Nexo Knights 4D: The Book of Creativity | M2 Entertainment | ||
| Lego Jurassic World: Employee Safety Video | Universal Pictures Home Entertainment | Released as bonus on theJurassic World/Lego Jurassic World 2-pack DVD. | |
| The Master | Warner Animation Group Animal Logic | Shown in theaters withStorks. | |
| 2017 | Batmersive VR Experience | Virtual reality short film; released online. | |
| Dark Hoser | Released as bonus features onThe Lego Batman Movie DVD release. | ||
| Batman is Just Not That Into You | |||
| Cooking with Alfred | |||
| Movie Sound Effects: How Do They Do That? | |||
| Shark E. Shark in "Which Way to the Ocean?" | Released as bonus features onThe Lego Ninjago Movie DVD release. | ||
| Zane's Stand Up Promo | |||
| 2018 | Lego Ninjago: Master of the 4th Dimension | Pure Imagination Studios | Shown in the Legoland theme parks. |
| Emmet's Holiday Party | Warner Animation Group Animal Logic | Released onYouTube. | |
| 2019 | Lego City 4D - Officer in Pursuit | Pure Imagination Studios | Shown in the Legoland theme parks. |
| Lego City Sky Police and Fire Brigade - Where Ravens Crow | M2 Entertainment | Released on YouTube as a two-part short series. | |
| 2022 | Lego Mythica 4D - Journey to Mythica | Unknown | Shown in the Legoland theme parks. |
| 2023 | Lego Dreamzzz 4D Movie | ||
| 2024 | Lego Friends 4D Alien Invasion |
| Year | Title | Co-production with | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Lego Atlantis: The Movie | Threshold Animation Studios | Cartoon Network | |
| 2011 | Lego Star Wars: The Padawan Menace | Animal Logic Lucasfilm Animation | Includes a YoungHan Solo Lego minifigure in theDVD release. | |
| 2012 | Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out | Threshold Animation Studios/Lucasfilm Animation | Includes aDarth Vader with Medal Lego minifigure in the DVD release. | |
| 2013 | Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Maximum Overload | Arc Productions Marvel Entertainment | Disney XD | Originally released as a five-part short miniseries. |
| 2014 | "Brick Like Me" | Gracie Films 20th Century Fox Television | Fox | Aired as the 550th episode ofThe Simpsons. |
| Jake's Buccaneer Blast | M2Film | Disney Junior | Originally released as an eight-part short series. | |
| Lego DC Comics: Batman Be-Leaguered | Warner Bros. Animation DC Entertainment | Cartoon Network | [30] | |
| 2015 | Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Avengers Reassembled! | Arc Productions Marvel Entertainment | Disney XD | [31] |
| Lego Scooby-Doo! Knight Time Terror | Warner Bros. Animation | Cartoon Network | [32] | |
| Lego Elves: Unite the Magic | Ja Film | Disney Channel | ||
| 2016 | Lego Jurassic World: The Indominus Escape[33][34] | Universal Pictures Home Entertainment | Direct-to-video | Originally released as a five-part short series. |
| Lego Elves: Dragons To Save, Time To Be Brave | Ja Film | Disney Channel | ||
| Lego Elves: Down a Dark Path | ||||
| Lego Frozen Northern Lights[35] | M2Film | Originally released as a five-part short series. | ||
| Ninjago: Day of the Departed | Wil Film ApS | Cartoon Network | Halloween special ofNinjago: Masters of Spinjitzu. | |
| 2017 | Lego DC Super Hero Girls: Galactic Wonder | Warner Bros. Animation DC Entertainment | Boomerang Cartoon Network | |
| Lego Marvel Super Heroes - Guardians of the Galaxy: The Thanos Threat | Marvel Entertainment | Disney XD | [36] | |
| 2018 | Lego Marvel Super Heroes - Black Panther: Trouble in Wakanda | YouTube Disney XD | [37] | |
| Lego Jurassic World: The Secret Exhibit | Atomic Cartoons Universal Studios | NBC | [38][39] | |
| 2019 | Lego Marvel Spider-Man: Vexed by Venom | Atomic Cartoons Marvel Entertainment | YouTube Disney XD | [40][41] |
| 2020 | Lego Monkie Kid: A Hero is Born | Flying Bark Productions | TV3 | |
| Lego Jurassic World: Double Trouble | Atomic Cartoons Universal Studios | Nickelodeon | [42][43] | |
| The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special | Atomic Cartoons Lucasfilm Animation | Disney+ | [44] | |
| Lego Marvel Avengers: Climate Conundrum | Atomic Cartoons Marvel Entertainment | YouTube Disney XD | ||
| Lego Hidden Side: Night of the Harbinger Halloween Special | Pure Imagination Studios | Cartoon Network | [45] | |
| 2021 | Lego Monkie Kid: Revenge of the Spider Queen | Flying Bark Productions | TV3 | |
| Lego Star Wars: Terrifying Tales | Atomic Cartoons Lucasfilm Animation | Disney+ | [46][47] | |
| Lego Marvel Avengers: Loki in Training | Atomic Cartoons Marvel Entertainment | [48] | ||
| Lego Friends: Holiday Special | WildBrain Studios | YouTube | ||
| 2022 | Lego Marvel Avengers: Time Twisted | Atomic Cartoons Marvel Entertainment | Disney+ | [49] |
| Lego Monkie Kid: Embrace Your Destiny | Flying Bark Productions | CITV | Originally released as a four-part miniseries. | |
| Lego Star Wars: Summer Vacation | Atomic Cartoons Lucasfilm Animation | Disney+ | [50][51] | |
| 2023 | Lego Monkie Kid: The Emperor's Wrath | Flying Bark Productions | HappyKids | |
| Lego Disney Princess: The Castle Quest | Pure Imagination Studios | Disney+ | [52] | |
| Lego Jurassic Park: The Unofficial Retelling[53][54] | Atomic Cartoons Universal Studios | Peacock | Retelling of the filmJurassic Park.[55] | |
| Lego Marvel Avengers: Code Red | Atomic Cartoons Marvel Entertainment | Disney+ | [56] | |
| 2024 | Lego Marvel Avengers: Mission Demolition | Atomic Cartoons Marvel Studios Animation | [57] | |
| 2025 | Lego Disney Princess: Villains Unite | Atomic Cartoons | [58] | |
| 2026 | UntitledLego Friends live-action TV special | Final Pixel | - | [12] |
| Title | Original running | Seasons / Episodes | Co-production with | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ended | |||||
| Edward and Friends | 1987 | 1 season, 28 episodes | FilmFair | BBC2 | Based on theFabuland theme. |
| Galidor: Defenders of the Outer Dimension | 2002 | 2 seasons, 26 episodes | CinéGroupe Tom Lynch Company | Fox Kids | First live-action series based on a Lego theme. |
| Little Robots | 2003-2005 | 5 seasons, 65 episodes | Cosgrove Hall Films | CBeebies | |
| Lego Hero Factory | 2010–2014 | 11 episodes | Threshold Animation Studios (episodes 1–10) Ghost (episode 11) | Nicktoons (episodes 1–10) YouTube (episode 11) | |
| Ninjago | 2011–2022 | 15 seasons, 210 episodes | Wil Film ApS (seasons 1–10) WildBrain Studios (seasons 11–15) | Cartoon Network (2011–2020) Netflix (2011–2022) | Formerly known asNinjago: Masters of Spinjitzu in the pilot episodes and from seasons 1 to 10. |
| Lego Friends of Heartlake City | 2012–2017 | 5 seasons, 19 episodes | M2 Entertainment | Disney Channel | |
| Lego Star Wars: The Yoda Chronicles | 2013–2014 | 2 seasons, 7 episodes | Wil Film ApS Lucasfilm | Cartoon Network (2013) Disney XD (2014) | Miniseries. Renamed asStar Wars: The New Yoda Chronicles for the 2014 episodes. |
| Legends of Chima | 3 seasons, 41 episodes | M2 Entertainment | Cartoon Network | ||
| Mixels | 2014–2016 | 2 seasons, 31 episodes | Cartoon Network Studios | Cartoon Network | First 2D-animated series based on a Lego theme. |
| Lego Elves | 2015–2018 | 2 seasons, 36 episodes | Ja Film | Disney Channel | [59] |
| Lego Star Wars: Droid Tales[60] | 2015 | 1 season, 5 episodes | Wil Film ApS Lucasfilm | Disney XD | Miniseries. |
| Nexo Knights | 2016–2017 | 4 seasons, 40 episodes | M2 Entertainment | Cartoon Network | |
| Lego Bionicle: The Journey to One | 2016 | 1 season, 5 episodes | Volta | Netflix | [61] |
| Lego Friends: The Power of Friendship | 2 seasons, 4 episodes | M2 Entertainment | |||
| Lego Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures | 2016–2017 | 2 seasons, 26 episodes | Wil Film ApS Lucasfilm | Disney XD | |
| Lego Elves: Secret of Elvendale | 2017 | 1 season, 8 episodes | Studio Mir | Netflix | [62] |
| Lego Masters UK | 2017–2018 | 2 seasons, 10 episodes | Tuesday's Child Endemol Shine Group | Channel 4 | Firstreality competition series. Inspired aformat used to launch localized series around the world. |
| Unikitty! | 2017–2020 | 3 seasons, 104 episodes | Warner Bros. Animation | Cartoon Network | Spin-off ofThe Lego Movie.[63] |
| Lego Star Wars: All Stars | 2018 | 1 season, 5 episodes | Wil Film ApS Lucasfilm | Disney XD | |
| Lego Friends: Girls on a Mission | 2018–2021 | 4 seasons, 70 episodes | M2 Entertainment | KidsClick (2018–2019) Kabillion (2019–2021) | |
| Lego Jurassic World: Legend of Isla Nublar | 2019 | 1 season, 13 episodes | Atomic Cartoons Universal Brand Development | Nickelodeon | Miniseries.[64][65] |
| Lego Hidden Side | 2019–2020 | 1 season, 20 episodes | Pure Imagination Studios | YouTube HappyKids | Web short series. |
| Lego City Adventures | 2019–2022 | 4 seasons, 65 episodes | Passion Paris Axis Studios (seasons 1–2) | Nickelodeon (seasons 1–2) Netflix (seasons 1–4) YouTube (season 4) | [66][67] |
| Lego Pixar: BrickToons | 2024 | 1 season, 5 episodes | Pixar Animation Studios Atomic Cartoons | Disney+ | Short films based on Pixar films. |
| Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy | 2 seasons, 8 episodes total | Lucasfilm Atomic Cartoons | Miniseries | ||
| Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy - Pieces of the Past | 2025 | ||||
| Ongoing | |||||
| Lego Monkie Kid | 2020–present | 5 seasons, 58 episodes | Flying Bark Productions (seasons 1–4) WildBrain Studios (season 5)[68] | Amazon Prime Video (seasons 1–2) HappyKids (season 3–present) | [69] |
| Lego Friends: The Next Chapter | 2023–present | 2 seasons, 21 episodes | Passion Paris Superprod Animation (season 2–)[70] | YouTube Netflix HappyKids | |
| Lego Dreamzzz | 3 seasons, 60 episodes | Pure Imagination Studios WildBrain Studios (season 2; 4 episodes) | Amazon Prime Video Netflix YouTube Sky UK ITVX Happykids | [71][72] | |
| Ninjago: Dragons Rising | 3 seasons, 60 episodes | WildBrain Studios | Netflix YouTube (season 2) | Sequel toNinjago. | |
| Lego City: No Limits | 3 seasons, 24 episodes | Blue Zoo Animation Studio | YouTube ITVX | Web short series. | |
Comcast &NBCUniversal franchises and series | |
|---|---|
| Universal Pictures |
|
| Universal Television | |
| Universal Animation Studios | |
| DreamWorks Animation | |
| Illumination~ | |
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