| The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run | |
|---|---|
 Paramount+ release poster | |
| Directed by | Tim Hill |
| Screenplay by | Tim Hill |
| Story by |
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| Based on | SpongeBob SquarePants byStephen Hillenburg |
| Produced by | Ryan Harris[1][2] |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Peter Lyons Collister |
| Edited by | Michael W. Andrews[3] |
| Music by |
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Production companies | |
| Distributed by |
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Release dates |
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Running time | 91 minutes[5] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $60 million[6] |
| Box office | $4.8 million[7][8] |
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run is a 2020 American animatedadventurecomedy film based on the television seriesSpongeBob SquarePants. Written and directed by seriesco-developer and former writerTim Hill, whoco-wrote the story withJonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger, it stars the series' regular voice cast and includes new characters (both live-action and animated) performed byAwkwafina,Snoop Dogg,Tiffany Haddish,Keanu Reeves,Danny Trejo, andReggie Watts. The film followsSpongeBob on a journey to Atlantic City to rescue his kidnapped pet snail,Gary. The film is dedicated to creatorStephen Hillenburg, who died in 2018, and also served as an executive producer on the project. It isthe third theatrical film based on the series, followingSponge Out of Water in 2015.
Development for a thirdSpongeBob film began in April 2015, two months after the release ofthe second film. By January 2016, Aibel and Berger had been hired to write the film, and by April 2018, Hill had been hired as director. It is the first film in the franchise to be fully animated in stylizedcomputer-generated imagery (as opposed to being entirelyanimated in 2D like the first film, or the mixing of 2D and CGI animation in the second film).Hans Zimmer composed the film's score. Animation was provided byMikros Image.
Originally slated for a worldwide theatrical release byParamount Pictures, plans were changed due to theCOVID-19 pandemic. The film was released theatrically in Canada on August 14, 2020, and digitally onNetflix in other territories on November 5, 2020. It was released as a premiumvideo-on-demand offering and aParamount+ launch title in the United States on March 4, 2021.Sponge on the Run received generally mixed reviews from critics, and was nominated forFavorite Animated Movie at the2022 Kids' Choice Awards. A fourth film,The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants, is due to be released on December 19, 2025.
InBikini Bottom,Plankton works on a new plan to steal theKrabby Patty formula whileKaren argues thatSpongeBob is actually responsible for all his previous failures and notMr. Krabs. Meanwhile, inAtlantic City, selfish ruler KingPoseidon uses up all theslime from his latest sea snail, which is necessary to maintain his appearance. Poseidon decrees the obtaining of a new snail, and Plankton kidnaps SpongeBob's pet snailGary so that SpongeBob will no longer interfere with his plans. The next morning, SpongeBob learns fromPatrick that Gary was taken to Atlantic City. As part of his plan, Plankton offers Otto, a robot built bySandy, to take them to the city, hoping they never return. Without SpongeBob cooking Krabby Patties, the Krusty Krab's enraged customers trash the restaurant despite Mr. Krabs andSquidward's efforts to stop them.
Otto drives SpongeBob and Patrick to an oldWestern town where they meet a tumbleweed spirit named Sage. He reveals to SpongeBob and Patrick that they are dreaming, and must overcome a special mission to continue their search, giving them a "Challenge Coin" to grant them bravery. They enter a tavern haunted by ghostly zombie pirates and decide to free their souls from the evil spirit "El Diablo". Diablo traps the duo, but is accidentally disintegrated by them, freeing the pirates' souls as SpongeBob and Patrick are woken up by Otto.
Now accompanied by Sage, SpongeBob discovers that Poseidon will enslave him with the rest of his previous snails when Gary's slime runs out. Arriving at Atlantic City, Sage warns the pair not to be distracted by the city's attractions, but they ignore his warnings. After a fun-filled night, SpongeBob and Patrick discover that they have lost the "Challenge Coin" that allowed them to be brave, but they nonetheless enter Poseidon's palace. Both are arrested and imprisoned in the dungeon when they try to take Gary.
Back in Bikini Bottom, Plankton arrives at the Krusty Krab, in which Mr. Krabs willingly gives him the formula, feeling depressed without SpongeBob, causing Plankton to feel unsatisfied. Later, upon hearing that SpongeBob and Patrick will be executed in a luxury show in Poseidon's Palace, Mr. Krabs, Squidward, Sandy, and a repentant Plankton decide to save them.
In prison, Sage reveals to SpongeBob and Patrick that the "Challenge Coin" never had powers and that the bravery came from themselves. Before SpongeBob and Patrick can be executed, Mr. Krabs, Squidward, Plankton, and Sandy burst into the show to testify in favor of SpongeBob. Along with Patrick, each recounts their experience with SpongeBobat a summer camp, earning the audience's gratitude. Afterwards, the group performs a musical number to distract Poseidon and take Gary. Poseidon realizes the distraction and orders his guards to capture the group. SpongeBob and his friends manage to escape the guards and head towards the exit, but are once again cornered when Otto leaves them behind.
Poseidon offers to drop charges against the group if SpongeBob leaves Gary with him. SpongeBob refuses, arguing that his friends decided to rescue him even if they risked death. When Poseidon discovers he has no friends and reveals that he needs the slime for his appearance, SpongeBob offers to be his friend. Poseidon removes all his arrangements and returns to his true appearance; everyone accepts his look, and Poseidon allows SpongeBob to take Gary back home. He also releases all his enslaved snails to accompany them back to Bikini Bottom.
The series' regular voice cast reprised their roles for the film.[9][10]
Pearl Krabs (voiced byLori Alan) also appears in a deleted scene that is included on the film's Blu-Ray release.[18]
In a February 2015 interview discussingThe SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water's success at the box office, Megan Colligan, president of worldwide distribution and marketing atParamount Pictures, stated the possibility of a third film was "a good bet."[19] In another interview, Paramount vice-chairmanRob Moore remarked, "Hopefully, it won't take 10 years to make another film," in reference to the time passed betweenThe SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004) and its 2015 sequel.[20] Later in 2015, it was revealed that Paramount was developing sequels to its franchises, including another SpongeBob film.[21]
The film was initially scheduled for release in 2019,[22][23] before being delayed to 2020.[24] By January 2016,Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger, who previously wrote forSponge Out of Water, had been hired to write the film.[25]
In March 2017, Paramount president Marc Evans announced that the studio would work closely withViacom on its TV brands, including the SpongeBob film.[26] During the same month,Yahoo! Entertainment stated that the film would be titledThe SpongeBob Movie.[27]
In April 2018, the film's official title was revealed asThe SpongeBob Movie: It's a Wonderful Sponge, andSpongeBob co-developerTim Hill was announced as director and writer for the film.[28][29] It was reported later in the year that the film would be written by Aibel, Berger, and Michael Kvamme.[30] The principal cast –Tom Kenny,Bill Fagerbakke,Clancy Brown,Mr. Lawrence,Rodger Bumpass,Carolyn Lawrence,Jill Talley,Mary Jo Catlett, andLori Alan – all reprise the roles as their respective characters from the series andthe previous films including,Antonio Raul Corbo, Niketa Calame,Jack Gore, Presley Williams and Jason Maybaum as Young SpongeBob, Patrick, Sandy and Squidward respectively.[31] In October 2018, at theVIEW Conference inTurin, Italy,Paramount Animation presidentMireille Soria revealed the plot for the film. The same day,Hans Zimmer was announced as the composer for the film, whileParis andMontreal-basedMikros Image would handle animation for the film, which would be created entirely throughcomputer animation.[32]
On June 12, 2019, it was announced thatReggie Watts andAwkwafina were added to the cast whileCyndi Lauper andRob Hyman, who wrote a song forThe SpongeBob Musical, would be writing original songs for the film. It was also announced thatMia Michaels would be choreographing andAli Dee Theodore would add an original song for the film.[1] The next day,Snoop Dogg announced onJimmy Kimmel Live! that he would be in the film.[14]
On November 12, 2019, it was revealed that the film's title was changed fromIt's a Wonderful Sponge toSponge on the Run, along with the casting ofKeanu Reeves.[13]
On January 22, 2019, it was confirmed that production on the film had officially begun.[9] Like its predecessors, the film includes live-action sequences, and unlike the previous films, the animated sequences of the film are entirely computer-animated.Larry Fong was initially reported to serve as the film'scinematographer,[33] but for unknown reasons,Peter Lyons Collister ended up solely with the credit.
Interscope Records released the film's soundtrack on March 5, 2021. Artists who are part of the original soundtrack includeBecky G,Swae Lee,J Balvin,Tyga,Lil Mosey,Tainy,Weezer,Snoop Dogg,The Flaming Lips, andKenny G.[34]Cyndi Lauper andRob Hyman also co-wrote the track "Secret to the Formula". Previous material that are part of the film but not on the soundtrack album are "Slow Ride" byFoghat, "Dream Weaver" byGary Wright, Weezer's cover of thea-ha song "Take On Me", and Kenny G's cover of "My Heart Will Go On" from the filmTitanic. The score for the film was composed byHans Zimmer and Steve Mazzaro. It marks as Zimmer's second score for a Nickelodeon film, followingRango, and his second score for a film based on an animated series, afterThe Simpsons Movie.
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run was originally scheduled to be theatrically released on February 9, 2019, byParamount Pictures.[23] It was then pushed back to August 2, 2019,[26] before being delayed nearly a year to July 31, 2020.[35] It was moved four more times: to July 17, 2020,[30] May 22, 2020,[36]July 31 (as a result of theCOVID-19 pandemic),[37] and finally August 7, 2020.[38] In June 2020, it was announced that the film's theatrical release had been cancelled and it would instead be released throughvideo on demand and CBS All Access (nowParamount+) in early 2021.[39] In December 2020, it was revealed that the film would be releasing in February 2021.[40] On January 28, 2021, it was announced that the film would release on March 4, 2021, the same day CBS All Access rebranded as Paramount+.[41] In addition to the ViacomCBS streaming service, the film was available onApple TV,Amazon Prime Video,Vudu, and other digital platforms.[42]
In July 2020,Netflix acquired international distribution rights to the film, excluding the United States, Canada, and China.[43][6] On July 30, 2020, Paramount Pictures Canada announced that the film would be released in Canadian theaters on August 14, 2020.[44] Between the Netflix and Paramount+ deals, Paramount recouped the entire production cost of the film.[6] The film was released internationally on Netflix on November 5, 2020.[45]
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run was released onDVD andBlu-ray on February 2, 2021, in Canada.[46] In the U.S., the film was released on DVD and Blu-ray on July 13, 2021.[47]
In the film's debut Canadian weekend, it grossed $865,824 from 300 theaters. Since Canada's grosses are factored into American totals,Sponge on the Run finishedfirst at the box office, and had the highest weekend total for a film since the start of the pandemic.[48]IndieWire estimated that had the film had a traditional North American theatrical release it would have opened to $25–30 million, including a $3 million total from Canada.[49] In its second weekend, despite being added to an additional 26 theaters, the film dropped 36% to $550,000, finishing second behindUnhinged.[50] In its third weekend the film made $400,000 from 314 theaters,[51] then $345,000 in its fourth weekend, for a month-long running total of $3.6 million.[52]
In its first weekend of digital release in the U.S., the film was the most-rented title onFandangoNow, fourth onGoogle Play, and fifth onApple TV.[53]
Onreview aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes, 66% of 74 critics have given the film a positive review, with an average rating of 6.1/10. The site's critics consensus reads, "Although its story may leave fans on the surface,The Spongebob Movie: Sponge on the Run is a wondrously wacky visit to Bikini Bottom that retains the charm of the original series."[54] OnMetacritic, it has a weighted average score of 65 out of 100 based on reviews from 20 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[55]
Writing forIndieWire, David Ehrlich gave the film a grade of B− and said, "Even the weakest bits get by on good vibes and meta-cleverness ([Keanu] Reeves has become something of a human meme in recent years, butSponge on the Run milks the actor's brand for a number of solid laughs), and the animation is detailed and inventive enough for the whole film to feel drenched in SpongeBob's demented energy."[56] Writing forCTV News,Richard Crouse gave the film 3.5 stars and wrote: "Sponge on the Run brings with it the usual anarchy, inside jokes and unexpected celebrity cameos, but at its little osmotic heart is SpongeBob, a character who belongs to the same genus of entertainers asSoupy Sales,Stan Laurel andPee-wee Herman."[57]The Hollywood Reporter's David Rooney called the film "fast, fun, [and] demented" and wrote: "The technological overhaul from 2D doesn't diminish the vibrant personalities of the character animation, and it's added an even trippier dimension to the surreal backgrounds. More immersive, if you will, even if its episodic action gets no prizes for storytelling discipline."[58]
Aparita Bhandari ofThe Globe and Mail gave the film 1.5 out of 4 stars, writing: "I totally understand if the latestSpongeBob SquarePants movie spinoff will draw in longtime fans and new audiences brave enough to venture into a movie theatre this Friday... However, for me and my two kids (aged 10 and 8), this dive into the deep sea wasn't as thrilling an adventure as we'd hoped for."[5]
At the19th Visual Effects Society Awards the special effects team was nominated in the category "Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Feature".[59]
The film was nominated for fourNickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards in2022, one forFavorite Animated Movie and three for Favorite Voice in an Animated Movie:Tom Kenny as SpongeBob,Awkwafina as Otto, andKeanu Reeves as Sage.[60]
Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years is aSpongeBob SquarePants spin-off prequel series, based on the flashback scenes fromSponge on the Run, that introduces a 10-year-old SpongeBob at a summer sleepaway camp.[61][62][63][64]
On February 19, 2020, the official title was revealed, and it was announced that the series would be premiering in July 2020. The main series voice cast reprise their roles.[65]
On July 30, 2020, it was announced that the series would be released onCBS All Access, theViacomCBS streaming service as it was known then, in early 2021.[66][67] On January 28, 2021, it was announced that the first six episodes of the series would release on March 4, 2021, the same day as the release ofSponge on the Run as a launch series for the newly named Paramount+.[41]
On August 24, 2021, during a video interview with CEO ofNickelodeon,Brian Robbins, he mentioned that "a newSpongeBob [is] in the works" when discussing the studio's film slate.[68] The film was officially announced in February 2022, with plans for it to be released theatrically.[69] On November 10, 2022, the fourth film was given a release date of May 23, 2025.[70] In April 2023, it was announced that the film would be titledThe SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants, with longtime series writerDerek Drymon directing the film. It will follow SpongeBob as he travels to the depths of the ocean and faces off against the ghost of the Flying Dutchman.[71] On October 23, 2023, the film's release date was pushed back to December 19, 2025, withMission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning taking the May 2025 slot due to the2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.[72]
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