Premiering in May 1999, SpongeBob SquarePants continues to be Nickelodeon’s most popular and profitable series, and the SpongeBob SquarePants movies and specials give more to the fans. The show has aired for over two decades, resulting in theatrically released motion pictures, TV movies, video games, and specials. The cartoon follows the energetic and childlike SpongeBob SquarePants, a fry cook at the Krusty Krab, and his friends, including Patrick Star, Squidward, Sandy Cheeks, and more.

Over the years, fans have seen SpongeBob SquarePants get into his fair share of trouble, but they’ve also seen him experience incredible highs. Thanks to these movies and specials, fans see SpongeBob SquarePants on even bigger and wilder adventures, often bringing in guest stars, both as voice actors and in live-action roles. However, the SpongeBob SquarePants movies ranked show that not all are created equal.

11

The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004)

SpongeBob Has To Save Shell City From King Neptune’s Wrath

The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie was the first film from the series. Premiering in 2004, the action/comedy followed SpongeBob on his quest from his comforting pineapple home in ʙικιɴι Bottom to Shell City. After Plankton steals King Neptune’s crown, he frames Mr. Krabs for the evil deed. King Neptune threatens Mr. Krabs, but SpongeBob comes to the rescue to retrieve the crown and return it to ʙικιɴι Bottom.

As the first film of the franchise, it did decent at the box office, making $141.1 million on a $30 million budget. However, there were better-received films from the series released later. Critics were mostly mixed on the release, with only a 68% fresh score, although most said this was exactly what fans of the cartoon wanted from the animated series. There was also a lot of praise for David Hᴀsselhoff’s live-action appearance in the movie, something that the later film really capitalized on.

10

SpongeBob’s Truth Or Square (2009)

SpongeBob Locks His Co-Workers In The Freezer & Has To Find A Way To Escape

SpongeBob’s Truth or Square was released in 2009 as a TV special, and it was officially the second film in the series, following SpongeBob’s Atlantis SquarePants. It features the 123rd and 124th episodes of the series, a 52-minute special showing ʙικιɴι Bottom celebrating Krusty Krab’s 117th anniversary of being in business. SpongeBob wakes up thrilled to celebrate the day but accidentally locks Mr. Krabs, Patrick Starfish, Squidward, and himself in the freezer.

SpongeBob thinks back to his earliest and happiest moments at the Krusty Krab, but now, he must go on an adventure to get out of the freezer to keep the anniversary party going as planned. The SpongeBob SquarePants TV special received mᴀssive views, the number one released basic cable entertainment show the week it aired, but critics were mostly mixed in their praise. Most said that the different segments of the special were uneven, and not everything worked as well as others.

9

Friend Or Foe? (2007)

Plankton & Mr. Krabs Explore Their History

Friend or Foe was a TV special that showed the background of Mr. Krabs and Plankton’s rivalry. While they despised each other in their adult years, that wasn’t always the way things were. Plankton and Mr. Krabs used to be best friends when they were younger. They even went into business together. But it looks like the burger business is what tore them apart as they both went their separate ways.

Having an inside look at the beef between Mr. Krabs and Plankton has been on fans’ minds for years. It was one of those specials that was long overdue and needed. This TV special was officially the season 5 premiere episode and received mostly positive reviews from critics when it was released. The main praise went to the idea that this was a fun episode that was elevated by the live-action scenes with Patchy and Potty, while the history added layers to the mythology.

8

Have You Seen This Snail? (2005)

Gary Runs Away From Home

It becomes apparent in the SpongeBob SquarePants special, Have You Seen This Snail?, that sweet Gary escapes home a lot. When SpongeBob becomes too distracted with a paddleball set, he forgets to care for and feed Gary. Gary then runs away to find his own food, which leaves SpongeBob devastated. Now, SpongeBob isn’t the brightest of characters, but he does find a note left behind by Gary, which gives him hope that he’ll come back.

Viewers see Gary go on his own adventure, find food with a woman who over-feeds snails, and later travel home to be with his one true owner, SpongeBob. This special was part of the fourth season, and it was one of the highest-rated, most-viewed on television. Amy Poehler was one of the main guests on the special, and it received mostly positive reviews, with critics saying this was what fans of the cartoons wanted to see.

7

Dunces And Dragons (2006)

SpongeBob and Patrick Travel Through Time

Dunces and Dragons is a 22-minute special following SpongeBob and Patrick through the Middle Ages. After the two best friends go to a Medieval Times-style restaurant in ʙικιɴι Bottom, they’re freakishly transported into another time. Due to their garb, King Krabs ᴀssumes they’re great knights, and the two go on a mission to rescue Princess Pearl.

This episode was part of the show’s sixth season and had a tie-in promotion with Burger King. At the time of its release, this was one of the most watched entertainment shows of the year, with the biggest audience of the year for kids behind only the Super Bowl. It was also the highest-rated Nickelodeon program in five years. Critics praised the story, saying it was a new spin on the classic King Arthur tale, adding SpongeBob to the medieval setting.

6

SpongeBob’s Atlantis SquarePants (2007)

A SpongeBob Special & Video Game

SpongeBob’s Atlantis SquarePants is unlike the rest because it’s both a video game and a made-for-TV movie. The 40-minute special features SpongeBob and Patrick teaming up with Squidward, Sandy, and Mr. Krabs after they find a strange medallion that belonged to the lost city of Atlantis. Squidward, of course, thinks the two stole the medallion from the museum but later realizes they have the missing key to Atlantis.

The entire gang goes to Atlantis to return the medallion to Lord Royal Highness and see it for themselves. This was part of the fifth season of the show and was officially the 12th episode. When it was re-released as this special, it included the scenes with Patchy in the episode. It was the most-watched episode of the series, but it received mixed reviews from critics, thanks to the side-plot involving Patchy.

5

SpongeBob’s Big Birthday Blowout (2019)

SpongeBob’s 12th Anniversary Special

In 2019, Nickelodeon pumped out another SpongeBob special called SpongeBob’s Big Birthday Blowout. Not only would the show celebrate SpongeBob’s birthday, but it was the show’s personal celebration for its 20th anniversary. To celebrate the big day, Patrick takes SpongeBob on a sightseeing tour on land while everyone else prepares a surprise party for SpongeBob when they get back to sea.

As always, Patrick and SpongeBob get into trouble and need to find their way home while tackling some dark SpongeBob SquarePants subjects on the way (like fish tanks). It was a great way to celebrate the birthdays of both the show and SpongeBob himself. The series was simultaneously released on Nickelodeon and Nicktoons and received mostly positive reviews as a “funny” special. It also brought back David Hᴀsselhoff for a return guest appearance.

4

The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out Of Water (2015)

A Pirate Steals The Krabby Patty Formula & Brings It To The Real World

In 2015, Nickelodeon and Paramount released The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water. When a pirate named Burger Beard (played in live-action by Antonio Banderas) comes to ʙικιɴι Atoll, he has a magical book that can make things come to life. His book tells the story of SpongeBob SquarePants and his adventures in ʙικιɴι Bottom. When he uses the book to steal the Krabby Pattty formula, SpongeBob and his friends head out to stop him before the lack of Krabby Patties destroys their home.

This SpongeBob SquarePants movie had a theatrical release, and it was a huge success, making $352.2 million on a $74 million budget. It also received high praise, with an 80% Rotten Tomatoes score, thanks mostly to the unique animation – especially when SpongeBob and his friends ended up in the real world with actual actors in the other roles. It ended up with two Annie Award nominations. Although it didn’t win any awards, it was beloved by fans of the show, thanks to its surreal humor.

3

The SpongeBob Musical: Live On Stage! (2019)

The Broadway Play

SpongeBob is so popular that he’s even on Broadway. To celebrate season 12, Nickelodeon did a televised version of the Broadway play as a SpongeBob SquarePants special. The special was released on TV in 2019 and had live-action SpongeBob trying to stop an undersea volcano from ruining ʙικιɴι Bottom. The special had the whole gang as their live-action counterparts singing their way through saving ʙικιɴι Bottom. From Mr. Krabs to grumpy ole’ Squidward, everyone was showing off in this special.

Viewers responded well to the musical and followed along with the fun songs. The best part was offering this to people who had never had a chance to see it on Broadway. The Broadway musical itself was award-winning, taking home honors from the Drama Desk Awards, winning one of 12 Tomy Awards nominations (Best Scenic Design of a Musical), and receiving an honor from the Theatre World Awards.

2

Plankton: The Movie (2025)

Plankton Has To Stop Karen From Taking Over The World

The 2025 SpongeBob SquarePants movie makes Plankton the center of attention. Instead of Plankton trying to steal the Krabby Patty formula, this movie makes him the hero who has to stop his robot wife Karen from taking over the world. When Plankton returns home after failing to steal the Krabby Patty formula, he sees Karen has turned his restaurant into a successful Mexican-themed business. When he refuses to accept her ideas, Karen finally takes out her empathy chip and turns evil.

Plankton has to stop his wife when she becomes determined to use giant magnets to take over the world. Making Plankton the lead was an interesting choice, but it worked as he teamed with SpongeBob to stop Karen. In its Screen Rant review, Plankton: The Movie was called the best SpongeBob movie in years and was called “a gem. Fans of the original series and fans born along the way will enjoy it immensely.“

1

The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge On The Run (2020)

SpongeBob Sets Out To Rescue Gary After He Was Kidnapped

The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run was supposed to be another theatrical movie, but those plans changed in August 2020 when COVID-19 affected movie theaters and box office totals. While Nickelodeon and Paramount released it in Canadian theaters, they released it in the United States as an exclusive rental on CBS All Access (now Paramount+). Unlike some of the funniest SpongeBob SquarePants episodes in the series, this film has SpongeBob upset when someone kidnaps Gary.

Not one to give up and call it a day, SpongeBob goes on an adventure to The Lost City of Atlantic City to find Gary and bring him home. As always, SpongeBob had his trusting best friend Patrick with him for his adventure. Given the limited release, the film only brought in $4.6 million, but it did receive positive critical praise, with most reviews pointing out how it remained loyal to the core TV series. Critics also praised the guest stars, including Keanu Reeves and Awkwafina.

There’s A New SpongeBob Movie Coming In December 2025

The Plankton movie came out in 2025, but that isn’t the only one planned in the calendar year for SpongeBob SquarePants. When ViacomCBS announced the Plankton movie, that was only one of the two announcements. The second movie is The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants, which was originally supposed to be released on May 23, 2025, but it ended up being delayed to December 19, 2025. This was moved after Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning took its original date.

This film’s premise follows SpongeBob as he travels to the ocean’s depths to face off against the Flying Dutchman. It will be the fourth theatrical film based on the series and the first since 2020. In more big news for SpongeBob SquarePants fans, Star Wars star Mark Hamill has announced he joined the franchise to voice the Flying Dutchman, replacing Brian Doyle-Murray.

SpongeBob SquarePants

Created by

Stephen Hillenburg

First Film

The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie

Latest Film

The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run

Upcoming Films

Saving ʙικιɴι Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie, Plankton: The Movie (2025), The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants

First TV Show

SpongeBob SquarePants

Summary

“SpongeBob SquarePants” is a multimedia franchise centered around the adventures of SpongeBob, an optimistic sea sponge, and his friends in the underwater city of ʙικιɴι Bottom. Created by marine biologist and animator Stephen Hillenburg, the franchise includes the original TV series, spin-off shows, movies, video games, comic books, and various merchandise. Since its premiere in 1999, it has become one of the most successful and enduring animated franchises, known for its humor, unique characters, and cultural impact.

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