The beloved animated series, SpongeBob SquarePants, is back on the big screen this week with the release of the new film, The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants.
Since the 2000s, the Nickelodeon franchise has been consistently beloved by many fans worldwide due to the memorable characters, meme-worthy scenes, and its witty humor that is appealing to many generations. Its popularity on television has been successfully translated to the movies, whether it's in theatrical or streaming.
To celebrate the release of The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants, here is our ranking of every SpongeBob SquarePants movie, from worst to best.
5. Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie
In the spinoff film that focuses on the beloved squirrel, when Bikini Bottom is scooped from the ocean, Sandy Cheeks and her pal, SpongeBob SquarePants, saddle up for Texas to save their town.
While there's no doubt that Sandy Cheeks is worthy of getting her own solo project, the film failed to justify the need for this kind of storytelling in a feature-length format. It also doesn't help that the film was poorly written with mediocre jokes and a lack of charm that we expect in a SpongeBob story.
Where You Can Stream: Netflix
4. Plankton: The Movie
In Plankton: The Movie, when Karen the Computer decides to take over the world, it's up to Plankton to stop her with a little help from SpongeBob and the Gal Pals (Pearl, Sandy, and Mrs. Puff).
While the story itself could have just been a half-hour episode of the TV series, the film was still an entertaining watch as it successfully explored why Plankton is a beloved character to many despite his villainous personality, and it's a great character study for him that we don't usually see in a typical SpongeBob episode.
Where You Can Stream: Netflix
3. The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run
In the third main SpongeBob SquarePants movie, after SpongeBob's beloved pet snail, Gary, is snail-napped, he and Patrick embark on an epic adventure to the Lost City of Atlantic City to bring Gary home.
As long-time fans know, SpongeBob and Gary's relationship has been crucial throughout the show's history. This also has everything that you expect in a SpongeBob adventure: non-stop chaotic antics, memorable moments from the characters, and sharp jokes.
Where You Can Stream: Paramount+
2. The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water
In The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water, when a diabolical pirate (played by Antonio Banderas) above the sea steals the secret Krabby Patty formula, SpongeBob and his friends team up to get it back.
The film may not be easily accessible to non-fans of the show, but it is wildly entertaining and full of cheeky humor that fans are looking forward to in a SpongeBob movie. Banderas gave a very committed performance as the antagonist and made this more watchable beyond the core audience.
Where You Can Stream: Paramount+
1. The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie
In the first movie in the SpongeBob SquarePants franchise, SpongeBob and Patrick went on an adventure to track down King Neptune's stolen crown to save Bikini Bottom from Plankton's wrath.
This is the film that started it all, and it has become a classic among the young millennial and Gen Z audiences. It successfully translated the joy and charm of the TV series to the big screen and gave us a story that is truly worthy of the big screen experience.
Where You Can Stream: Paramount+
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