The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run (2020)

The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run is a 2020 American animated adventure comedy film based on the television series SpongeBob SquarePants. Written and directed by series co-developer and former writer Tim Hill, who co-wrote the story with Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger, it stars the series' regular voice cast and includes new characters (both live-action and animated) performed by Awkwafina, Snoop Dogg, Tiffany Haddish, Keanu Reeves, Danny Trejo, and Reggie Watts. The film follows SpongeBob on a journey to Atlantic City to rescue his kidnapped pet snail, Gary. The film is dedicated to creator Stephen Hillenburg, who died in 2018, and also served as an executive producer on the project. It is the third theatrical film based on the series, following Sponge Out of Water in 2015. Development for a third SpongeBob film began in April 2015, two months after the release of the 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 stylized computer-generated imagery (as opposed to being entirely animated 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 by Mikros Image. Originally slated for a worldwide theatrical release by Paramount Pictures, plans were changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The film was released theatrically in Canada on August 14, 2020, and digitally on Netflix in other territories on November 5, 2020. It was released as a premium video-on-demand offering and a Paramount+ launch title in the United States on March 4, 2021. Sponge on the Run received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise for the animation and loyalty to the series. The film was nominated for Favorite Animated Movie at the 2022 Kids' Choice Awards. A fourth theatrical film, The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants, is scheduled to be released on December 19, 2025.