The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants

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2:27

The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants

PG

2025

1h 28m

Kids & Family

Comedy

Adventure

Animation

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

79%

Tomatometer

72 Reviews

68%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Verified Ratings

SpongeBob and his Bikini Bottom friends set sail in their biggest, all-new, can't miss cinematic event ever... The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants. Desperate to be a big guy, SpongeBob sets out to prove his bravery to Mr. Krabs by following The Flying Dutchman -- a mysterious swashbuckling ghost pirate -- on a seafaring comedy-adventure that takes him to the deepest depths of the deep sea, where no Sponge has gone before.

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Critics Consensus

A self-contained adventure with spiffy animation and a sweet message embedded in its goofy goober-ness, The Search for SquarePants is one of SpongeBob's most delightful big-screen outings yet.

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Audience Says

Embrace the silliness and enjoy the Search for SquarePants, another SpongeBob Movie family outing that won’t disappoint fans of rear-end jokes.

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Zaki Hasan

San Francisco Chronicle

Jan 2

3/4

"The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants" may not be the series’ most inspired cinematic outing, but it’s a likable one.

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Tim Cogshell

FilmWeek (LAist)

Dec 31

The whole movie is shaped this way: one for the kid, one for the grandparent.

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Mike McCahill

Guardian

Dec 30

3/5

Whether its spitballing silliness will linger when the lights come up is debatable, but it’s a solid SpongeBob movie -- and by far the funniest Pirates of the Caribbean movie.

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Graeme Tuckett

The Post NZ

1d

1.5/5

The script feels like a response to a ChatGPT prompt, the animation is mostly lifeless and the subtle, clever and affectionate in-jokes and gags that once made SpongeBob so indelibly special and beloved are missing in action.

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Joshua Ryan

The Cosmic Circus

3d

The fact that the character has endured for two decades and there are still worthwhile stories to tell is a testament to his timelessness.

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Candice McMillan

Seattle's Child

Jan 29

Great for kids who like the show; not-so-great for adults who enjoy nuance and intellectual stimulation.

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Li

4h

The kids really enjoyed the movie!

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Kail

Mar 12

New spongebob movie was very funny and entertaining. My little brother really enjoyed it and was laughing the entire time.

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Isaiah

Feb 28

Fell asleep during the movie

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Froylan

Feb 15

I enjoyed the movie more than my kids

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Jordan

Feb 14

Funny and interesting plot. Kids loved it.

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Keith

Feb 10

My 4 year old enjoyed it, it was funny but not nearly as good as the previous SpongeBob movies

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Derek Drymon

Director

Tom Kenny

SpongeBob SquarePants

Clancy Brown

Mr. Krabs

Mark Hamill

Flying Dutchman

Bill Fagerbakke

Patrick Star

Rodger Bumpass

Squidward

The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants: Movie Clip - What is Happening?

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The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants: Exclusive Movie Clip - Hero's Journey

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The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants: Featurette - Ice Spice

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The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants: Trailer 1

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The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants: Teaser Trailer

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Synopsis

SpongeBob and his Bikini Bottom friends set sail in their biggest, all-new, can't miss cinematic event ever... The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants. Desperate to be a big guy, SpongeBob sets out to prove his bravery to Mr. Krabs by following The Flying Dutchman -- a mysterious swashbuckling ghost pirate -- on a seafaring comedy-adventure that takes him to the deepest depths of the deep sea, where no Sponge has gone before.

Director: Derek Drymon
Producer: Lisa Stewart, Pam Brady, Aaron Dem
Screenwriter: Pam Brady, Matt Lieberman, Derek Drymon
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Nickelodeon Animation Studios
Rating: PG (Rude Humor|Action|Some Scary Images)
Genre: Kids & Family, Comedy, Adventure, Animation
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 19, 2025, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 20, 2026
Box Office (Gross USA): $71.1M
Runtime: 1h 28m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital, Dolby Atmos

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