It seemed just a tad strange that I would end up being the one to review The SpongeBob Movie: Search For SquarePants. Like I mentioned in my review of SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide, while I’ve always had a genuine fondness for the absorbent, yellow, and porous little fellow, I had long felt like the era when the show would’ve been directly aimed at me had passed years ago.
But here’s the delightful thing about SpongeBob: all of the SpongeBob SquarePants movies have been remarkably consistent in terms of quality, and this newest release is absolutely no exception. It’s a genuinely entertaining family film that both parents and children can enjoy together—providing a lighthearted and comedic experience that may not revolutionize animated cinema, but doesn’t overstay its welcome either. For fans of the franchise, this is exactly the kind of adventure you’ve been craving.
A Coming-of-Age Tale Under the Sea
The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants opens with our beloved yellow hero having grown a whole half a clam, officially elevating him from a shrimp to a “big guy.” Like every big guy dreams, he’s now tall enough to ride the big roller coasters at the amusement park, but he soon realizes that possessing stature doesn’t automatically mean gaining courage—a realization that’s both amusing and surprisingly relatable.
After hearing thrilling stories about Mr. Krabs’ swashbuckling adventures on the high seas, SpongeBob becomes determined to earn his Swashbuckler’s license and prove once and for all that he truly is a big guy. But a dark and supernatural fate intervenes when the Flying Dutchman appears and makes a fateful deal with SpongeBob, promising him that he can obtain said license if he journeys to the Underworld and reaches the end of the treacherous Challenge Cove.
Unbeknownst to our optimistic protagonist, the Dutchman needs a “pure heart” to free himself from an ancient curse that’s bound him for centuries. The titular Search for SquarePants begins in earnest when Mr. Krabs, Squidward, and Gary embark on a rescue mission to save SpongeBob and Patrick from a potentially grisly fate. It’s a genuinely fun story that may tread familiar thematic ground—learning to be yourself, what truly makes a hero—but makes excellent use of its beloved characters and appropriately ghastly supernatural setting.
The film consistently utilized both well-written jokes and visual gags that got more laughs from me than I thought a SpongeBob SquarePants movie in 2025 would.
Mark Hamill Brings Ghost Pirate Magic
To its significant benefit, the movie pairs SpongeBob and The Flying Dutchman together for a substantial portion of the runtime, which even in the show has consistently resulted in genuinely comical situations. While I still have nostalgic affection for Brian Doyle-Murray’s interpretation of the Flying Dutchman, Mark Hamill is having an absolute blast with the character, playing him both delightfully silly and appropriately serious—since he needs SpongeBob to cooperate with his plan but is immediately and hilariously fed up with his relentlessly cheerful antics.
Hamill’s voice work is a genuine highlight, bringing the kind of theatrical energy he’s famous for while still honoring what makes the Flying Dutchman such a memorable character. His ability to pivot from menacing ghost pirate to exasperated antagonist dealing with SpongeBob’s innocent obstinance creates some of the film’s funniest moments. For fans who’ve been following Hamill’s career from Star Wars to Batman: The Animated Series and beyond, seeing him bring his considerable talents to Bikini Bottom is an absolute treat.
Extended Episode or Feature Film?
The SpongeBob Movie: Search For SquarePants doesn’t have quite the same sense of epic scale or ambitious pacing as the original SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, feeling somewhat more like an extended episode than a theatrical feature. But honestly? That’s not necessarily a criticism. It does an excellent job with its moment-to-moment storytelling, keeping the pace consistently snappy and engaging throughout its runtime. As such, while the film does maintain a coherent narrative structure, it wisely allows itself room for a few wonderfully silly asides that are thematically cohesive but feel perfectly suited to the more random, absurdist nature of the SpongeBob SquarePants series.
This approach actually works in the film’s favor for fans who love the show’s signature blend of structured storytelling and chaotic comedy. You get a proper adventure with stakes and character development, but you also get those gloriously weird tangents that remind you why SpongeBob has remained culturally relevant for over two decades.
Humor That Works for Everyone
At its core, The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants is a comedy, and it certainly achieves this goal with considerable aplomb. The film consistently utilizes both cleverly written jokes and inventive visual gags that got substantially more laughs from me than I expected a SpongeBob movie in 2025 would generate. While it’s definitely silly in a more childlike way—embracing the franchise’s fundamental innocence—it never felt particularly pandering to kids, nor was it trying too hard to be clever for the adults in the audience.
This is the sweet spot that the best SpongeBob content has always occupied: genuinely funny on multiple levels without feeling like it’s desperately reaching for either demographic. Kids will laugh at the physical comedy and silly voices; adults will appreciate the timing, the callbacks, and the surprisingly sophisticated comedic structure. There’s even some genuinely clever wordplay scattered throughout that demonstrates the writers understand comedy as a craft, not just a requirement.
Visual Excellence in Three Dimensions
Furthermore, I really enjoyed The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants from a purely visual perspective. Similar to my thoughts on SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide, the evolution from hand-drawn animation to 3D has come a remarkably long way over the years, and the studio seems exceptionally confident in translating the fluid, elastic quality of classic rubber-hose animation to three-dimensional characters.
Despite the significant shift in animation style, it still felt absolutely authentic to SpongeBob SquarePants and was genuinely delightful to watch. The Flying Dutchman is particularly well-animated, making excellent use of his imposing stature, more human-like features, and incredibly expressive face to genuinely wacky and entertaining effect. His design allows for both intimidating moments and slapstick comedy, sometimes within the same scene. The Underworld setting provides opportunities for creative visual design that the animation team clearly relished, delivering environments that feel appropriately spooky while maintaining the franchise’s signature colorful aesthetic.
The attention to detail extends to the smaller moments as well—the way characters squash and stretch, how their expressions morph and exaggerate, and the general sense of cartoon physics that makes SpongeBob’s world feel simultaneously real and impossible. For animation enthusiasts, there’s plenty to appreciate in the technical craft on display.
A Cast That Knows These Characters Inside Out
Naturally, the impressive visuals are backed by a voice cast that has been playing these characters for so long they could probably perform the voices in their sleep—but they all bring their A-game and are clearly having enormous fun. Tom Kenny’s SpongeBob remains as infectiously enthusiastic as ever, capturing both the character’s childlike wonder and his genuine desire to prove himself. Clancy Brown’s Mr. Krabs, Rodger Bumpass’s Squidward, and Bill Fagerbakke’s Patrick all slip effortlessly back into their roles, delivering the kind of lived-in performances that only come from decades of inhabiting these characters.
What’s particularly impressive is that despite the familiarity, nobody’s phoning it in. The cast brings genuine energy and commitment to their performances, finding new notes within their established characterizations. For long-time fans, hearing these voices deliver new material is like catching up with old friends—comforting, entertaining, and occasionally surprising.
Familiar Waters, Charted With Care
Like I mentioned at the beginning of this review, The SpongeBob Movie: Search For SquarePants doesn’t necessarily hit any revolutionary highs that will redefine what animated family films can be—but it also doesn’t sink to any frustrating lows either. It’s a solidly entertaining theatrical experience that is absolutely certain to entertain kids and the parents watching alongside them. Obviously, no SpongeBob SquarePants movie is going to surpass the perfection of the original 2004 film (which set an impossibly high bar), but this was a genuinely fun time nonetheless.
The film understands what makes SpongeBob work and doesn’t try to fix what isn’t broken. It delivers exactly what fans want: beloved characters on a new adventure, plenty of laughs, colorful animation, and a message about self-acceptance that feels earned rather than tacked on. For families looking for quality entertainment that won’t annoy parents or talk down to kids, this is an excellent choice.
A Worthy Addition to the Franchise
What ultimately makes The SpongeBob Movie: Search For SquarePants succeed is its clear affection for the source material and its audience. This isn’t a cynical cash-grab or a lazy attempt to capitalize on nostalgia—it’s a legitimate effort to tell a fun story with characters people love, executed by creative teams who understand what makes the franchise special. The pacing keeps things moving, the humor lands consistently, the animation impresses, and the voice work remains top-tier.
For fans who’ve been following SpongeBob since the beginning, this movie offers the comfort of familiarity with enough freshness to justify its existence. For younger viewers discovering these characters for the first time, it’s an accessible and entertaining introduction to Bikini Bottom’s finest residents. And for parents who’ve been watching SpongeBob with their kids for years, it’s a reminder of why the franchise has endured—because at its best, it’s simply good, wholesome fun that doesn’t require you to turn off your brain.
The Underworld setting provides nice visual variety from the usual Bikini Bottom locations, and pairing SpongeBob with the Flying Dutchman for extended sequences proves to be an inspired choice that generates consistent entertainment. Mark Hamill’s involvement adds genuine star power, and the animation team clearly enjoyed bringing the more supernatural elements to life in three dimensions.
The Verdict
The SpongeBob Movie: Search For SquarePants is a delightfully entertaining family film that honors the franchise’s legacy while charting its own adventure through uncharted waters—well, uncharted Underworld, technically. It may not reinvent the wheel, but it proves that SpongeBob’s particular brand of absurdist optimism still has plenty of life in it after all these years.
The film delivers exactly what fans have come to expect from theatrical SpongeBob adventures: heart, humor, beloved characters, impressive animation, and a story that works on multiple levels. It’s the kind of movie you can throw on for the kids and genuinely enjoy yourself, which is increasingly rare in family entertainment. The jokes land, the pacing works, the voice cast excels, and the whole experience feels like time well spent.
For longtime fans, it’s a warm reunion with characters who’ve been part of your life for years. For newer fans, it’s a solid entry point that captures what makes the franchise special. And for skeptics wondering if SpongeBob still has relevance in 2025, this movie makes a compelling case that some things—like optimism, friendship, and absorbent sea sponges who live in pineapples—never go out of style.
I’m ready, I’m ready, I’m ready… to recommend this movie to anyone looking for quality family entertainment that respects its audience and delivers genuine laughs. The SpongeBob Movie: Search For SquarePants may not be the greatest animated film ever made, but it’s a thoroughly enjoyable adventure that proves there’s still plenty of treasure to be found in Bikini Bottom and beyond.
