'The SpongeBob Movie: A Search for Squarepants': A Review

(Image courtesy Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon)

By Darlene Donloe

'The SpongeBob Movie: A Search for Squarepants' is one of the funniest movies of 2025. 

While it’s marketed to children, adults will find the mature nature of some of the jokes – right up their alley. There are plenty of jokes for all ages. A fantastic family-friendly movie.

So this time around, SpongeBob and his Bikini Bottom friends set sail in their biggest, all-new, can’t miss cinematic event ever. 

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.

What ensues, of course, is high-larity!

The movie is a delightfully absurd, laugh-out-loud adventure that's perfect for kids and nostalgic adults! 

As in other adventures, SpongeBob (voiced by Tom Kenny) and Patrick Star (Bill Fagerbakke) embark on an absurd quest. This time, it's to make SpongeBob a certifiable big guy. 

The animation is bright, goofy, and full of clever GIF-worthy moments. The cast is on point, with extra kudos to Mr. Krabs (Clancy Brown) as the grumpiest Kruppies ever.  Plot-wise, it's silly-season SpongeBob: ridiculous obstacles, Sandy Cheeks' science shenanigans, and enough silly gags to make you grin.   If you grew up with Bikini Bottom's chaos, you'll love this silly, silly movie. If you're new to SpongeBob... welcome to the party!  

The cast includes Tom Kenny, Clancy Brown, Rodger Bumpass, Bill Fagerbakke, Carolyn Lawrence, Mr. Lawrence, George Lopez, Isis “Ice Spice” Gaston, Arturo Castro, Sherry Cola, Regina Hall, and Mark Hamill.

Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Movies present in association with Domain Entertainment and MRC, ‘The SpongeBob Movie: A Search for SquarePants.’

Executive producers include Marc Ceccarelli, Vincent Waller, Pete Chiappetta, Anthony Tittanegro, and Andrew Lary, and the series is produced by Lisa Stewart, p.g.a., Pam Brady, and Aaron Dem. 

The movie, directed by Derek Drymon,  is based on the series, “SpongeBob SquarePants,” created by Stephen Hillenburg.

The story is by Ceccarelli & Kaz, and the screenplay is by Brady and Matt Liberman.

On the DONLOE SCALE: D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likable), O (oh, yeah), and E (excellent), ‘The SpongeBob Movie: A Search for Squarepants’ gets an E (excellent). Paramount Pictures.