The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run/reception

This article gives the reception of the SpongeBob SquarePants film, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run, which aired on March 4, 2021.

Box office

The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run grossed $4 million in domestic regions; a total worldwide gross of $325.1 million against a budget of $74 million. It has outgrossed the first SpongeBob movie, which made $140.2 million worldwide.

Critical response

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 66% of 72 critics gave the film a positive review, with an average rating of 6.1/10. The site's critics consensus reads, "Although its story may leave fans on the surface, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run is a wondrously wacky visit to Bikini Bottom that retains the charm of the original series." On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 65 out of 100 based on reviews from 20 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

David Rooney from Hollywood Reporter says, "The frenetic plot makes about as much sense as it needs to within this world of slapstick insanity, random detours, crazy chases, gambling fever and a talent quest for 'the coveted Campy Award.' You'll either give in to it, or you won't."

Christy Lemire from Roger Ebert says, "It's sweet, but it's also a major detour. Still, until schools reopen nationwide—and your kids can return with their supplies stuffed inside their SpongeBob backpacks—you could end up in worse places."

Tim Brayton from Alternate Ending says, " The film isn't painful, it still has enough individual jokes that work, and the cast is boundlessly energetic, but the further it goes along, the harder it is to pretend this is anything but a soulless brand deposit, and the mere fact that not everybody involved was entirely cynical about that fact does very little to make it more palatable."

Numerical ratings

On Google Reviews, the film's rating is 4.3 with 4 stars.

Rotten Tomatoes gives the movie's rating a 66%.

Common Sense Media gives it a 3 out of a 5.

IMDb gives it an estimated 5.9 out of 10.

Metacritic gives it a 65 out of 100 with a "generally favorable" score.

Accolades

The movie received four nominations at the 2022 Kids' Choice Awards. The movie was nominated for Favorite Animated Movie, but it lost to Encanto. Awkwafina, Keanu Reeves, and Tom Kenny were all nominated for Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie, but none of them won.

Jacques Daigle, Guillaume Dufief, Adrien Montero, and Liam Hill were nominated at the 2021 Visual Effects Society Awards for Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Feature.