
THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SPONGE ON THE RUN Moves to Video on Demand
By Allyson Vannatta, Senior Writer
Paramount’s THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SPONGE ON THE RUN won’t get a theatrical release. Instead, it will go straight to video on demand in early 2021.
After it hits VOD, it will move to CBS All Access as part of a re-brand for the streaming service.
According to IMDB, the storyline of the upcoming movie is as follows:
“Set before the events of the television series, SpongeBob goes on a trip to Kamp Koral and meets some new friends. However, when his pet snail Gary gets kidnapped by Poseidon and taken to the Lost City of Atlantic City, he and his new best friend Patrick must go on a rescue mission to save him from the dastardly plan of Poseidon before it is too late. The movie will also reveal the first time our beloved characters (as kids) met at Camp…a magical moment that brings meaning to the power of true friendship.”
Previous SPONGEBOB movies have done well at the box office.
The 2004 THE SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS MOVIE earned $141 million at the global box office while the 2015 THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SPONGE OUT OF WATER movie grossed $325 million, according to Deadline.
THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SPONGE OUT OF WATER was nominated at the 24th Annual Movieguide® Awards in 2016 as one of the Best Movies for Families.
Executive Producer Cale Boyter of THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SPONGER OUT OF WATER said, “It’s an honor to be recognized for something as truly insane and mildly redemptive as SpongeBob. At least one of my parents would be very proud.”
She continued, “On behalf of Steve Hillenburg, the creator of SpongeBob and Paul Tibbett, the guy who let me into the tent because I was a complete impostor to the SpongeBob universe, I guess we want to say thank you to Ted and the big man upstairs for honoring us tonight, and God bless.”
While on the red carpet, Boyter told Movieguide®’s Evy Baehr Carroll that it’s very important to create positive content for children to watch.
“When you become a parent, you start thinking about the types of things that you’re responsible for putting out in the world,” said Boyter. “So when you have the chance to be part of a movie where you can kind of filter your values through, it’s kind of an awesome thing. It’s a privilege.”
Boyter said SpongeBob portrays a message of love.
“He’s about love. Irrepressible love. There’s no question. He’s so much about love, that he annoys the heck out of everyone around him, and that’s the magic of the character.”