I went into the latest SpongeBob SquarePants movie (2025) with a surprising amount of goodwill. This franchise has survived for decades because, at its best, it balances absurd humor with genuine wit and a kind of anarchic charm that works for kids while slyly entertaining adults. Unfortunately, this installment is not just a misstep—it’s easily the worst SpongeBob movie to date, and I don’t say that lightly. By the time the credits rolled, I genuinely felt like I had lost a few brain cells along the way.
I tried to give it the benefit of the doubt. I reminded myself that this is aimed squarely at children, that loudness and chaos are often part of the appeal. But even through that generous lens, the movie feels pointless and exhausting. The story clings to a paper-thin “face your fears” theme, which is repeated so often and explored so shallowly that it never lands with any emotional weight. Past SpongeBob films managed to sneak in real stakes or at least a sense of adventure; here, everything feels arbitrary, as if scenes were stitched together solely to keep the noise level high.
What truly sinks the movie is how aggressively loud and visually irritating it is. The animation leans into hyperactivity without restraint—colors clash, movement never stops, and the screen feels constantly overcrowded. Instead of amplifying the humor, the sensory overload becomes numbing. Even the characters, who are famously annoying by design, feel pushed beyond their limits. SpongeBob’s optimism turns shrill, Patrick’s stupidity feels weaponized, and the supporting cast barely registers as anything more than background chaos.
There are fleeting moments that hint at the cleverness the series once had, but they’re buried under relentless shouting and visual clutter. Humor is replaced with volume, and energy is mistaken for entertainment. Watching it felt less like enjoying a cartoon and more like enduring one.
I left the theater not amused, not nostalgic, and not even mildly charmed—just tired. This movie doesn’t misunderstand SpongeBob so much as it strips away whatever made him work. For a franchise that once thrived on clever absurdity, this entry feels like a loud, empty echo of better times.