The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants (2025)

December 19, 2025

December 19, 2025

The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants is a 2025 American animated adventure comedy film based on the SpongeBob SquarePants television series, created by Stephen Hillenburg. The film is directed by series veteran Derek Drymon and stars the show's regular voice cast alongside George Lopez, Ice Spice, Arturo Castro, Sherry Cola, Regina Hall, and Mark Hamill. The plot follows SpongeBob as he travels to the depths of the ocean to face off against the Flying Dutchman. It is the fourth theatrical film based on the series, following Sponge on the Run in 2020.

The film was written by Pam Brady and Matt Lieberman, from a story by Brady and series creatives Marc Ceccarelli and Kaz. Development on a fourth main SpongeBob film had begun by February 2022. By April 2023, Drymon had been hired to direct the film. In July 2024, Hamill announced that he would play the Flying Dutchman in the film, replacing Brian Doyle-Murray, who had provided the character's voice in the series. John Debney composed the film's score, after having scored the second film.

The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants was theatrically released by Paramount Pictures in the United States on December 19, 2025.

Storyline

SpongeBob SquarePants finds that he has grown tall enough to ride an intense roller coaster, but is too afraid to do so. He aspires to be as brave as Mr. Krabs, who tells him that he was a swashbuckler in his youth. Upon discovering Mr. Krabs' secret basement containing his pirate relics, he unintentionally summons The Flying Dutchman, a ghost pirate who was cursed to eternally roam the Underworld until he can swap places with an innocent soul. Deeming SpongeBob the soul he needs to return to mortality, he invites him and his best friend Patrick Star into his crew and promises to help SpongeBob become a swashbuckler. Mr. Krabs, regretting having told SpongeBob that he is not brave, follows suit with Squidward Tentacles and Gary the Snail to rescue the duo.

The Dutchman informs SpongeBob that he must complete a series of dangerous trials and blow the Dutchman's horn in order to become a swashbuckler. SpongeBob overcomes the challenges with ease by doing what he believes Mr. Krabs would do. The Dutchman grows annoyed by Patrick's childish distractions, and convinces a reluctant SpongeBob to abandon him. When Mr. Krabs catches up with SpongeBob, the Dutchman forces him to admit that he was not a swashbuckler, but rather a fry cook who enjoyed blowing bubbles for which he was humiliated. Convinced by the Dutchman that Mr. Krabs lied to and does not believe in him, SpongeBob blows the Dutchman's horn, which swaps the curse from the Dutchman to SpongeBob and Mr. Krabs, who become bearded ghosts. The Dutchman becomes a human, regains his mortality, and spends his time in Santa Monica, California. The Dutchman betrays and leaves behind his assistant Barb, who then has a change of heart to tell SpongeBob and Mr. Krabs that they need to destroy the horn before sunset to reverse the curse.

After reconciling with Patrick, SpongeBob goes up with Mr. Krabs to the surface. They attempt to steal the horn, only for Dutchman to catch them and flee onto a roller coaster, believing SpongeBob is too cowardly to follow. Mr. Krabs encourages SpongeBob to embrace himself and use his bubble-blowing skills to his advantage. SpongeBob gains the courage to climb the ascending roller coaster vehicle and trap the horn within a bubble, which he pops to drop the horn to the ground and destroy it. The curse is reversed, and the Dutchman is demoted to kitchen duty for his actions while Barb takes his place as captain. Mr. Krabs celebrates SpongeBob for his bravery before they realize they left Squidward behind in the Underworld.

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