Should Kids Watch The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants?
While SpongeBob has been the source of memes, The SpongeBob Movie: Search for the SquarePants may not be for a younger audience
Many millennials will never forget the signature laughter of the sponge living in a pineapple under the sea. Besides it being the usual 3:00 PM or 4:00 PM PH Time show, it became a gold mine for memes. From the idea of the “world’s smallest violin” to the “imagination” meme, SpongeBob has certainly come a long way—especially when he embarks on a new journey (filled with shenanigans once more) in The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants.
But as an animated movie meant for kids, should the little ones of today watch it? What makes it worth watching?
Pro: Relatable Plot for Any Kid (or Kid at Heart) Trying to Be “Big”
It’s been a running theme for SpongeBob to always try to be “big” or one of the “cool” guys—something most kids can relate to. He’s got that laugh that makes people either love, hate (yes, we’re talking about you, Squidward), or feel awkward about. He also works as a fry cook, which is a reality most American 18-year-olds and maybe some Filipinos have when they first start venturing into the world on their own.
So, it’s no surprise that The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants follows the same formula. Idolizing his boss, Mr. Krabs, SpongeBob gets himself into all sorts of adventures—including this particular one to become more “swashbuckling.”
Pro & Con: Some Jokes May Be “Too Old”
During its run in the theater, most of the laughter came from the millennials or the people who actually knew SpongeBob. As a show that became popular on slapstick comedy, it may “fly over” the heads of the younger kids who are used to verbal spats or implied meanings as their source of humor.
Some millennials even noted, “To fully appreciate The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants means to remember when Nickelodeon produced funny cartoons that let us turn off our brains.”
But maybe that’s what kids of this generation also need: a cartoon that’s so surface-level that it’ll teach them to stop overthinking things.
Con: Might Be Overstimulating for Younger Kids
Along with the constant change in camera angles and the psychedelic selection of colors (which is a trademark for all things SpongeBob), watching The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants can feel like taking a dopamine-loaded torpedo to the brain—one that just says, “Stop thinking and stare.”
So maybe kids below eight shouldn’t watch. Age-wise, maybe at least ten years old and up, so that they can fully appreciate the slapstick humor and withstand the flashy angles and colors.
Pro: It’s a “Brain Dead” Movie.
We’re always trying to make our kids think critically. But what if the answer to making them think critically is giving their brain a short period of rest? Like exercise, even thinking needs some downtime, and The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants may just be the thing they need.
Going for movies that are “brain dead” (or more “brain-rotting”) can serve as the “hard reset” some kids need who tend to overthink or never stop thinking. Sure, it’ll make us and them wonder, “What in the world am I watching?” for a few moments—but, this is where we just have to take the advice: “don’t think about it too hard” to heart.
Is The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants (2026) any good?
It’s good, but not because it makes people smarter. It works as a movie that reminds brains to “turn off” every so often. Thinking about everything 24/7 isn’t normal for any human being. While “turning it off” can feel like a luxury to us parents, it helps especially when we remember that sometimes, being a kid means “turning off the brain” every once in a while.
Besides, it’s usually movies that appear surface-level in content and humor that get kids thinking even more creatively. With brains always geared towards, “that can’t be all,” maybe The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants is just the basic movie they need to build up from and scratch that itch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes—with caveats. Older kids (around 10 and up) are more likely to enjoy the humor and pacing. Younger kids may find it overwhelming or confusing.
Many jokes rely on nostalgia, slapstick timing, and meme-era humor that millennials instantly recognize—but younger kids may miss or breeze past.
The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants is showing in major cinemas nationwide in the Philippines upon its local theatrical release. Screening schedules may vary by mall and city, so it’s best to check cinema listings from major theater chains or ticketing apps. Streaming availability is expected later, following its cinema run.
Not in the traditional sense—and that’s okay. It offers emotional relatability, imagination, and mental downtime rather than lessons or morals.
In moderation, no. Movies like this can act as a mental reset. Balance is key—pair screen downtime with creative play and conversation afterward.
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