History Tearjerker / TheSpongeBobSquarePantsMovie

** Beforehand when Krabs struggles to find the right word that explains why SpongeBob isn't fit to be a manager, that being "kid", various people in the audience butt in to call him names. Names such as "Dork", "Goofball", "Wignut", etc, and it gets to the point where Krabs outright tells them to just stop. Although it is more played for laughs, it shows just how little the people of Bikini Bottom think of SpongeBob.

** For context, the scene in which Krabs tells [=SpongeBob=] that he didn't get the promotion. [=SpongeBob=]'s cheerful demeanor totally sinks, and he looks like his entire world has just shattered. Krabs rather bluntly (but as gently as he can) tells [=SpongeBob=] that he gave the job to Squidward because Squidward is more mature than him. Krabs asks if he understands. [=SpongeBob=] responds, in a broken voice, "I guess so, Mr. Krabs," and slowly walks away. Krabs can only look on sadly, feeling sorry for the little guy.

[[caption-width-right:350:''"I'm a Goofy Goober, yeah..."'' [[note]][[DisneyDeath That is,]] [[spoiler:[[SwissArmyTears until the tear of the Goofy Goobers does its job.]]]][[/note]]]]

[[caption-width-right:350:''"I'm a Goofy Goober, yeah..."'' [[note]][[DisneyDeath That is,]] [[SwissArmyTears until the tear of the Goofy Goobers does its job.]][[/note]]]]

* Music/{{Wilco}}'s song for this movie, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAf34sDpd-o Just a Kid]]. Remember, this is chronologically the end of the series. It really hits home to fans who grew up with [=SpongeBob=] during Seasons 1-3, and it also speaks to anyone who's moving on in life whether it be graduating from high school/college, moving out, getting a new job etc. The song even says "Everybody, everyone, somebody, anyone has to grow up".

* Plankton's defeat can be pretty sad after watching ''WesternAnimation/TheSpongeBobMovieSpongeOutOfWater''. Given the events of that film takes place before this movie, it showed Plankton did have some good in him after he helped [=SpongeBob=] and friends defeat Burger Beard. So to see him become a remorseless monster is depressing to see. Even worse, Plankton screams he'll destroy everyone after he's arrested. Giving the implications, Plankton will spend the rest of his life as a bitter person who lost the chance to redeem himself.
** [=SpongeBob=]'s horror upon learning from Dennis that he has been paid by Plankton to kill him and Patrick becomes terrifying and sad after seeing ''Sponge Out of Water''. In that movie, [=SpongeBob=] becomes friends with Plankton and Plankton is even shown to not be totally bad. [=SpongeBob=]'s reaction indicates that he would not have expected that someone whom he regarded as a friend now wants to see him dead.

* "I'm ready... depression..."

* "I'm ready...depression..."

[[caption-width-right:350:''"I'm a goofy goober, yeah..."'' [[note]][[DisneyDeath That is,]] [[SwissArmyTears until the tear of the Goofy Goobers does its job.]][[/note]]]]

* Squidward getting caught by the mind controlled Bikini Bottom citizens.

* [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick's reactions after learning that all their friends back home have become slaves of Plankton--they both start sobbing hysterically. It's PlayedforLaughs, but still.

** And also, [=SpongeBob=] has a short monologue about how they never succeeded in their mission. How ''[[BreakTheCutie broken]]'' Creator/TomKenny makes [=SpongeBob=] sound as he's slowly dying does not help:

[[caption-width-right:350:I'm a goofy goober, yeah... [[note]][[DisneyDeath That is,]] [[SwissArmyTears until the tear of the Goofy Goobers does its job.]][[/note]]]]

-->'''Patrick:''' [=SpongeBob=] [''sees him walking away from the trench, defeated''] Hey, where are you going?\\

* [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick's [[DisneyDeath deaths]] in Shell City. For context, [=SpongeBob=] had been around for five years when this movie came out. He was a legend. He was nearly ''everyone's favorite cartoon character''. Hell, this scene is infamous for being the point where thousands of kids cried their eyes out across the entire country. They do get better, however, [[SwissArmyTears thanks to the power of their tears.]]

** For context, the scene in which Krabs tells [=SpongeBob=] that he didn't get the promotion. [=SpongeBob=]'s cheerful demeanor totally sinks, and he looks like his entire world has just shattered. Krabs rather bluntly (but as gently as he can) tells [=SpongeBob=] that he gave the job to Squidward because Squidward is more mature than him. Krabs asks if he understands. [=SpongeBob=] responds, in a broken voice, "I guess so, Mr. Krabs," and slowly walks away. Krabs looks on sadly, feeling sorry for the little guy.

* [=SpongeBob=] is known for being a ball of optimism, making kids and adults alike smile and forget about their own problems. But when he gets to the trench... [[HeroicBSOD he just]] [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness gives up]]. The [=SpongeBob=] we all know and love, who had entertained generations with his chocolate selling antics and his fry cooking expertise just collapses, and can't go on.
-->'''Patrick:''' [=SpongeBob=]?\\
[''sees him walking away from the trench, defeated'']\\
'''Patrick:''' Hey, where are you going?\\

'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' ''What about us?!'' WE'LL never survive in that trench! You said it yourself, this is man's country. And let's face it, Pat. We're just... kids.\\

'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' '''OPEN YOUR EYES, PATRICK!''' We blow bubbles, we eat ice cream - we worship a dancing peanut, for corn's sake! ''We don't belong out here!!''\\

'''Patrick:''' Worship? ''[tears up]'' Oh, you're right [=SpongeBob=]! We ''are'' kids! ''[starts waddling away, sobbing, and falls down]''\\

* [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick's reactions after learning that all their friends back home have become slaves of Plankton.
* [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick's [[DisneyDeath deaths]] in Shell City. For context, [=SpongeBob=] had been around for five years when this movie came out. He was a legend. He was nearly ''every kid's favorite cartoon character''. This scene is infamous for being the point where thousands of kids cried their eyes out across the entire country. They do get better however, [[SwissArmyTears thanks to the power of their tears.]]
** Also they die happy, knowing that even though they didn't get the crown back, they at least made it to Shell City.

** Even the pirates watching this movie in the theaters were [[EverybodyCries shedding tears]] over the loss of the two heroes.

* After Plankton walks into the Krusty Krab and steals the formula, there's a brief shot of frozen Mr. Krabs shedding a [[single tear]] that immediately freezes and hits the ground. It comes even worse when we learn [[HarsherInHindsight two seasons later that]] [[spoiler:he and Plankton [[WeUsedToBeFriends used to be best friends]] like [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick]].