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1[[quoteright:299:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/spongebob_movie_poster.png]]
2[[caption-width-right:299:''[[{{Tagline}} Bigger. Better. More absorbent.]]'']]
3
4->'''Patrick''': Hey, I thought you didn't have a driver's license.\
5'''[=SpongeBob=]''': You don't need a license to drive a sandwich.
6
7''The [=SpongeBob SquarePants=] Movie'' is, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin well]], [[TheMovie a movie based on the]] Creator/{{Nickelodeon}} cartoon ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants''. And as expected for a movie based on one of Nickelodeon's programs, it's a [[BigDamnMovie big damn one]]. Series creator Stephen Hillenburg intended for the movie to serve as a FinaleMovie to the series, but ExecutiveMeddling got in the way of that.
8
9Set between the third and fourth seasons of the series, Mr. Krabs opens up a second Krusty Krab-restaurant, and [=SpongeBob=] is heavily anticipating being promoted to manager of the new restaurant. But to his dismay, Squidward gets the job instead because Mr. Krabs feels that [=SpongeBob=] isn't mature enough for the job. Meanwhile, Plankton finally stops fooling around and enacts his greatest plan to steal the secret Krabby Patty formula -- he steals King Neptune's crown, sends it to the dangerous Shell City, and frames Mr. Krabs for it. When Neptune finds his crown missing, he crashes the Krusty Krab 2 and charges Krabs for the theft, but [=SpongeBob=] is willing to travel to Shell City to retrieve the crown, so Neptune gives him six days to find it, during which he has Krabs frozen.
10
11While [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick head off on their adventure, Plankton makes it past the frozen Krabs and successfully steals the Krabby Patty formula. He then gives away bucket-helmets with all the Krabby Patties he sells, which then turn his customers into his monument-building slaves. Can [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick successfully retrieve Neptune's crown and save Bikini Bottom...?
12
13A second movie titled ''WesternAnimation/TheSpongebobMovieSpongeOutOfWater'' was released on February 6, 2015. The writers from ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda2'' [[http://www.slashfilm.com/sequel-bits-crank-3-iron-man-3-spongebob-squarepants-2-rio-2-last-exorcism-2-paranormal-activity-4/#more-134534 were put on board for screenwriting,]] and had then-series showrunner Paul Tibbitt directing the animated sequences, while ''Film/SkyHigh2005'' director Mike Mitchell directed the live-action sequences. Its second sequel, ''WesternAnimation/TheSpongeBobMovieSpongeOnTheRun'', released digitally in 2021, was [[ShiftedToCGI fully computer-animated]].
14
15This first film was released to theaters on November 19, 2004 to commercial success and positive reviews, and quickly became a blockbuster, despite being out-grossed by ''WesternAnimation/ThePolarExpress''.
16
17Shares a CharacterSheet with [[Characters/SpongeBobSquarePants the series]].
18----
19!!Oh, I'm a goofy troper, yeah! You're a goofy troper, yeah! We're all goofy tropers, yeah! Goofy, goofy, troper troper, yeah!
20
21%% Administrivia/ZeroContextExample entries are not allowed on wiki pages. All such entries have been commented out. Add context to the entries before uncommenting them.
22%% Write [=SpongeBob=]'s name as "Spongebob" or "[=SpongeBob=]" (without the quotation marks).
23
24* TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture: Assuming [=SpongeBob=]'s employee of the month streak started in 1997 (the year "Help Wanted" was first produced) the movie takes place from March 7 to 14 of 2028.
25* AbsurdlyBrightLight: Off King Neptune's bald head.
26-->'''"[[EyeScream MY EYES]]!"'''
27* ActorAllusion: Creator/DavidHasselhoff's part in this movie directly parodies his role in ''Series/{{Baywatch}}'', being a lifeguard who runs in slow-motion to rescue [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick.
28* AdaptationalIntelligence: [=SpongeBob=] is much more proficient in driving in the movie than in the series, where he's portrayed as a reckless driver. Mentioned by Patrick, to which [=SpongeBob=] replies, "You don't need a license to drive a sandwich."
29* AdaptationalSeriousness: Plankton is way less more of a comic-relief he was in the series, being more evil than he was.
30* AdaptationalJerkass: While the series' King Neptune was always a self-centered asshole, he's still a well-meaning monarch who treats his subjects far more pleasantly, at the very least. This incarnation of Neptune, on the other hand, is an ill-tempered, brutish, and tyrannical king prone to angry outbursts over the slightest of wrongdoings and obsessed with sentencing people to the dungeon for harsh reasons, much to the dismay of his daughter Mindy. Luckily, despite being a hotheaded and tyrannical king, he does finally learn his lesson in leadership at the end by finally accepting Mindy's advice in being a loving and compassionate ruler, even after his crown was brought back by [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick and he saved the town from Plankton's reign of terror.
31* AdamWesting: Creator/DavidHasselhoff as a super-swimming lifeguard. "I'm David Hasselhoff!"
32* AintTooProudToBeg: Mr. Krabs literally begs King Neptune not to freeze him. King Neptune won’t listen to it.
33* AlcoholInducedIdiocy: More like "Ice Cream-Induced Idiocy"; [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick eat several orders of ice cream that cause them to develop drunk-like symptoms, with the former landing Mr. Krabs in hot water when he prioritizes insulting his boss for denying him promotion to manager of the Krusty Krab 2 rather than clearing his name when King Neptune is threatening Krabs' life over the disappearance of his crown.
34* AllForNothing: After [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick [[spoiler:spend most of the movie looking for the crown and bringing it back to Neptune in the end, Plankton simply backs this up with a King-Sized bucket helmet for Neptune. Not that it discourages [=SpongeBob=] from claiming he's proud of accomplishing this feat]].
35* AlternateCatchphraseInflection: Usually, [=SpongeBob=] says his catchphrase "I'm ready!" in a very enthusiastic tone, but when he learns that he didn't get the job of manager for the Krusty Krab 2, he says it dejectedly.
36* AlwaysABiggerFish:
37** Just as [[PsychoForHire Dennis]] is about to stomp on [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick with hugely spiked boots, a larger boot stomps on him, seemingly killing him. Unfortunately, it's the Cyclops's boot...
38** Also played straight when the giant fish charging at [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick misses them, charges off a cliff, and a huge freakin' eel eats it in one gulp. [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick justifiably just sit there, [[JawDrop mouth agape]].
39** It’s the main reason King Neptune is afraid of the "Cyclops". He towers over Mindy and the other sea creatures, but is only knee-high to a human.
40* AndIMustScream:
41** The people controlled by Plankton's bucket helmets apparently know to an extent they're being controlled, since after [=SpongeBob=] destroys the first one, the fish says "I'm free" instead of something like "What happened?"
42** Mr. Krabs is shown to be aware of what's happening while he is frozen.
43* AnimationBump: More like a ''shove!'' While the show normally hides its LimitedAnimation with strong layouts, the movie relishes in incredibly fluid and insane, expressive animation, the likes of which could never be done on a TV budget.
44* AnswerCut: After Plankton unleashes the final phase of Plan Z, turning all of the citizens of Bikini Bottom into his mind-controlled slaves and captures Squidward, who was the only one who figured out what he was up to:
45-->'''Plankton:''' [[NothingCanStopMeNow Who can stop me now?!]] ''[EvilLaugh]'' WHO?!\
46''[Cut to [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick driving in the Patty Wagon while laughing silly.]''
47* AntiInterferenceLockUp: Inverted during the climax- Mindy tries to stall King Neptune from frying Mr. Krabs with [[OverlyLongGag an extended discussion]] [[ShapedLIkeItself about stalling]]. When he finally loses his patience, Neptune throws her out of the Krusty Krab and magically wraps the place in chains and padlocks.
48* ArcWords: The lyrics to the Goofy Goober theme song show up five times over the course of the movie: when [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick excitedly anticipate the former's promotion to manager, in a Goofy Goober restaurant while [=SpongeBob=] is drowning his sorrows, at the Thug Tug as a way to weed out the patron who blew a bubble in the building, as [[spoiler:[=SpongeBob=] and Patrick's dying words in Shell City]], and as the chorus to "Goofy Goober Rock". Each time the song appears, it represents a new landmark in [=SpongeBob's=] journey, in terms of both recovering Neptune's crown and coming to terms with his immaturity.
49* ArgumentOfContradictions: Neptune initially gives [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick ten days to get the crown back, but Patrick argues it down to six.
50* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: When Plankton reads over his final plan to steal the Krabby Patty formula. "It's evil, it's diabolical, *sniffs* it's lemon-scented!"
51* ArtShift: While not a complete makeover, the characters do look a bit different than they do in the show. The movie also uses more OffModel animation, something they didn't use so much at the time (until later seasons where they would use it a lot more).
52* AssholeVictim:
53** Victor, the Thug Tug's owner, when Dennis [[spoiler:kills him by punching him so hard he gets knocked into the air, then lands into the Thug Tug which then sinks down with Victor in it]].
54** [[spoiler:The Cyclops gets beaten up by all the sea creatures he abducted for his gift shop]].
55** [[spoiler:Dennis is pummeled by an incoming boat and presumably dies just as Victor did]].
56** [[spoiler:Although not killed, Plankton gets repeatedly stomped on by the now freed people he enslaved and sent to jail for his crimes.]]
57* AssumedWin: Mr. Krabs announces that the new manager of the Krusty Krab 2 has "a name you all know, it starts with an S!" [=SpongeBob=] assumes that ''he's'' the new manager (even though Mr. Krabs just announced that it was Squidward, revealing a ''giant portrait of his face'' to top it off), and has to humiliate himself three times over the microphone before realizing that the new manager is actually Squidward.
58* AstonishinglyAppropriateInterruption: "Oh your highness, I'm sure it's not that noticeabaaaaAAAAAALD!! BALD, BALD, BALD!!!"
59* AsYouKnow: "Oh Karen, my computer wife..."
60* AttentiveShadeLowering: [=SpongeBob=] lowers his glasses when looking at Patrick, dressed rather suggestively in the end heroic music sequence.
61* AuthorityInNameOnly: [[spoiler:The credits show that the manager position at the Krusty Krab 2 essentially amounts to doing all of the same, if not even more of the demeaning work that [=SpongeBob=] already did as a fry cook, except with a bigger hat with the word "Manager" written on it. He also does not appear to have any other employees to supervise, so whatever potential authority he could have as manager is rendered moot. Despite all this, [[EarnYourHappyEnding SpongeBob is clearly ecstatic about it regardless]], and does all of his work with an enormous smile on his face]].
62* AwkwardSilenceEntrance: Happens twice in succession. Once when Patrick goes into the Thug Tug and asks to go to the bathroom, and again when one of the bubbles he and [=SpongeBob=] made in said bathroom wanders out into the bar.
63* BadassBystander: The usher in TheStinger. Even when threatened at ''swordpoint'' by pirates, she still calmly asks them to leave the theater. They reluctantly do so.
64* BadPeopleAbuseAnimals: Gary is shown to be mind-controlled by Plankton into pulling a very large stone column, despite him visibly sweating over it (and it's implied that he's well aware of this).
65* BadGuyBar: The Thug Tug. Inevitably devolves into a BarBrawl.
66* TheBadGuyWins: Plankton, for much of the movie, succeeded in taking over Bikini Bottom and enslaving its population that all started with stealing the Krabby Patty formula, his primary goal in the series. Of course, [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick return to foil his plan.
67* BaitAndSwitch: As [=SpongeBob=] goes to order some ice-cream from what turns out to be a frogfish, Patrick notices the bones all around them and appears to come to a grim realization. And then...
68-->'''Patrick:''' Wait a minute. Wait a minute! [=SpongeBob=]!\
69'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' Yeah?\
70''({{beat}})''\
71'''Patrick:''' [[ComicallyMissingThePoint Make mine a chocolate!]]
72* BaitAndSwitchCompassion: Squidward discovers that Mr. Krabs has been frozen by Neptune.
73-->'''Squidward:''' Oh, no! This is terrible! Who's gonna sign my paycheck?
74* BaitAndSwitchSentiment: The final scene. After his adventures, [=SpongeBob=] gets promoted to manager and this exchange occurs:
75-->'''[=SpongeBob:=]''' Wait a second, everybody. There's something I need to say first. I just don't know how to put it. \
76'''Squidward:''' [[SweetAndSourGrapes I think I know what it is.]] [[ItsTheJourneyThatCounts After going on your life-changing journey]], [[WantingIsBetterThanHaving you now realize you don't want what you thought you wanted.]] [[ItWasWithYouAllAlong What you really wanted was inside you all along.]]\
77'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' Are you crazy? ''[grabs manager pin]'' I was just gonna say that your fly is down! ''[Squidward's eyes widen]'' Manager! This is the greatest day of my life!
78* BaldnessAngst: The main reason why King Neptune is so enraged about his crown being stolen is because it exposes his "thinning" head.
79* BaldnessMockery: King Neptune is shown to be very insecure about the bald spot on his head, to the point of threatening to imprison or even kill people who tamper with the crown he uses to cover it up. Indeed, his issues are not exactly unfounded, as when he shows his bald spot in public while confronting Mr. Krabs, everyone in the room freaks out and chants "Bald!" at him, with one bystander's eyes ''burning'' from the glare coming off it.
80* BathroomSearchExcuse: Subverted by Patrick in the Thug Tug when he gets everybody's attention only to says that he needs to use the bathroom. When one of the thugs points it out [=SpongeBob=] chides Patrick for a weak distraction but Patrick says he really needed to go.
81* BeYourself: [=SpongeBob=] learns that "you are who you are."
82* BigBad: Plankton, as usual, though he's much more threatening than he actually is in the cartoon because his Plan Z called for manipulating others more powerful and deadlier than he is to be doing his dirty work (King Neptune to freeze Krabs and the Cyclops and Dennis to impede [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick's quest for the king's crown).
83* BigBudgetBeefUp: Everything about the show, the animation, the music, and the special effects, is vastly improved on here.
84* BigDamnHeroes: [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick bursting into the Krusty Krab with the crown, thus protecting Mr. Krabs from getting killed by the scepter's fire and reflecting it through the roof instead, which unintentionally chars David Hasslehoff non-fatally.
85* BigDamnMovie: According to series creator Stephen Hillenburg in a ''New York Times'' [[https://web.archive.org/web/20131220032301/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/07/movies/moviesspecial/07edel.html interview]], the idea of simply making a feature-length ''[=SpongeBob=]'' episode didn't sit right with him. Instead, he sought out a higher-stakes plot that could only work as a movie. Thus, the film depicts [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick going on a six-day adventure to the ends of the Earth as [[KnightOfCerebus Plankton]] takes over Bikini Bottom with mind control devices.
86-->"To do a 75-minute movie about [=SpongeBob=] wanting to make some jellyfish jelly would be a mistake, I think this had to be [=SpongeBob=] in a great adventure. That's where the comedy's coming from, having these two naïve characters, [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick, a doofus and an idiot, on this incredibly dangerous heroic odyssey with all the odds against them."
87* BigNever: During the battle on David Hasselhoff's back, Dennis states to [=SpongeBob=] that he "always gets his man", prompting the latter to jump out of the way just as Dennis is about to grab him, letting out a very long, epic "NEVEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRR!!" as he jumps across to Hasselhoff's other leg in slow-motion.
88* BigNo:
89** [=SpongeBob=] does one when he rushes in front of Mr. Krabs when King Neptune tries to kill him.
90--->'''[=SpongeBob=]''': '''NO!''' I won't let you!
91** Plankton does one in horror when he realizes that [=SpongeBob=]'s rock and roll of all things is destroying his mind-control bucket helmets and thus undoing his plans.
92** Earlier, Mindy also does this [[RuleOfThree three times]] when [[spoiler:King Neptune prepares to fry Mr. Krabs to death]], with Plankton doing the [[BigYes inversion]].
93** Mr. Krabs lets out one as he [[spoiler:prepares to face a fiery fate]], just before [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick burst in to save him.
94** She also does this when [[spoiler:Plankton puts a mind-control helmet on King Neptune]].
95--->'''Mindy:''' Daddy, no!\
96'''Plankton:''' [[BigYes Daddy, yes!]]
97* BigRockEnding: "Goofy Goober Rock" ends with a prolonged, almost 2-minute guitar outro, which [=SpongeBob=] uses to undo Plankton's mind control.
98* BitchInSheepsClothing: Plankton pretends to be upset about Mr. Krabs being frozen by Neptune during his interview with Perch Perkins when he actually stole the Krabby Patty formula while Krabs was frozen and decides to take over Bikini Bottom.
99* BondOneLiner: Patrick delivers one after [[spoiler:Dennis is defeated for good.]]
100-->'''Patrick:''' See ya.
101* BookEnds:
102** The film was originally intended to be the series finale before the show's renewal, and indeed it ended up being the last installment with the original writing team. As such, it features its share of parallels with the show's origins:
103*** The pilot episode, "Help Wanted", opens with [=SpongeBob=] waking up, getting ready, and rushing to the Krusty Krab, eager to join them as their new fry cook; the episode ends with him getting hired after saving the Krusty Krab from a crisis. The movie, following a dream sequence, begins with [=SpongeBob=] waking up, getting ready, and rushing to the Krusty Krab ''2'', eager to be promoted to the establishment's manager. The film ends with [[spoiler:him receiving and accepting the promotion after saving not only the Krusty Krab, but all of Bikini Bottom from a crisis. Both of [=SpongeBob's=] rescues even involve songs by real-world artists (Music/TinyTim's CoverVersion of "Livin' in the Sunlight, Lovin' in the Moonlight" for "Help Wanted"; a parody of Music/TwistedSister's "I Wanna Rock" for the movie)]].
104*** "Tea at the Treedome", which was one of two episodes paired with the broadcast version of the pilot, features [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick drying out in Sandy's treedome thanks to the lack of water before being revitalized by Sandy's fishbowl helmets. In the movie, [[spoiler:[=SpongeBob=] and Patrick dry out in Shell City from the Cyclops' heat lamp before being revitalized by the water from the sprinklers.]]
105** The film opens with a live-action sequence where a pirate crew finds tickets to the movie inside a treasure chest, rushing over to a nearby movie theater and crowding into their seats in excitement. TheStinger depicts the same pirates still in their seats and chatting about the movie well after the curtain call, only leaving the theater when ordered to by an usher.
106* BothSidesHaveAPoint: [=SpongeBob=] ends up in this position when [[TheScrooge Mr. Krabs]] denies him promotion to manager of the Krusty Krab 2, claiming he's [[JustAKid too immature]] for the responsibility. Seeing as [=SpongeBob=] spends his days goofing off with [[TheDitz Patrick]], annoying [[{{Jerkass}} Squidward]] to no end, and [[DrivesLikeCrazy doesn't even have a boating license]], he is right in some way--only a few scenes later is this proven true when [=SpongeBob=], DrunkOnMilk from spending his night crushed at getting passed over, almost gets Mr. Krabs deep fried by King Neptune by immaturely telling him off. However, [=SpongeBob=], immature or not, has proven to be managerial material, seeing as his cooking has made The Krusty Krab the premier eatery in town in spite of Krabs' own greediness hampering business, and puts his heart and soul into keeping things ship-shape. The one who got the job, Squidward, is a miserable BurgerFool who utterly despises working at the Krusty Krab, has tried [[StatusQuoIsGod and failed]] repeatedly to leave, and is practically hated in town. In the end, while [=SpongeBob=] does acknowledge his immaturity and saves the town from Plankton's control, Mr. Krabs acknowledges he was wrong [[spoiler:and happily makes [=SpongeBob=] the manager.]]
107* {{Bowdlerise}}:
108** There was a children's book adaptation of the movie that changed it so that instead of beating them senseless, the patrons of the Thug Tug punished "bubble-blowing babies" by laughing at them.
109** Whenever Creator/{{Nickelodeon}} airs the movie, Mr. Krabs' whispering to [=SpongeBob=] is reversed (in the unedited whispering, he appears to say "Jackass" three times in succession).
110** The soundtrack version of "Goofy Goober Rock" changes the verse "No, no freakin' way" from the film version to "No, no, no-no way".
111* BlowingARaspberry: This is the extent of [=SpongeBob=] telling off Mr. Krabs [[HypocriticalHumor for thinking he's still a kid]].
112-->'''[=SpongeBob=]''': ''["hungover" from an [[DrunkOnMilk ice-cream bender]]]'' Well, I am 100% ''MAN!'' And this ''MAN'' has got something to say to yooouuu! ''(blows a very long raspberry'' There! I think I made my point!
113* BravadoSong: After Mindy gives [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick seaweed "mustaches" to [[MotivationalLie convince them that she's magically matured them]], the duo (to her chagrin) bust out into a chorus of "Now That We're Men", a military march style song about how unstoppable they are now that they're (allegedly) grown, casually disregarding the natural hazards and monsters they come across in the midst of it.
114* BreakTheHaughty: The two fish at the gas station get this: they crack a joke to Dennis and [[WipeThatSmileOffYourFace he pulls their mouths off their face]].
115* BroadStrokes: The film was well known for this, especially in recent years. It has been criticized that the film links an alternate canon in the series, because episodes that aired after the film do not show specific changes they had during the course of the film (WordOfGod says that the movie is meant to be the end of the series). Granted, this [[RuleOfFunny isn't the kind of show]] that adheres to continuity.
116* BrokenAesop: Discussed InUniverse by [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick after their escape from the Thug Tug.
117-->'''Patrick:''' You know, [=SpongeBob=], there's a lesson to be learned from all this.\
118'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' What's that, Patrick?\
119'''Patrick:''' A bubble-blowing double baby doesn't belong out here in ''man's country''.\
120'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' Yeah. ''(then realizes)'' Wait. ''We'' blew that bubble. [[ArmorPiercingQuestion Doesn't that make]] ''[[ArmorPiercingQuestion us]]'' [[ArmorPiercingQuestion a bubble-blowing double baby?]]
121* TheCaligula: King Neptune shows signs of this.
122* CallBack:
123** Patrick gets into an argument with King Neptune over how many days [=SpongeBob=] needs to find the crown. This is similar to the argument Patrick had with the previous Neptune in "Neptune's Spatula" over how many challenges [=SpongeBob=] can do.
124** The movie's plot bears some similarity to "Neptune's Spatula", as both are about [=SpongeBob=] convincing King Neptune that he underestimates the former's abilities and wisdom.
125** In [[Recap/SpongebobSquarepantsS1E20HookyMermaidManandBarnacleBoyII "Hooky"]], Mr. Krabs warns [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick that if they get successfully pulled up to the surface, they may potentially get turned into products in gift shops. In the film, [[spoiler:the Cyclops does exactly that with his captives, drying them out under a heat lamp to turn them into kitschy knickknacks at Shell City, which turns out to be a beachside gift shop]].
126** In [[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsS2E16GraveyardShiftKrustyLove "Krusty Love"]], [=SpongeBob=] mentions that Mrs. Puff doesn't like talking about what happened to her husband, with a CutawayGag implying that he was caught by fishermen and turned into a kitschy lampshade. [[spoiler:In Shell City, one of the knickknacks that gets revived by the sprinkler system is an identical-looking porcupinefish lampshade.]]
127** The scene of [[spoiler:[=SpongeBob=] and Patrick drying out]] is reminiscent of the first full episode, "Tea at the Treedome", only this time it's '''''not''''' PlayedForLaughs.
128** [=SpongeBob=] crying out his tears just to drink it back up is similar to what he did in "Karate Choppers".
129** We have a mariachi band playing in the background as a live-action man is squirming helplessly. [[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsS3E19TheSpongeWhoCouldFly Sound familiar?]]
130** Inside the [[BadGuyBar Thug Tug]], we see a thug [[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsS3E8NoWeeniesAllowedSquilliamReturns eating a bowl of nails (without any milk!).]]
131** "I ain't a crook! [[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsS1E1HelpWantedReefBlowerTeaAtTheTreedome Ask anyone, they'll vouch for me!]]"
132* CerebusSyndrome: ZigZagged. There are some pretty heavy themes addressed over the course of the movie, such as depression, alcoholism, and murder. In fact, the particular scene of Patrick and [=SpongeBob=] at Shell City is so emotional [[BreakingTheFourthWall it literally causes the audience to break out into tears]]. Which is all totally at odds with the TV show. The writers of course always manage to put a fairly comedic spin on things anyways, leading to several a MoodWhiplash.
133* CharacterDevelopment:
134** [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick learn what it means to be a responsible, reliable adult without renouncing to the stuff they like (ice cream, jellyfish hunting, bubbles, etc.) or their key personality traits. More the former than the latter, since [=SpongeBob=] gets promoted to manager at the end of the movie.
135** TheCynic Squidward also improves as a person. All of the misfortunes he suffers throughout the movie and the fact it's [=SpongeBob=] who saves the day lead Squidward to graciously recognize the sponge's contribution and proudly relinquish the position of Krusty Krab's general manager to him. For context, he was lording said position over [=SpongeBob=] at the beginning.
136* ChekhovsGun: Played for laughs with King Neptune's embarrassment over his bald spot, which later prevents him from stopping Plankton and saving Bikini Bottom, as he is too distracted with finding a way to grow hair.
137* ComedicStrangling: When King Neptune gives [=SpongeBob=] ten days to find his crown, Patrick pops in and boasts that [=SpongeBob=] can do it in fewer days, dropped the time limit to six days. Patrick would have made it even lower if Mr. Krabs didn't start strangling him for it.
138* ComicallySmallBribe: [=SpongeBob=] attempts to bribe Dennis with five "Goober Dollars". He isn't impressed.
139* CoolCar: The Patty Wagon, as seen in the page image.
140* TheCoverChangesTheMeaning: Music/TwistedSister's "I Wanna Rock" was originally a standard GlamMetal rocker with HeavyMeta lyrics about how awesome rocking your barnacles off is. "Goofy Goober Rock", meanwhile, is about [=SpongeBob=] embracing his immaturity and breaking free from the shackles of societal expectations for adulthood.
141* CoverVersion:
142** "Now That We're Men" is a vocal rendition of Will Schaeffer's "Fight! Fight! Fight!", a piece of incidental music previously used in the show.
143** "Goofy Goober Rock" is Jim Wise and Tom Rothrock's take on "I Wanna Rock" by Music/TwistedSister, based around the Goofy Goober theme heard three other times in the film.
144* CreatorCameo:
145** Stephen Hillenburg provides the voice of one of the pirates' parrots, essentially reusing his "Potty the Parrot" voice from the series.
146** The show's storyboard artist Mike Bell appears in the movie as the fisherman knocked over by Hasselhoff.
147** Co-writers Aaron Springer and Derek Drymon both cameo as the laughing bubble from the "Thug Tug" and "the screamer character" respectively.
148* CreatorInJoke: Roger Bumpass, like Squidward, rides a recumbent bicycle. The storyboard artists added it as an inside joke.
149* CreditsMontage: The credits show pictures of [=SpongeBob=] [[spoiler:in his new life as the manager of the Krusty Krab 2. The credits make it obvious that the job is horrible, but since [=SpongeBob=] loves to work, he's having the time of his life]]. And it's all set to Music/{{Ween}}'s [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6E5m_XtCX3c "Ocean Man"]].
150* CreepyOldFashionedDivingSuit: The Cyclops is a wicked human diver only ever seen wearing an ominous, [[SicklygreenGlow green-glowing]] old-fashioned SCUBA gear who captures sea creatures to dry them so he can sell sea-themed souvenirs in his shop.
151* CrocodileTears: Plankton sheds these to Perch Perkins when he explains how he was able to sell Krabby Patties.
152* CueOClock: The clock seen in the Goofy Goober Steamboat has the 12 numbers in scrambled order.
153* DarkReprise: [[spoiler:[=SpongeBob=] and Patrick sing a tearful rendition of the Goofy Goober theme song as they dry out.]]
154* DarkerAndEdgier: Unlike the rest of the series, this movie is considerably a lot darker and has plenty of horror elements. Plankton is more depraved and vicious than in the series (somewhat foreshadowed in the episode [[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsS1E10CultureShockFUN "FUN"]] where Plankton has an ImagineSpot of destroying Bikini Bottom with a giant Jellyfish robot), to the point that he sadistically shows excitement and joy when King Neptune is about to ''kill'' Mr. Krabs, not to mention the monsters that abound in the way of [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick, the ruthless mercenary (Dennis) sent by Plankton to kill the duo, and how the heroes [[spoiler: [[DisneyDeath briefly die]] at the hand of the Cyclops.]]
155* DarkestHour: [[spoiler:Plankton has conquered Bikini Bottom and enslaved the population, Mr. Krabs is set to be executed, and [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick are "killed" in Shell City. Luckily, things get better.]]
156* DeathSong: [[spoiler:After realizing they did make it to Shell City after all, [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick sing the Goofy Goober theme song just before they dry out.]]
157* DeconReconSwitch: The movie deconstructs [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick's ManChild behavior, showing that while its a major part of their characters and a source of good laughs for the viewers, their immaturity and naivety can be a major hindrance, as shown when [=SpongeBob=] gets rejected for a major job promotion over the more mature Squidward, most people not taking them seriously due to their antics, and the two being easily endangered by bullies, carjackers, undersea predators, hardened criminals, and sadistic humans [[TooDumbToLive due to their lack of common sense]]. Still, while the chips are down, [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick are shown to be more than capable of facing all the dangers on the way to Shell City, defying everybody's exceptions, and ultimately get the crown back and defeat Plankton.
158* DemotedToExtra: Any character from the show who isn't [=SpongeBob=], Patrick and Plankton. Mrs. Puff and Sandy only show up a few times (despite all being credited in the film's "Main Cast"), Mr. Krabs spends most of the movie frozen, and Squidward only plays a minor role in the story at best and is brushed aside at the halfway point after getting captured and brainwashed by Plankton. Pearl and Gary make cameos. Karen plays a pivotal role, telling Plankton about Plan Z and activating the mind control helmets, but after the latter scene [[ShooOutTheClowns she pretty much disappears from the story.]] It's not too surprising that the creators decided not to make the next [=SpongeBob=] movie a buddy film.
159* DenserAndWackier: The movie takes the goofy silliness of the show to new heights! Story elements contain [[spoiler: mind-control bucket helmets, singing trench monsters, a burger car, Creator/DavidHasselhoff having rocket-launching pecs, and [=SpongeBob=] saving the day by spontaneously turning into a rock star wizard while playing a parody of Music/TwistedSister's "I Wanna Rock"]]. That is just to name a few of the ridiculous things that happen in this film.
160* DerangedAnimation: Hoo boy! The show's animation was already pretty bizarre-looking, but it was never this ''fluid''!
161* DestinationDefenestration: In the beginning of the movie, Squidward catches [=SpongeBob=] in the shower with him, and after a small conversation with [=SpongeBob=], Squidward ''kicks [=SpongeBob=] out of his window.''
162* DeusExMachina:
163** The film literally writes itself into a corner that can only be rectified by a wonderfully ridiculous parody of Music/TwistedSister's "I Wanna Rock". The villain's plans are undone by the explosive [[ThePowerOfRock power of rock]] music. Once the smoke clears, [=SpongeBob=] is left dangling on the end of a rope suspended above the stage in a neat reference to the literal Greek tragedy deus ex machina.
164** [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick dehydrate in Shell City, but are revived last minute thanks to their tears.
165** [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick get the crown, but manage to lose the bag of winds. They have very little time to get home, and all is hopeless...cue David Hasselhoff showing up out of nowhere to take [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick home.
166* DiabolusExNihilo: As far as [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick are concerned, the Monster Frogfish that tries to eat them after luring them into its death trap with "FREE ICE CREAM!" came out of nowhere. The audience knew it was a trap, though, because of all the piles of fish skulls and bones. The Frogfish also serves as one of their first real threats in their quest to get King Neptune's crown and save Mr. Krabs. It can also be considered a WakeUpCallBoss because an even bigger monster eel eats it, further emphasizing how dangerous the journey to Shell City will be.
167* TheDinnermobile: [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick travel most of the way to Shell City in the Patty Wagon - a large drivable hamburger, originally intended for promotion of the Krusty Krab.
168* DisneyDeath: [[spoiler:[=SpongeBob=] and Patrick are killed via drying out in Shell City, then revived thanks to their SwissArmyTears. And the sprinklers.]]
169** [[spoiler:And every single fish in the whole shop that was taxidermied springs back to life through the same means.]]
170* DisproportionateRetribution: King Neptune wants to kill Mr. Krabs for supposedly stealing his crown. [=SpongeBob=] even asks him, "[[LampshadeHanging Doesn't it seem harsh to kill someone over a crown?]]".
171* DistressedDude: Squidward gets cornered and brainwashed himself by the other brainwashed citizens by Plankton's mind control.
172* TheDragon: Dennis, to Plankton. Even the Cyclops qualifies as one to Plankton.
173* DreamIntro: The movie begins with [=SpongeBob=] as the manager of the Krusty Krab, saving the day after a guy gets no cheese on his patty. The crowd hoist him over their shoulders and cheer him, but then [[CrashingDreams the cheers turn into his foghorn alarm]] and [=SpongeBob=] wakes up.
174* DrowningMySorrows: To help himself feel better after not getting the promotion, [=SpongeBob=] goes on a sundae bender alongside Patrick.
175* DrunkOnMilk: In this case, a milk product rather than liquid milk; specifically, ice cream sundaes. Moderately justified in that [=SpongeBob=] is also sleep-deprived.
176* DystopiaJustifiesTheMeans: What Plankton does to Bikini Bottom.
177* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Being that the movie was intended to be the GrandFinale for the series as a whole, it is notably the only mainline ''[=SpongeBob=]'' movie not to be called ''The [=SpongeBob=] Movie'' followed by a unique subtitle. It instead has the simpler, but no less grandiose title of ''The [=SpongeBob=] [=SquarePants=] Movie''.
178* EarnYourHappyEnding: After all he's been through, [=SpongeBob=] is given a job as manager of the Krusty Krab 2, and proves that he ''is'' a man.
179* EmbarrassingVoicemail: While King Neptune is interrogating Mr. Krabs about the disappearance of his crown, Plankton calls the Krusty Krab and gets picked up by the answering machine. Plankton uses the opportunity to imitate a nonexistent stranger who Mr. Krabs sold the crown to, claiming that he gave it to a guy in Shell City. Mr. Krabs frantically tries to silence the voicemail and eventually claims that it was a wrong number, only for Neptune to believe every word of the message.
180* EmployeeOfTheMonth: The movie reveals that [=SpongeBob=] has won ''374 consecutive'' Employee of the Month awards[[note]]Do the math and you realise this means he's been working at the Krusty Krab for ''31 years''[[/note]]. He therefore believes he's a shoo-in for the manager's job at the Krusty Krab 2, only to be crushed when the job goes to Squidward instead.
181* {{Egopolis}}: After [[spoiler:enslaving all of Bikini Bottom with his mind controlling helmets, Plankton converts it into Planktopolis, complete with giant stone statues of himself]].
182* EldritchLocation: Shell City is a beachside gift shop that sells nautical trinkets and souvenirs. To the cast, however, it's a horrifying place of certain death on the dreaded ''dry land,'' filled to the brim with the dehydrated corpses of marine animals unfortunate enough to be captured by the Cyclops, who oversees Shell City. [[spoiler:The victims of the Cyclops do get better, [[CurbStompBattle fortunately.]]]]
183* EldritchOceanAbyss: [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick make their way into a deep ocean trench with horrific monsters. Subverted when the monsters take a liking to them after they show off their impressive dance skills.
184* EverybodyCries: All the pirates in the movie theater cry over [[spoiler:[=SpongeBob=] and Patrick drying out under the lamp at Shell City]].
185* ExpositionVictim: Squidward quickly deduces Plankton's Frame-Up scheme and threatens to tell King Neptune about it... in the middle of Plankton's restaurant.
186-->'''Plankton:''' We'll see about that, Inspector Loose-Lips! *Presses the doomsday button*
187* ExtremelyShortTimespan: Not counting the live-action sequences and the DreamIntro, the majority of this film runs six days (according to King Neptune and Patrick). Counting the day where Plankton steals the crown and the Krusty Krab 2 did its grand opening, the film took seven days, under a whole week.
188* EyeObscuringHat: The bucket helmets are a whole face example of this -- when active, they cover the entire fish's head.
189* EyeScream: The movie seems to have this as a RunningGag.
190** "Bald! Bald! Bald! Bald! MY EYES!!"
191** [[spoiler:A more minor example, but Dennis gets a stream of bubbles blown directly into his eyes near the movie's climax, right before he gets knocked off Hasselhoff's back.]]
192** Invoked but ultimately subverted in the beginning of the movie: After putting toothpaste on his tooth brush, [=SpongeBob=] uses it to brush his eyes, though he has no pained reaction to this act.
193** Squire spraying hair growth spray into King Neptune's eyes, causing his eyes to grow hair all over.
194* FaceDeathWithDignity: [[spoiler:When it becomes apparent they're going to dry up and die, [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick take solace in the fact they made it to Shell City to begin with and [[GoOutWithASmile go out singing the Goofy Goober song one last time]]. [[DisneyDeath They get better]].]]
195* FauxAffablyEvil: Plankton, in contrast to his usual AffablyEvil, and Dennis the hitman who is very soft spoken and even polite.
196* FisherKing: When Plankton takes over Bikini Bottom, he turns it into an evil reign empire and renames it "Planktopolis". The watery sky also changes from happy blue to corrupted brown.
197* FluffyTheTerrible: Plankton sends a hitman named Dennis after [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick.
198* FramingDevice: A band of pirates go to a movie theater to see the movie.
199* FreezeFrameBonus: Right before [=SpongeBob=] rejoices thinking he is the new manager, even Squidward is [[DidNotSeeThatComing genuinely surprised]] that he got the tittle.
200* FurryConfusion: A downplayed example. Once the dried animals in Shell City are [[spoiler:revived by the sprinkler and regain a cartoony form, they look quite a bit different from the usual residents of Bikini Bottom, appearing more like cartoony but realistically-proportioned sea creatures (like something out of ''WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaid1989'') rather than the far more anthropomorphic Bikini Bottom residents. For example, compare the blowfish with Ms. Puff, the crabs and lobsters with Mr. Krabs and Larry, and even the starfishes with Patrick. The one exception is the mariachi band, who are still drawn in the style of the series' usual fish extras.]]
201* GoOutWithASmile: [[spoiler:[=SpongeBob=] and Patrick dry out under the heat lamp with a smile in their face, because while they didn't get the crown, save Bikini Bottom from Plankton and save Mr. Krabs from execution, they did at least finished their mission: making it to Shell City, which is actually a gift shop. They are saved moments later by their tears however, so they can get the crown.]]
202* HandWave: The reason that [=SpongeBob=] is able to drive the Patty Wagon even though he doesn't have his license?
203-->'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' You don't need a license to drive a sandwich.
204* HarmlessFreezing: Although he can't stop Plankton from stealing the formula in his frozen state, Krabs still manages to show reaction to things going on.
205* HeartbreakAndIceCream: [=SpongeBob=] uses ''dozens'' of Goofy Goober's Triple Gooberberry sundaes to get through the stress of being turned down the managerial position for the Krusty Krab 2.
206* HeroicBSOD: [[spoiler:When our two protagonists reach the deep, dark, dangerous, hazardous, monster-infested trench that will lead them to Shell City, [=SpongeBob=], [[ThePollyanna of all people]], just flat-out gives up, turns back to go home, and tearfully tells Patrick that they're "just kids" who will die if they carry on with this journey.]]
207* HeroKiller:
208** Out of all the villains in the movie, the Cyclops comes closest (yes, even closer than Plankton and Dennis) to killing [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick: he effectively does for a moment. And unlike the other villains in the movie, they were clearly far from his first victims.
209** Incidentally, this is subverted with Dennis. Though Plankton describes him as a bloodthirsty predator, he has a tendency to get interrupted before he can actually hurt [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick. Nonetheless, he manages to be somewhat terrifying.
210* TheHerosJourney: Even something like this can be made to fit: the beginning of the film shows [=SpongeBob=]'s normal life in Bikini Bottom, and then he is forced to leave the comfort of home to save Mr. Krabs and retrieve Neptune's crown, by facing all sorts of challenges that require him to realize that he needs to grow up. The trench is the [[SymbolicHeroRebirth nadir of the journey]] when he and Patrick realize how pathetic they are, Shell City is the "descent to the underworld" (in that they are very nearly killed and only miraculously survive) and, when they return, [=SpongeBob=] saves everyone in town from Plankton's mind control by admitting that he may just be a kid, but that isn't so bad.
211* HeterosexualLifePartners: [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick are as tight as ever. Patrick celebrates what he believes is [=SpongeBob=]'s promotion by flying through the air with a flag stuck in his butt, gets drunk on ice cream with him, goes on the adventure to save the crown with him, and [[spoiler:they almost die together while singing the Goofy Goober theme song, with their {{Single Tear}}s merging into a heart-shape (which indirectly saves their lives)]].
212* HijackingCthulhu: [[spoiler:Plankton mind-controls King Neptune near the end.]]
213* HumanityEnsues: In a ShoutOut to [[Literature/TheAdventuresOfPinocchio Pinocchio]], [[spoiler:King Neptune accidentally turns Mr. Krabs into a human boy before finally changing him back to normal.]]
214* HumansAreCthulhu:
215** The "Cyclops" (actually a deep-sea diver). He just wants to collect sea creatures to sell as souvenirs - but that includes [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick, much to their horror. Although he apparently has a green glowing face under his helmet and laughs maniacally when his specimens start to panic, and NEVER takes off his diving suit.
216** Creator/DavidHasselhoff, however, is an aversion, being completely friendly to the duo.
217* HypocriticalHumor:
218** During the awards at the beginning of the movie, [=SpongeBob=] embarrasses himself by making a lot of noise. A few seconds later, he tells everybody to "shhhh".
219** BALD! BALD! BALD! BALD! None of the others, besides Mindy, have hair either, though their domes aren't knock-your-eyes out shiny.
220** Victor, the owner of the Thug Tug, uses the Goofy Goober theme song to weed out anyone who's not manly enough for his bar, claiming that whoever sings along to it is a "baby". And yet, as he closes in on [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick, ''he'' [[ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem starts singing along]] (in an attempt to goad them into breaking, but still).
221* InsistentTerminology: A classic example. King Neptune is ''not'' bald, he is thinning.
222* InstantlyProvenWrong: Upon learning that [=SpongeBob=] didn't get the promotion due to Mr. Krabs thinking he was a kid, Patrick calls it insane, claiming that saying [=SpongeBob=] is a kid is like saying ''he's'' a kid.
223-->'''Waiter:''' Here's your Goober Meal, Sir.\
224'''Patrick:''' [[NotHelpingYourCase Uh, I'm supposed to get a toy with this]]. (''Waiter throws one at his face.'') Thanks.
225* InsultBackfire: Plankton insults [=SpongeBob=] for being just a kid who couldn't tackle an EvilGenius hellbent on world domination. [=SpongeBob=] embraces that he's a kid and enacts a musical number "I'm a Goofy Goober".
226* InstrumentOfMurder: [=SpongeBob=] uses a laser-shooting electric guitar to destroy the citizens' mind control helmets - [[AutobotsRockOut and he plays a pretty damn catchy]] TriumphantReprise of the Goofy Goober song while he's at it!
227* InternalDeconstruction: [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick's childish behavior isn't as overlooked or ignored as it is in the TV series. Mr. Krabs doesn't promote [=SpongeBob=] because he thinks he's just a "kid," spurning [=SpongeBob=] into a depression that leads to him lashing out at Mr. Krabs, convincing Neptune that Krabs is indeed the one who stole his crown. During their journey, [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick's careless, childish shenanigans outright put their lives at risk several times, falling for a monster who appears to give them ice cream and filling a BadGuyBar with bubbles when the boss is willing to beat up anybody who blows bubbles there. Their efforts to become men with kelp mustaches give them false confidence but don't actually change who they are. However, this is reconstructed as [=SpongeBob=] celebrates his childish behavior at the end of the film, which actually saves the town.
228* InTheStyleOf: "The Best Day Ever", the last song to play over the closing credits, is a pastiche of Music/TheBeachBoys.
229* IronicEcho:
230** "Sorry about this, calendar." First stated by [=SpongeBob=] when he removes a day from his calendar to reveal that today is the opening of the Krusty Krab 2, said later by Plankton when he removes the last day before Krabs' scheduled execution from his calendar.
231** "We're on a baby hunt, and don't think we don't know how to weed them out!" The second time this is said, Patrick is mocking the owner of the Thug Tug.
232* {{Irony}}: Mr. Krabs didn't like the idea of a second Krusty Krab in [[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsS3E7AsSeenOnTVCanYouSpareADime "As Seen on TV"]] because it was costing him a lot of money. The reason he gives for openly embracing it in this movie? Money.
233* IsThisThingStillOn: When [=SpongeBob=] goes up to the stage, mistakenly believing that he won the manager position, Mr. Krabs tries whispering to him that he didn't get the job, only for [=SpongeBob=] partically repeat everything Mr. Krabs is saying to him.
234-->'''[=SpongeBob=]''': People of Bikini Bottom, as the manager of--!!\
235'''Krabs''': Uh, [=SpongeBob=]?\
236'''[=SpongeBob=]''': Hold the phone, folks, I'm getting an important news flash from Mr. Krabs. Go ahead, Mr. K. ''(Krabs whispers into his ear)'' I'm making a complete what of myself? ''(more whispering)'' The most embarrassing thing you've ever seen? ''(more whispering)'' [[ComicallyMissingThePoint And now it's worse because I'm repeating everything you say into the microphone]]?
237* JawDrop[=/=]StunnedSilence: Patrick and [=SpongeBob=]'s [[MemeticMutation (famous)]] reactions after narrowly escaping the old lady monster, and seeing the monster get promptly swallowed up by a giant eel.
238* {{Jerkass}}: King Neptune. But Plankton [[BigBad is much more of a jerk]].
239* JerkassHasAPoint: King Neptune's harsh punishments become understandable when you realize that there are cruel people in this world who would commit crimes for their own selfish ends. Plankton is a perfect example, at least in this movie.
240* JerkWithAHeartOfGold:
241** King Neptune becomes this at the end, when he realized how his daughter was right about having love and compassion when you're a ruler, and he thanks [=SpongeBob=] for his help and apologizes to Mr. Krabs for freezing him.
242** [[spoiler:Squidward]], of all people, also becomes this at the end as well; he gave up his position as manager for [=SpongeBob=] just for him to be happy.
243* JustAKid: [=SpongeBob=] gets this from nearly ''everyone'' in the movie. [[spoiler:He later becomes proud of being a "kid", because he managed to get King Neptune's crown back despite nobody believing he could do it for this reason.]]
244-->'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' [[spoiler:So yeah, I'm a kid! And I'm also a goofball! And a wingnut! And a Knucklehead [=McSpazatron=]! [...] But most of all... I'm... I'm... ''I'm...'' [[ThePowerOfRock I'M A GOOFY GOOBER! ROCK!]]]]
245* JustJokingJustification: Plankton tries to weasel his way out of jail time by claiming that him brainwashing the Bikini Bottomites and turning the town into his own personal dictatorship was somehow an elaborate joke. Nobody buys it, and as the squad car he is loaded in carries him away, he drops the act and loudly vows revenge on everyone.
246* KarmaHoudini: Karen was the one who led Plankton to looking through Plan Z, implying she made all the Plans herself, activated the mind-controlling Chum Bucket helmets after Plankton's command/button press and was all in on the plan, even with her usual snark at her husband... [[spoiler:And yet at the end, she's shown giddily crowd surfing as everybody cheers on [=SpongeBob=] with no sign of her being arrested along with Plankton, unless it happened offscreen.]]
247* KarmicInjury: Early on, [=SpongeBob=] accidentally steps on Plankton. Later, when [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick run into Dennis, the hitman sent by Plankton, he tells them that "for some reason [[BigBad Plankton]] wanted me to step on you." He's about to do just that when [[spoiler:Dennis gets stepped on himself by the GreaterScopeVillain, the Cyclops from Shell City (who appears to have done so accidentally as well).]]
248* KidsMealToy: [[invoked]] Referenced.
249-->'''Patrick:''' Well, saying you're a kid is like saying ''I'm'' a kid!\
250'''Waiter:''' Here's your Goober Meal, sir.\
251'''Patrick:''' Uh, I'm supposed to get a toy with this? [gets smacked in the face with toy] Thanks.
252* KilledMidSentence: As the Thug Tug owner tells Dennis the rules around there, he is uppercutted, falling into the Tug and sinking it!
253* KillItWithFire: King Neptune tries to do this to Mr. Krabs once it appears that [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick aren't going to meet the deadline.
254* KnightOfCerebus:
255** Though he does have a more comedic side, Dennis tends to be rather scary.
256** And the Cyclops, especially, since he almost kills [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick.
257* LaughablyEvil: Dennis, Plankton's Assassin from TheMovie, is downright sadistic and threatening. He's also very entertaining to watch due to his over-the-top nature and constant EvilLaugh.
258* LeadSingerPlaysLeadGuitar: In the movie's climax, [=SpongeBob=] sings "Goofy Goober Rock" and proceeds to absolutely shred a guitar solo, [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext while wearing a wizard outfit]].
259* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: During the "Now That We're Men" musical number, the shot of [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick looking like old-timey boxers with "a manly flair" has a visible peg-bar registration[[note]]Used in hand-drawn animation to keep all the paper in place.[[/note]] at the bottom of the screen.
260* LooseLips: Lampshaded when Plankton calls Squidward "Inspector Loose Lips" after he finds out his EvilPlan and threatens to expose him to King Neptune, prompting him to activate the bucket helmets' MindControl to have Squidward captured and controlled himself.
261* LoveAtFirstSight: Patrick is infatuated with Neptune's daughter Mindy the second he meets her... even though she's telling them about how dangerous their journey will be.
262* LowerDeckEpisode: A ''Magazine/NickelodeonMagazine'' special promoting the film included a comic story showing Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy [[LaResistance trying (and failing) to stop Plankton]] during the events of the movie.
263* LuringInPrey: As they journey out from Bikini Bottom, [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick come across a rather incongruous ice cream stand owned by a sweet little old lady. It eventually turns out to be the elaborate lure of a gigantic frogfish that uses it to trick people into walking into its mouth.
264* MacGuffin:
265** King Neptune's crown, the managerial position at the Krusty Krab 2 and the Krabby Patty recipe.
266** The pirates in the live-action segments are seeking tickets for [=SpongeBob=]'s movie.
267* MagicFeather: Mindy gives [=SpongeBob=] and Partick a couple of seaweed moustaches to convince them she's turned them into men. This gives them the confidence to act more "manly" and cross the dangerous trenches. However, Dennis rips them off and reveals they're fake, sending them back to square one.
268* ManlyFacialHair: Invoked. Princess Mindy makes a pair of mustaches out of seaweed to convince [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick that they have become men. Dennis notices the [[EpicFail obviously fake mustaches]], pulls them off the pair's faces, and says, "This is what a REAL mustache looks like!" He proceeds to pull down his bandana, revealing his clean-shaven face, and grows a full, bushy mustache through sheer force of will [[SpontaneousMustache in an instant]].
269* MediumBlending: Along with the live-action scenes set on dry land, there is a brief shot using StopMotion during the "Goofy Goober Rock" number.
270* MoodWhiplash:
271** In the midst of [=SpongeBob=] noticing all of his friends are brainwashed, once he gets to Gary...
272--->'''Gary:''' "MEOW PLANKTON."
273** The scene at the Goofy Goober bar. Said peanut comes out dancing and singing. Then the camera pans to a sobbing [=SpongeBob=] who isn't joining in the fun at all because he didn't get a promotion to manager for the Krusty Krab 2.
274** Towards the end of the proud and triumphant TheyveComeSoFarSong "Now That We're Men," [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick see a sign that says "Shell City Dead Ahead", and [=SpongeBob=] happily says, "Well, Patrick, we should be there in one more verse!" and begin to finish the song, but then out of nowhere the music and happy atmosphere are cut off by the arrival of [[PsychoForHire Dennis]], who has finally caught up with them and intends to kill them both.
275** During Plankton's interview with Perch Perkins on how he got the Krabby Patty, he falsely tells him that Krabs secretly bequeathed the recipe to Plankton before he was frozen by King Neptune, and [[CrocodileTears fake cries]] over it, then suddenly offers a free Chum Bucket bucket helmet with every purchase of a Krabby Patty with a cheeky grin on his face.
276** An intense montage of [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick rushing to the [[CoolCar Patty Wagon]] is interrupted by a shot of the two waiting patiently in an elevator before abruptly resuming again.
277* {{Mouthscreen}}: Used when [=SpongeBob=] says, "Those fish are...dead."
278* MuggingTheMonster: The two guys at the gas station do this to Dennis by taunting him with their usual joke. Dennis responds by ripping off their mouths.
279* MundaneMadeAwesome: The opening scene features a dramatic scene based around the "crisis" of a customer being given a Krabby Patty without cheese, complete with a slow-motion sequence of [=SpongeBob=] putting some cheese into the patty, played in the same manner as an action hero disarming a bomb. It's a DreamSequence, but still...
280-->'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' You got a name?\
281'''Phil:''' Phil.\
282'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' You got a family, Phil?\
283[no response]\
284'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' Come on, Phil, stay with me. Let's hear about that family.\
285'''Phil:''' I got a wife, and two beautiful children.\
286'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' That's what it's all about. I want you to do me a favor, Phil.\
287'''Phil:''' What?\
288'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' Say "cheese."
289* NearVillainVictory: Two in a row within the last act. First of all, the cyclops has [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick imprisoned under a head lamp which dries them out. Secondly, Plankton, now having all of Bikini Bottom under his control, is ready to have Mr. Krabs executed by King Neptune. If [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick's SwissArmyTears didn't revive them when they did, and if David Hasslehoff didn't come to help them, Plankton would've won.
290* NakedPeopleAreFunny: Early in the film, Patrick goes parasailing with his pants, leaving him naked. He even wedges a flag between his butt cheeks.
291* NeverSayDie: Averted. The words "kill" and "die" are used several times. The scene in Shell City has [=SpongeBob=] stress the words "dead" and "killed" as if to tell the audience "Yes we're defying this trope and using the actual word in a movie for kids." and to emphasize the danger that they are in.
292* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Squidward explains Plankton's plan and intends to rat him out to King Neptune ''right in front of his face!'' This causes Plankton to turn on the mind-control helmets on every citizen of Bikini Bottom and they corner Squidward and enslave him.
293-->'''Plankton:''' We'll see about that, [[LooseLips Inspector Loose-Lips!]]
294* NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished: David Hasselhoff's reward for bringing [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick back to the Krusty Krab 2? Get scorched by King Neptune's trident.
295-->'''David Hasselhoff:''' (''while backfloating on top of the Krusty Krab'') Ya done good, [[ThirdPersonPerson Hasselhoff]]. Ya done... (''gets burnt by the trident fire'') [[MajorInjuryUnderreaction Ow]].
296* NonStandardCharacterDesign: [[spoiler:The revived sea creatures in Shell City are noticeably a ''lot'' less anthropomorphized than the citizens of Bikini Bottom are.]]
297* NotMeThisTime: Mr. Krabs' actions are just as criminal as Plankton's, if not more, but this time he's ''not'' the one who stole King Neptune's crown.
298* NotQuiteDead: [[spoiler:Dennis gets crushed by the Cyclops when he first catches up with [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick. He comes back afterwards for the final showdown.]]
299** [[spoiler:The sprinklers at Shell City not only revive [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick, but also all the other dried sea animals that had been made into knickknacks, who then take revenge on the Cyclops.]]
300* NotSoHarmlessVillain: Plankton is portrayed as much more evil and competent than he has ever been before (or since), succeeding in his goal to frame Krabs, steal the Krabby Patty formula, and take over Bikini Bottom.
301* ObviouslyFakeSignature: Early in the movie, Plankton steals King Neptune's crown, framing Mr. Krab for it by leaving a poorly written note where the crown was kept. The signature Plankton provides on the note is in poorly scrawled print, whereas Mr. Krab's ''real'' signature is clean old-fashioned cursive as previously seen on his driver's license in the episode "[[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsS1E15SleepyTimeSuds Sleepy Time]]". Somehow, the signature Plankton provides is enough to fool King Neptune, kicking off Spongebob's quest to get the crown back
302* OcularGushers: During [=SpongeBob=]'s and Patrick's DespairEventHorizon, they spray tears EVERYWHERE. Mindy is visibly {{squick}}ed when they squirt their tears like high-pressure hoses into each other's mouths.
303* OhCrap:
304** [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick react this way when Victor begins his bubble-blowing baby hunt in the Thug Tug and brings out his searching method: the Goofy Goober theme song.
305** Squidward gets a very terrified one when Plankton activates the bucket helmets on the customers and all of Bikini Bottom to capture him when he attempts to tell King Neptune that Plankton stole his crown.
306** PlayedForLaughs with [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick when a sea monster eats the Pattymobile. So much that Patrick's OhCrap has earned the nickname [[MemeticMutation Surprised Patrick]].
307** [[spoiler:The "Cyclops" has this reaction when the animals in his shop begin to revive and he realizes they're about to beat the tar out of him.]]
308** [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick have a really huge one when they see [[spoiler:Dennis has returned.]]
309* OlderThanTheyLook: According to [=SpongeBob=], he has won the Employee of the Month Award 374 times in a row. This means he has been working for over 31 years. Assuming that he started work at age 16, this means he could be 47 years old or older!
310* OmnicidalManiac: Plankton vows to destroy everyone after he gets carried off to prison.
311* OneLastSong: [[spoiler:[=SpongeBob=] and Patrick sing the Goofy Goober Song after realizing they made it to Shell City and found the crown after all, just before they dry out.]]
312* OpenFlyGag: Comes up when [=SpongeBob=] is finally offered his desired job as manager of the Krusty Krab 2. [=SpongeBob=] responds by saying that he has something he needs to say, but isn't sure how to put it. Squidward thinks that [=SpongeBob=] has decided that he doesn't want the job after all, causing [=SpongeBob=] to reply that he was only going to tell Squidward that his fly was down (even though Squidward never wore pants in the first place).
313* OverlyLongGag: Mindy [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial (not) stalling]] Krabs's execution to try and buy [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick more time.
314* ParentalBonus: Done rather blatantly. Plankton's Plan Z opens up like a centerfold as suggestive jazz plays.
315* PassThePopcorn: Plankton takes a seat and grabs some popcorn as Neptune gets ready to execute Krabs.
316* PlaceboEffect: When [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick are about to give up on their quest, Mindy appears and gives them some of her "mermaid magic", which is nothing but making them close their eyes and putting seaweed on their faces to simulate mustaches. Despite this, it works, giving [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick the bravery to cross the trench of sea monsters without even flinching.
317* PleaseKeepYourHatOn: Neptune's bald head is so reflective that it threatens to blind the mere mortals.
318* ThePowerOfRock: [=SpongeBob=] breaks Plankton's hypnosis with a rock remix of the Goofy Goober song.
319* PrecisionFStrike: King Neptune using "'''damning'''" in the correct sense, and the phrase "Knucklehead Mc'''Spaz'''atron" popping up at least twice[[note]]"spaz" being short for "spastic", which is considered just as offensive in the UK as "retarded" is in the US[[/note]]. Mr. Krabs also seems to say "'''jackass'''" when whispering to [=SpongeBob=].
320* PsychoForHire: Dennis outright says that he's a hitman because he loves his job.
321* PunctuatedForEmphasis: At the promotion ceremony, Mr. Krabs tells [=SpongeBob=], "You. Did not. Get. The job!"
322* RaceAgainstTheClock: [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick have to bring back the missing crown within six days, or King Neptune will burn Mr. Krabs to death.
323* RearrangeTheSong: The background music playing when [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick first peer into the Thug Tug is "You Better Swim" by Music/{{Motorhead}}, an oceanic-themed re-recording of their 1992 song "You Better Run".
324* RecordNeedleScratch: During the "baby hunt" at the Thug Tug, the Siamese twins when they first appear on-screen are accompanied by this.
325* RecurringRiff: The Goofy Goober song. At first, it's a fun and goofy song, then it becomes a massive TearJerker [[spoiler:as a dying [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick sing it together]], then it gets turned into a hella awesome rock song.
326* RedFilterOfDoom: When King Neptune is about to have Mr. Krabs executed, the inside of the Krusty Krab turns an infernal red.
327* RefugeInAudacity: By all accounts, Creator/DavidHasselhoff's appearance in the movie to bring [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick back to Bikini Bottom is a DeusExMachina bordering on BigLippedAlligatorMoment, but that doesn't stop the Hoff from being [[RuleOfCool outright AWESOME]].
328* RoadTripPlot: The movie revolves around [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick going on a road trip with the Patty Wagon to Shell City to retrieve King Neptune's crown, visiting various new locations and encountering strange characters along the way.
329* RogerRabbitEffect: The sequence between the "Cyclops" (a maniacal diver) capturing [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick, and them returning to Bikini Bottom with Creator/DavidHasselhoff!
330* RuderAndCruder: King Neptune actually uses the phrase "damning" when accusing Mr. Krabs, all without any dolphin chirps (or any of the other twelve sound effects representing the Thirteen Dirty Words, for that matter) to censor it.
331* {{Sadist}}: Plankton is extremely sadistic in the movie. He shows great excitement, enthusiasm and joy when Mr. Krabs is going to be executed. Similarly, Dennis seems to be a hitman purely for the excuse to kill people.
332* {{Sampling}}: "Goofy Goober Rock" includes a snippet of former Music/VanHalen frontman David Lee Roth scatting during his CoverVersion of "Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody" by Louis Prima. Since the sample was only licensed for the screen version of the song, the soundtrack release replaces it with an extended silence.
333* SarcasticClapping: Plankton after [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick make it back.
334-->'''Plankton:''' Oh yes. Well done, [=SpongeBOOB=].
335* SavingTheWorldWithArt: Plankton's MindControlDevice has taken control of the entire town, but becomes overloaded when [=SpongeBob=] dons a guitar and sings "Goofy Goober Rock" complete with flashy music video effects.
336* ScarilyCompetentTracker: Dennis, who among other things deduces [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick were at the Thug Tug from nothing more than a small puddle of bubble fluid. Granted, [[JustifiedTrope there's really only one way to Shell City from Bikini Bottom]].
337* ScrewThisImOutOfHere: Squidward ups and leaves before [=SpongeBob=] drags him into the road trip to Shell City.
338* SeriesFauxnale: This film was meant to serve as the closing to the show, but [[ExecutiveMeddling Nickelodeon insisted on putting the series back in production]].
339* ShortLivedLeadership: King Neptune gives [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick exactly six days (originally ten days, [[NiceJobBreakingItHero until Patrick argued it down to six]]) to return with his crown, or else he'll fry Mr. Krabs. During this time, Plankton takes over Bikini Bottom with slave helmets sold by the Chum Bucket. [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick manage to return just in time and defeat Plankton's slave army with ThePowerOfRock, ending Plankton's reign as dictator.
340* ShoutOut:
341** The "nut bar" at Goofy Goober's has pictures of ''ComicStrip/{{Pogo}}'', ''ComicStrip/KrazyKat'', and ''ComicStrip/{{Popeye}}'' comics.
342** [[spoiler:When Neptune unfreezes Mr. Krabs, he accidentally has his trident on the "Real Boy" setting, turning Mr. Krabs into a [[Literature/TheAdventuresOfPinocchio Pinocchio]] lookalike, before just turning him back to normal.]]
343** And let's not forget [[Film/JurassicPark the frogfish scene]].
344** The ArtShift to hard shadows and sepia tone during [[spoiler:Plankton's takeover]] are chillingly similar to those found in ''Film/TriumphOfTheWill''.
345** [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick strike the "Keep On Truckin'" pose just as Dennis cuts off their last verse of "Now That We're Men."
346* ShowWithinAShow: The live-action segments feature pirates who are watching this movie in a pier theater.
347* SinisterShades: Dennis has a pair...well, at least two pairs, one of which he removes to examine a sesame seed left by the Patty Wagon.
348* SkewedPriorities:
349** After Mr. Krabs is frozen, Squidward says "Oh, no! This is terrible! Who's gonna sign my paycheck?"
350** When Plankton takes over Bikini Bottom and renames it "Planktopolis" and enslaves all the citizens, Neptune's only concern is ''finding a way to cover his bald spot.''
351* TheSociopath:
352** Plankton is this in the same movie. He does not seem to feel any remorse for what he does, and worse, undertakes to destroy everyone when arrested.
353** Dennis, as befitting a ProfessionalKiller.
354* SomethingOnlyTheyWouldSay: The Thug Tug has a low tolerance for anything "kiddie". When they see bubbles floating at the bar, the owner Victor has a Goofy Goober song at the ready to weed out any kids, or those with a kid-like mentality, who would finish the song. Luckily for [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick, two thugs join in the song before they could out of instinct.
355* TheStinger: After the credits finish rolling, curtains drop and the camera pans out to show the pirates from the start and middle of the film still in the theater, chatting about how much they enjoyed the movie. An usher sweeping up popcorn asks that they leave, to which the captain responds by holding a sword to her throat before he and the crew reluctantly comply after she reiterates her order.
356* SuckECheeses: Goofy Goober's Ice Cream Party Boat is basically Chuck E. Cheese combined with [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farrell%27s_Ice_Cream_Parlour Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour]][[note]]one of the favorite childhood places of the series' creator Stephen Hillenburg, defunct as of 2019[[/note]], with a dancing peanut named Goofy Goober. Unlike most other parodies, this place isn't portrayed as soul-crushing or cheap, instead being a fairly light-hearted example beloved by [[ManChild SpongeBob and Patrick]]. That said, [=SpongeBob=] came here to [[DrowningMySorrows drown his sorrows]] in gallons and gallons of [[DrunkOnMilk ice cream sundaes]] (another way in which this sticks out from most examples, since it has an ice cream counter specifically for older patrons). When the sun rises the next morning, he's an ''absolute mess'', covered in smears of vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup. The employee we see doesn't seem too enthusiastic about his job, though this might just be since he has to deal with ice cream-drunk [=SpongeBob=].
357* SurrealHumour: [[HilarityEnsues "Hooray! Bubble party!"]]
358* SweetAndSourGrapes: Subverted. After [=SpongeBob=] saves Bikini Bottom, Mr. Krabs decides to give him Squidward's manager job.
359-->'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' Wait a second, everybody. There's something I need to say first... I just don't know how to put it.\
360'''Squidward:''' I think I know what it is. After going on your life-changing journey, you now realize you don't want what you thought you wanted. What you really wanted was inside you all along.\
361'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' ''(grabs manager badge from Squidward)'' Are you crazy!? I was just gonna tell you that your fly is down!
362* SwissArmyTears: [[spoiler:What ultimately saves [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick from their DisneyDeath, [[JustifiedTrope though how it's done makes sense]], [[CallBack at least in this universe]]: The tear flows off the desk and down the power cable of the lamp into the socket, shorting it out. This not only shuts off the lamp, but the resulting smoke triggers the sprinklers, reviving not only [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick, but the other sea creatures that the Cyclops had captured as well.]]
363* TeamRocketWins: After an endless amount of failures in the TV series (excluding "The Algae is Always Greener", where he technically succeeds), Plankton at last gets his hand on the secret formula and begins selling Krabby Patties at the Chum Bucket.
364* TemptingFate: While riding the Hasselhoff, [=SpongeBob=] happily tells Patrick, "NothingCanStopUsNow". Then the Cyclops' "bigger boot" shows up, and Dennis is dropped off to their horror.
365* TestosteronePoisoning: ''Lots'' of examples.
366** The "Now That We're Men" song.
367** Dennis [[SpontaneousMustache growing his mustache]] in an instant to prove how much manlier he is than [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick.
368** Every scene with Creator/DavidHasselhoff. Every. Single. Scene.
369* TheyveComeSoFarSong: "Now That We're Men," with [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick finally passing through the monster-filled trench... and the monsters are singing with them.
370* TimeForPlanB: Paroded. Plankton has gone through twenty-five plans lettered from "A" to "Y," and decides to execute the last one, Plan Z, which he's ignored until now.
371* TiredOfRunning: Parodied. When Dennis confronts them for the final time, [=SpongeBob=] tells Patrick to run, but Patrick steps forward saying, "No. I'm tired of running. If we run now we'll never stop - " Dennis then slaps Patrick, sending him flying back to Hasselhoff's heel, where he screams, "RUN, SPONGEBOB!"
372* TomTheDarkLord: We have a vile, dangerous bounty hunter, and his name is... Dennis.
373* TookALevelInBadass: [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick. They faced many dangerous sea creatures while venturing across the sea to retrieve King Neptune’s crown and managed to defeat Plankton.
374* TriumphantReprise: "Goofy Goober Rock". [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic Good]] [[ThePowerOfRock Lord]]. Made especially triumphant since the last time the Goofy Goober song was used was in a massive TearJerker moment.
375* UncertainDoom: The movie never makes it clear if [[spoiler:Dennis]] was killed or simply knocked out when he gets struck by the catamaran. The scene itself plays out like a usual death scene would.[[note]]He does make a few minor appearances in the series, albeit ''much'' later on.[[/note]]
376* TheUnreveal: Plankton finally finds out the Krabby Patty formula, but we don't.
377* VaderBreath: The Cyclops, when he is present in the scene he has this.
378* VileVillainSaccharineShow: Plankton himself, Dennis and the Cyclops. Plankton is much more dangerous than he is in the TV series, Dennis is a murderer-for-hire, and the Cyclops sort-of manages to kill [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick among other sea creatures.
379* VillainousBreakdown: Dennis is a lot more calm and cool when chasing after [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick, as well as during his first encounter with him than he is after [[spoiler:being crushed by the boot]] and encountering them on top of David Hasselhoff. He's a lot more aggressive and prone to anger at the point--notably, he lost his glasses and bandana, so we can now see his expressions.
380* VillainExitStageLeft: Plankton attempts this by escaping the Krusty Krab through the front door, but he is thwarted when the crowd eager to see [=SpongeBob=] tramples Plankton.
381* VocalEvolution: [=SpongeBob=]'s voice is notably higher in the movie than it was in the show. This change would make its way to the show itself after it got UnCanceled.
382* WeNeedADistraction: At the Thug Tug, [=SpongeBob=] plans to create a distraction while Patrick steals back the keys to the Patty Wagon. Patrick offers to do the distraction instead, but then he just asks where the bathroom is.
383* WeWillMeetAgain: Plankton proclaims that he'll destroy everyone as he is taken away by the police.
384* WelcomeToCorneria: When the Bikini Bottomites are brainwashed by Plankton, all they say is "All hail Plankton."
385* WelcomeToTheBigCity: The moment [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick cross the Bikini Bottom border, a thug steals their Patty Wagon.
386* WhamLine:
387** When Squidward intends to tell King Neptune of [[spoiler:Plankton's heinous actions, Karen exclaims this line when Plankton gives the go-ahead to an extension of Plan Z, one that marks the movie's CerebusSyndrome and Plankton's NotSoHarmlessVillain role]].
388--->'''Karen:''' Now activating helmet [[spoiler:[[MindControlDevice brain control devices]]]].
389** Towards the end of the film, when [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick realize [[spoiler:how close they are to their goal]].
390--->'''Patrick:''' No! Look at the sign! ''[[spoiler:Shell City, Marine Gifts and Sundries]]''!
391** The final line is Plankton's [[spoiler:backup plan for when the crown does get returned. Dropping a mind-control helmet on Neptune while dropping this whammy]].
392--->'''Plankton:''' My parade shall be quite dry, [[spoiler:[[HijackingCthulhu under my UMBRELLA!]]]]
393* WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue: [[spoiler:The end credits show scenes of [=SpongeBob=] enjoying his new life as the manager of the Krusty Krab 2.]]
394* TheWorfEffect: Victor the Thug Tug owner looks scary and intimidating and is naturally the strongest guy at the bar. Until he tries to pick a fight with Dennis...
395* WorthlessCurrency: When [=SpongeBob=] is cornered by an assassin-for-hire, he tries to bribe the criminal with "Goober Dollars", fake currency that can be exchanged for snacks in certain junk food restaurants.
396* WowingCthulhu: The terrible monsters of the abyss are struck by [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick's confidence after the two repeatedly avoid the monsters' attempt to kill them and perform an extremely cool slap-dance. The ocean terrors can't help but join the tiny little fish in singing and dancing along to "Now That We're Men." [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] by [=SpongeBob=], whose comment offends the monsters and causes them to walk away grumbling.
397-->''"Shell City's dead ahead! We did it, Pat! We made it past everything, even the hideous and disgusting monsters!"''
398* WritingAroundTrademarks: The Cyclops clearly uses a bottle of Elmer's brand glue, with ''just'' enough of it dried over the label to obscure the logo and name.
399* YeahShot: The movie ends with [=SpongeBob=] [[spoiler:leaping in the air in complete joy after FINALLY getting his well-deserved promotion to manager of the Krusty Krab 2 instead of Squidward (who presumably isn't overly enthusiastic about the job)]].
400-->'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' [[spoiler:Manager! ''This is the greatest day of my liiiife!'']]
401* YourPrincessIsInAnotherCastle: [[spoiler:[=SpongeBob=] and Patrick get Neptune's crown back and seemingly save the day... then Plankton reveals he had a backup plan and just takes control of [[PhysicalGod Neptune]].]]
402* YouWontFeelAThing: A subversion:
403-->'''Dennis:''' Don't worry, this'll only hurt a lot!
404----
405->'''Captain:''' You know, Creator/DavidHasselhoff is a great artist--\
406'''Usher:''' Excuse me, sir. You folks have to leave.\
407'''Captain:''' [[BigWhat WHAAAT!?]] Say that again, ''if you dare!''\
408'''Usher:''' You folks have to leave.\

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