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Tear Jerker / The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie

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  • "I'm ready... depression..."
    • 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.
    Mr. Krabs: Poor kid.
    • In the following scene, SpongeBob is sobbing at Goofy Goober's Ice Cream Party Boat because he didn't get the job. When he finally manages to calm down a bit and take a breath, Patrick arrives to congratulate him for his promotion.... prompting SpongeBob to start bawling again.
      • Given that SpongeBob is pretty goofy and child-like, his grief about failing to get the promotion comes from a pretty adult place and isn't misplaced at all. He's not just crying because of something silly like "losing" the Fry Cook Boots in the episode "Squeaky Boots." He's just experienced a very real and painful taste of life as an adult, and is possibly more disappointed in himself than he's ever been. Any adult watching this movie who's had the experience of applying for a great job only for someone else to get it will empathize with SpongeBob's plight here.
  • After Plankton walks into the Krusty Krab and steals the formula, there's a brief shot of frozen Mr. Krabs shedding one lone tear that immediately freezes and hits the ground. It comes even worse when we learn two seasons later that he and Plankton used to be best friends like SpongeBob and Patrick.
  • Squidward getting caught by the mind controlled Bikini Bottom citizens, especially since he was trying to do the right thing by reporting Plankton to King Neptune. It just shows how bad he has it even when he tries to help.
  • 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... he just 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] Hey, where are you going?
    SpongeBob: I'm going home, Patrick.
    Patrick: But what about Mr. Krabs?
    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.
    Patrick: We're NOT 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: We do not worship him!
    SpongeBob: [pulls Patrick's pants down] Patrick, you've been wearing the same Goofy Goober Peanut Party underpants for three years straight! What do you call that?!
    Patrick: Worship? [tears up] Oh, you're right, SpongeBob! We are kids! [starts waddling away, sobbing, and falls down]
    SpongeBob: Pull your pants up, Patrick. We're going home.
  • 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 Played for Laughs, but still.
  • SpongeBob and Patrick's 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, 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.
      SpongeBob: Pat... we did make it.
      Patrick: Yeah... I guess we did.
      SpongeBob: We did alright for a couple of goofballs.
    • Their last words, as they Go Out with a Smile, is one last, sad, slow, but nonetheless enthusiastic reprise of the Goofy Goober Song.
    • And also, before this, SpongeBob has a short monologue about how they never succeeded in their mission. How broken Tom Kenny makes SpongeBob sound as he's slowly dying does not help:
      SpongeBob: Well, it looks like what everyone said about us is true, Patrick.
      Patrick: You mean that we're attractive?
      SpongeBob: No, that we're just... kids. A couple of kids in way over their heads. We were doomed from the start. I mean look at us. We didn't even come close to the crown. We let everybody down... we failed.
    • Even the pirates watching this movie in the theaters are shedding tears over the loss of the two heroes.
  • When you watch "Friend Or Foe" and realize that Mr. Krabs and Plankton were childhood best friends, it makes Plankton's plan all the more heartbreaking. Plankton was so consumed by jealousy over Mr. Krabs' breakthrough success with the Krabby Patty that he was willing to murder his former best friend just to have the success that he felt should've rightfully been his (and then taking it a step further by using that success to Take Over the World).
  • In the wake of Stephen Hillenburg's passing, the ending credits to the movie, scored to Ween's 'Ocean Man', becomes as much of a tearjerking love letter to the series' creator as it does a triumphant ending to SpongeBob's story as a whole, celebrating the life of one passionate marine biologist who created a character and series that endures in the minds of children and adults even to this day.
    Ocean man, can you see through the wonder of amazement at the oberman
    Ocean man, the crust is elusive when it casts forth to the childlike man
  • Wilco's song for this movie, Just a Kid. 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".

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