History WesternAnimation / TheSpongebobSquarepantsMovie

* 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.

** 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.

* FreezeFrameBonus: Right before [=SpongeBob=] rejoices thinking he is the new manager, even Squidward is [[DidNotSeeThatComing genuinely surprised]] that he got the tittle.

** 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.

** [=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.

* 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.

** 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]]. Though this may have been just to test them.

* AnAesop:
** Lampshaded in the following dialogue:
--->'''[=SpongeBob:=]''' I guess you're right, Plankton. I am just a kid. [...] And you know, I've been through a lot in the last [[LudicrousPrecision six days, five minutes, twenty-seven-and-a-half seconds]], and if I've learned ''anything'' during that time, [[BeYourself it's that you are who you are.]] [...] And no amount of mermaid magic, or managerial promotion, or [[RuleOfThree some other third thing]] can make me anything more than what I really am inside: a kid.\\
'''[[BigBad Plankton]]:''' That's great. Now get back against the wall--\\
'''[=SpongeBob:=]''' ''[on microphone]'' But that's okay! [...] 'Cause I did what everyone said a kid ''couldn't'' do! I made it to Shell City, and I beat the Cyclops, and I rode the [[AdamWesting Hasselhoff]], and I brought the crown ''BACK!'' [...] [[IAmWhatIAm 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...\\
'''[=Plankton=]:''' Okay, settle down! Take it easy!\\
'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' I'm... I'm...\\
'''[=Plankton=]:''' WHAT THE SCALLOP?!\\
[[AC:I'm a Goofy Goober!]] [[[ThePowerOfRock rock music starts]]]
** Later subverted in the end of the movie, where everyone is cheering [=SpongeBob=] for saving the day and becoming the new manager:
--->'''[=SpongeBob:=]''' Wait a second, everybody. There's something I need to say first. But I just don't know how to put it.\\
'''Squidward:''' [[SweetAndSourGrapes I think I know what it is.]] After going on your life-changing journey, you now realize that [[WantingIsBetterThanHaving you don't want what you thought you wanted.]] [[ItWasWithYouAllAlong What you really wanted was inside you all along.]]\\
'''[=SpongeBob:=]''' ''(grabs manager pin from Squidward)'' Are you crazy?! I was just going to tell you that your fly is down. ''Manager!'' This is the greatest day of my ''[[YeahShot liiiiiiife!]]''
** King Neptune also gets an aesop on how important it is to show/have love and compassion when you're in a position of leadership.

* WeWillMeetAgain: Plankton proclaims that he'll destroy everyone as he is taken away by the police. However as the film takes place at the end of the timeline, this appears to be an empty threat.

* 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 the 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, compared 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 stil drawn in the style of the series' usual fish extras.]]

Set in an AlternateContinuity from 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.

* 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.]]

This first film was released to theaters on November 19, 2004 to commercial and critical acclaim, and quickly became a blockbuster, despite being out-grossed by ''WesternAnimation/ThePolarExpress''.

In the film, 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.