Why is “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants” rated PG? The MPAA rating has been assigned for “rude humor, action and some scary images.” The Kids-In-Mind.com evaluation includes two sea monsters kissing, a few scenes of exposed buttocks and an eyepatch worn as a codpiece, a few scary scenes in a ghostly undersea setting with large sea monsters and a ghost pirate, a few scenes that show exposed bones of people during a fight and later as skeletons that reassemble, several discussions of a curse and some arguments and name-calling. Read our parents’ guide below for details on sexual content, violence & strong language.

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SpongeBob (voiced by Tom Kenny) thinks that he has finally grown tall enough to be a “big guy,” but still must overcome an obstacle that he needs help to achieve. The problem is that there are unpleasant consequences and only his friends can help him. Also with Mark Hamill and the voices of Clancy Brown, Rodger Bumpass, Bill Fagerbakke, Carolyn Lawrence, Mr. Lawrence, George Lopez, Regina Hall and Mark Hamill. Directed by Derek Drymon. [Running Time: 1:36]

The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants SEX/NUDITY 1

 – Two large sea monsters fight over a Winnebago boat and the three characters inside it yell; the monsters let the boat go and they kiss with smooching sounds.
► A ride in an amusement park is called “Captain Booty Beard.” SpongeBob gets out of bed and we see him wearing underwear as he dances (we see buttock cleavage through the underwear a couple of times) and he thrusts his hips while dancing. SpongeBob says, “Destiny is squeezing my buns,” and we see two square blocks in his pants moving close together; we also see Patrick’s buttocks as two drooping forms. Patrick is shown wearing an eye patch around his waist and it resembles a codpiece over his crotch; we see his buttocks several times. Patrick’s pants fall down revealing buttocks and an eye patch that resembles a codpiece.
► A few live-action beach scenes show people wearing swimsuits that reveal cleavage, bare abdomens, bare chests and legs to the hips.

The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants VIOLENCE/GORE 3

 – SpongeBob blows a hornpipe, a swirling, glowing portal opens in the floor, a giant sailing ship rises out of the opening and several ghost pirates rush toward Patrick and SpongeBob. Sea creatures fight with swords, and arrows strike others blowing their heads off (we see a bone exposed at the neck). A giant monster made of ropes rises up over SpongeBob and slams down near him; SpongeBob slams the monster into a mop bucket disabling it. A giant sea monster roars and stands over characters until it is struck by falling stalactites and knocked to the ground. A giant, three-headed seagull swoops toward three characters and picks two of them up, and the third is tossed into the air and lands in the gull’s beak (we see him unharmed later). A shoe with a bone sticking out of it is shown on the floor and characters panic when they see it.
► A sailing ship sinks into a spinning vortex and SpongeBob and Patrick scream. A roller coaster is shown with giant peaks and lightning flashes around it, canons fire explosives at it and the cars swerve around turns. SpongeBob takes on several challenges and one includes him riding a bicycle through three flaming hoops.
► Several scenes take place in the “underworld” and we see large sea monsters with large eyes and teeth, long tentacles and claws; they lunge toward other characters several times, scaring them. SpongeBob moves through a duct and is scared by a small insect; he rushes away and falls down a chute into a large area containing a collection of pirate things (an eye patch, a sword, a hornpipe, etc.). A hornpipe is blown and a ghost transforms into a human, is encased in a large bubble under the sea and another character is transformed into a ghost.
► Two large sea monsters fight over a Winnebago boat and the three characters inside it yell; the monsters let the boat go and no one is harmed (please see the Sex/Nudity category for more details). Many bones join together to create skeleton guards with spears, swords and explosives; a character is struck by a flare. A sailing ship at sea rocks in heavy waves and a man onboard struggles to keep from sliding across the floor; the man talks about a character being placed under an ancient wicked curse. A Winnebago boat with three characters inside crashes into a school and it is pelted with dodgeballs when it sails through the gym and towels whip and underwear is flung at them as they pass through the locker room; we later see a jockstrap floating in a vortex as the boat falls through. A man steals a child’s ice cream cone making him cry. SpongeBob is struck by a hot dog and is knocked off a rollercoaster. A character falls over and lands on a snail.
► A character laughs with a spooky, deep voice in a few scenes. A character brags, “I ate danger for breakfast.” Characters talk about a ghost pirate and the underworld in several scenes. Characters talk about unimaginable terrors and dark magic. A sticker that reads, “Kick Me” is placed on a sea monster’s back. Two characters yell “Arrrgh” at each other repeatedly.
► SpongeBob is sad when Patrick doesn’t recognize him after he has grown taller. SpongeBob talks about fearing that he will have an accident in his pants if he rides a scary-looking roller coaster. Patrick cries when SpongeBob says that he doesn’t want to blow bubbles with him anymore. A character panics when another character tells him that he has a good head on his shoulders; he yells, “Get it off.” Squidward is left behind in the underworld and drives around trying to figure a way out. A character says, “Butts are for toilets,” and tells another character to go clean them in a restaurant.
► A running joke shows a brick popping out of characters’ pants when they are afraid. Squidward complains about being demoted to a fry cook and says that the grease inflames his acne (we see a large, swollen pimple on his nose). A drawing of someone flatulating is seen accompanied by the word “farping.” We are told that a three-headed seagull is allergic to shellfish and we see it drooling green goo (like vomit), sweating and sneezing. A large seagull passes a large egg that cracks open to reveal other characters.

The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants LANGUAGE 1

 – 3 mild scatological terms, 3 mild anatomical terms, name-calling (vertically challenged, son of a perch, pasty white legs, big dummy, doomed, bubble boy, barnacle brain, square derriere, scaredy pants, persistent little barnacle, Flying Bob Dutchpants, jerk, demon, losers, baby boy, dirty deceiver, coward, rough and tumble, monster, pants wettingly, bubble blowing baby boy), exclamations (oh come on, oh no, fish sticks, you gotta be kidding me, woo-hoo, ew, chill out, tartar sauce, oh shrimp). | profanity glossary |

The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants SUBSTANCE USE

 – None.

The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants DISCUSSION TOPICS

 – Overcoming fears, intestinal fortitude, destiny, proving your mettle, innocence, eternity, curses, dark magic, guilt, bravery, good-hearted people, friendship, challenges, lying.

The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants MESSAGE

 – Most problems can be solved with the help of true friends.

(Note: An animated short precedes the feature film from “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” where the turtles talk about martial arts moves in several scenes, and they discover that someone has used their likenesses to make and sell a series of toys; there is a reference to the death of a man, a large robotic character fights with several turtles and the robot’s limbs break off spraying sparks before exploding and bursting into flames, several conversations about AI only being as good as its prompts, several discussions about capitalism and infringement, a rat scurries through an alley, exclamations (AI sucks, oh eggnog, cut it out, capitalism strikes again) and some name-calling (chrome dome, weird, benevolent AI, ridiculous).)