The new SpongeBob SquarePants movie is a Netflix hit, with the animated film becoming the most-watched English-language film on the streaming service this week.
Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie, which arrived on Netflix last week, follows SpongeBob and Sandy Cheeks as they journey to Texas to save Bikini Bottom's residents from a villainous plot after they're suddenly scooped out of the ocean.
It’s currently the number one most-watched English-language movie on Netflix in the past week with 12.8 million views, proving the yellow sea sponge is still a hit with audiences over two decades since he made his TV debut on Nickelodeon back in 1999.
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Two other animated children's movies also made the Global Top 10 list, including PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie, which is currently sitting at number two with 7 million views, while Trolls Band Together is number four with 5.9 million views.
Don't Breathe 2, the follow-up to Rodo Sayagues' 2016 horror Don't breathe, is number three with just over 5.9 million views.
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The Sandy Cheeks Movie is the fourth feature-length SpongeBob film, following The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004), Sponge Out of Water (2015) and Sponge on the Run (2020).
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In other SpongeBob news, it was recently confirmed that Bikini Bottom's favourite resident is autistic.
At the 2024 Motor City Comic Con in Detroit, Tom Kenny, who has voiced SpongeBob since 1999, recalled the time he was approached by a fan "on the spectrum" who asked if SpongeBob was autistic.
"It was the first time I'd ever been asked this question," he told the crowd. "A person who was obviously on the spectrum came up to me and said: 'I have a question for you, Tom Kenny. Is SpongeBob autistic?'"
Kenny then recalled answering: "'Of course!' I said: 'You know what? That's his superpower, the same way that's your superpower'."
Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie is now available to watch on Netflix.
Social Executive, Entertainment Portfolio After completing her joint honours degree in Journalism and English Literature at Cardiff University, Iona joined Digital Spy as a Content Production Intern in 2022, where she wrote across both news and features, specialising in TV and movies. Following her internship, Iona continued contributing to the site as a freelance reporter, becoming social executive for the Hearst UK entertainment portfolio in summer 2025. Iona now leads the DS social channels, covering red carpets with stars such as Paul Mescal, Austin Butler, and more.
