In the final scene of The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run, SpongeBob refuses King Poseidon’s ultimatum to abandon Gary in exchange for dropping all charges against him. Instead of accepting the bargain, SpongeBob stands firm in his commitment to his pet snail, explaining that the sacrifices his friends have made for him and Gary throughout the film have made their friendship priceless and impossible to trade away. This moment marks a pivotal shift in the film’s conflict. Poseidon, presented as the main antagonist, reveals the true source of his villainy: profound loneliness and insecurity.
He depends on snail slime to maintain his youthful appearance and godly status, a superficial obsession that stems from having no genuine friendships. When SpongeBob extends a hand of friendship to the isolated god rather than exploiting his moment of weakness, Poseidon undergoes a complete transformation. The resolution sees Poseidon strip away his artificial enhancements to reveal his true form, fundamentally changing his character through the simple act of accepting SpongeBob’s friendship. He subsequently releases Gary along with all the enslaved snails he had been forcing to work in his garden, allowing them to return to Bikini Bottom with SpongeBob and his companions.
Table of Contents
- Why Does SpongeBob Refuse to Abandon Gary in The SpongeBob Movie?
- Poseidon’s Transformation: From Villain to Friend
- The Themes of Friendship and Sacrifice in the Final Act
- The Canadian Theatrical Release and Box Office Performance
- How the Final Scene Reflects the Film’s Core Message
- The Resolution of the Snail Slavery Subplot
- The Broader Impact of the Final Scene on The SpongeBob Franchise
- Frequently Asked Questions
Why Does SpongeBob Refuse to Abandon Gary in The SpongeBob Movie?
SpongeBob’s refusal to trade Gary for safety demonstrates the film’s central thesis about the value of loyalty. Throughout the movie, Gary has been the catalyst for the entire adventure—SpongeBob and Patrick venture into the dangerous Lost City of Atlantis specifically to rescue him after he’s kidnapped. this commitment proves that for SpongeBob, Gary isn’t simply a pet but a core relationship that defines who he is. The weight of this decision becomes apparent when Poseidon presents what appears to be the easiest solution to the conflict. By accepting the god’s offer, SpongeBob could restore peace and order to Atlantis without further struggle.
However, SpongeBob’s refusal reveals that he has internalized a deeper understanding throughout his journey. Patrick’s willingness to fight for SpongeBob, Squidward’s unexpected heroism, and Sandy’s loyalty all flash through the narrative, creating a web of interdependence that makes any single friendship impossible to sacrifice. This moment also serves as SpongeBob’s ultimate test of character. The film has repeatedly shown him as somewhat naive and easily influenced, often dragged into situations by circumstances beyond his control. Yet when faced with genuine moral choice, he chooses principle over pragmatism—a growth that validates the entire adventure as meaningful rather than accidental.
Poseidon’s Transformation: From Villain to Friend
King Poseidon begins as a seemingly one-dimensional antagonist, ruling his underwater kingdom with authoritarian control and kidnapping snails for personal gain. However, the final scene recontextualizes his entire character arc by revealing that his villainy stems not from evil nature but from desperate insecurity. He enslaves snails specifically for their slime, which he uses to artificially enhance his appearance and maintain the youthful, powerful image he believes defines his godhood. The critical limitation of Poseidon’s character, which SpongeBob identifies and addresses, is his complete isolation. Despite his immense power and divine status, he has no friends and no one who values him for his authentic self.
This loneliness drives all his actions—the kidnapping, the threats, the authoritarian governance. When SpongeBob recognizes this and offers genuine friendship rather than victory or submission, it fundamentally breaks the cycle of conflict in a way that force never could. Poseidon’s willingness to remove his artificial enhancements represents a significant character shift, though it’s worth noting a potential warning: the film doesn’t deeply explore the consequences of his vulnerability. Removing the snail slime that maintained his appearance leaves him exposed and visibly changed. The movie frames this as a positive transformation, suggesting that authentic connection is worth any external cost. However, the narrative glosses over what happens to Poseidon’s authority and position once he loses the artificial symbols of power that held his kingdom together.
The Themes of Friendship and Sacrifice in the Final Act
The final scene crystallizes the film’s message that genuine friendship cannot be commodified or traded. Throughout the movie, SpongeBob repeatedly learns that his relationships with Gary, Patrick, and even Squidward are worth more than any external reward or safety. This theme reaches its apex when he refuses Poseidon’s exchange, demonstrating that some values transcend negotiation. Sacrifice operates as the emotional currency of the film’s conclusion. Patrick allows himself to be captured and modified by Poseidon’s technology, Sandy risks her life in combat, and Squidward abandons his usual selfishness to help SpongeBob.
These individual sacrifices accumulate into a message that friendship involves mutual vulnerability and willingness to risk oneself for others. When SpongeBob turns to Poseidon and offers friendship instead of conflict, he’s extending that same vulnerability to someone who appears to be his enemy—a radical choice that only succeeds because Poseidon is emotionally unprepared for genuine care. The scene also illustrates how friendship can heal what violence cannot. The film’s action sequences, while entertaining, ultimately don’t resolve the core conflict. Military might, clever technology, and heroic combat all fail to stop Poseidon. Only the offer of authentic human (or sponge) connection creates the conditions for transformation and peace.
The Canadian Theatrical Release and Box Office Performance
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run arrived in Canadian theaters on August 14, 2020, during a particularly unusual moment in cinema history. The COVID-19 pandemic had devastated the theatrical industry globally, closing cinemas and causing massive revenue losses. The film’s release became a significant test case for whether audiences would return to theaters for family entertainment. The Canadian opening weekend generated between $865,824 and $900,000 from 300 theater locations, establishing the film as the number-one movie at the Canadian box office.
More significantly, this performance marked the highest opening weekend for any film in Canada since the start of the pandemic—a remarkable achievement that demonstrated audience appetite for theatrical releases despite ongoing health concerns. This success created momentum for the film’s performance in other markets and signaled that family comedies could draw audiences back to cinemas even during uncertain times. It’s important to note that the Canadian theatrical release featured the identical final scene as all other global theatrical versions. There were no region-specific alterations or alternate endings created for Canadian audiences. The film released with its complete, standard narrative conclusion across all territories on the same timeline.
How the Final Scene Reflects the Film’s Core Message
The resolution featuring Poseidon’s redemption through friendship serves as the thematic anchor for everything that precedes it in the narrative. From SpongeBob’s initial quest to rescue Gary through the various trials in the Lost City of Atlantis, every plot point leads toward this moment where the hero must choose between personal survival and relational commitment. The film’s entire structure depends on this final scene delivering emotional payoff rather than simple action-sequence victory. The snail slavery subplot, which might seem like a secondary plot element, becomes central to understanding why the final scene works thematically. Poseidon isn’t simply holding Gary hostage—he’s treating the snail as a resource to be exploited, which mirrors how he relates to most beings in his kingdom.
His entire society functions on extraction and domination rather than reciprocal relationships. When SpongeBob offers friendship despite having every reason to hate or fear the god, he’s implicitly offering an alternative model of how beings can relate to each other. However, a limitation in the narrative structure is that the film doesn’t extensively develop what happens after Poseidon’s transformation. The audience experiences his redemption as sincere and touching, but the movie doesn’t show how he integrates this change into his actual rule of Atlantis or how he manages the power dynamics that come with his divine position. The ending assumes redemption is complete without demonstrating its sustained application.
The Resolution of the Snail Slavery Subplot
The release of Gary and the other enslaved snails represents the practical resolution of the film’s moral conflict with Poseidon’s regime. Throughout the adventure, SpongeBob becomes increasingly aware that his rescue mission involves liberating not just his pet but an entire population being exploited for their biological contributions. This broader scope of the problem makes the personal quest feel connected to a larger injustice.
When Poseidon finally releases all the enslaved snails, the act symbolizes his rejection of the exploitative system he built. Gary leads the other snails back to Bikini Bottom, and the film frames this exodus as a genuine liberation rather than a mere plot resolution. The snails regain their agency and their choice about where they belong, whether with Poseidon or with their ocean community.
The Broader Impact of the Final Scene on The SpongeBob Franchise
The final scene’s approach to conflict resolution through friendship and redemption rather than defeat established a tonal precedent for the SpongeBob theatrical films. By refusing to present Poseidon as a villain who must be permanently defeated or destroyed, the movie suggested that even godlike antagonists can change through connection and empathy.
This approach resonates with SpongeBob’s television character, who often befriends those who initially oppose him, including enemies like Plankton across countless episodes. The film’s Canadian theatrical release in August 2020 arrived at a moment when the SpongeBob franchise had already demonstrated two decades of cultural resilience. The final scene’s emotional investment in friendship and redemption proved that the core appeal of SpongeBob SquarePants—the idea that optimism and kindness can transform situations—remained powerful enough to draw audiences back to theaters during a global crisis.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Canadian theatrical release have a different ending than other versions?
No. The Canadian theatrical release that arrived on August 14, 2020, features the identical final scene as all other global theatrical versions. There are no region-specific alternate endings or variations.
Why does SpongeBob refuse Poseidon’s bargain?
SpongeBob recognizes that Gary’s friendship and the sacrifices his companions have made throughout the film make their relationships priceless and impossible to trade away. He refuses to abandon his pet for personal safety.
What causes Poseidon’s character transformation?
Poseidon reveals he has no friends and uses snail slime to artificially maintain his godly appearance. When SpongeBob offers genuine friendship despite their conflict, Poseidon removes his artificial enhancements and transforms from villain to ally.
What happens to the enslaved snails after the final scene?
Poseidon releases all the enslaved snails, including Gary, who return to Bikini Bottom with SpongeBob and his companions. The snail population regains their freedom and agency.
How did The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run perform in Canadian theaters?
The film opened at number one with $865,824–$900,000 from 300 theaters during its opening weekend, marking the highest opening weekend for any film in Canada since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Does the final scene suggest SpongeBob permanently stays with Poseidon?
No. The final scene shows SpongeBob and his friends returning to Bikini Bottom with Gary and the other freed snails. Poseidon remains in Atlantis but has been transformed by the friendship offered to him.
