"Awww, SpongeBob, you're okay in my book."
- A real-life example:A young SpongeBob fan, who was diagnosed with cancer, was unable to see the film in theaters
. This prompted Tom Kenny and the rest of the voice actors on the show to create a private message for him, all of them in-character as the ones they portray on the show. To make things really uplifting, the boy was even allowed a private viewing of the movie. - The movie provides multiple call backs to many episodes, even ones back from SpongeBob's very first season, and even managing to bring back Fred's trademark, "My leg!". Seeing all these call backs, jokes and items, such as SpongeBob's reef blower, really makes some people proud for having stuck with SpongeBob after all these years.
- SpongeBob and Plankton's relationship in the film delivers a lot of genuinely sweet moments.
- Plankton attempting to comfort SpongeBob after they are run out of town and are blamed for the formula's disappearance
- Doubles as a tearjerker, but Plankton is genuinely saddened when Karen is shut down for the time machine to work. Plankton's final words to her before she shuts down is also pretty heartwarming.Karen: Okay, Plankton. This is it. It's going to take all of my processors and energy to power this time machine. So if you have anything you want to tell me, you better tell me now.
Plankton: Well, Karen. I know I've taken you for granted all these years, and I j-just wanted to say... I'm glad you're on my team. - SpongeBob offering himself as a sacrifice to the "Sandwich Gods" to return the town to normal. The townsfolk happily go along with it.
- A blink and you miss it moment when everyone is trying to cross the street to get to Burger Beard while trying to avoid the bicyclists and skaters. Squidward is trapped and cowering in fear, and Sandy carries him in her arms to safety.
- Plankton giving the formula back to Mr. Krabs. While it doesn't seem like much, it was surprising that he did this, considering that he has spent countless years attempting to steal it. It shows that Plankton now has at least some respect for SpongeBob and the rest, due to what SpongeBob has taught him throughout the film.
- After returning to Bikini Bottom, Squidward is depressed that he lost his muscular body until SpongeBob reveals that he made it so Squidward can keep his abs. Squidward is genuinely grateful for this and admits to SpongeBob, "you're okay in my book."
- Despite being buried up to his neck on a deserted island, Burger Beard takes his defeat in stride and sings the show's theme song for the seagulls.
- If you're sitting in a theater full of little kids, hearing them sing along to the theme song at the end.
- One of the songs at the end credits is a cute little love song about Sandy. Even though it gets her surname wrong. For bonus points, it's strongly implied that the song is supposed to be from SpongeBob's point of view.
- The movie is dedicated to Ernest Borgnine, who famously voiced Mermaid Man in the series.
