In the film, SpongeBob and Patrick travel to the Lost City of Atlantic City to recover Gary after he is lost by King Poseidon (Matt Berry). On their journey, they meet King Neptune's daughter Karen (Lil Nas X), and meet their idols Keanu Reeves and Awkwafina.
The film has received mixed reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 60% based on 160 reviews, with an average rating of 5.7/10. The site's critical consensus reads: "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie: Sponge on the Run is fun for kids, but adults may find it lacking in laughs compared to the original."