For the 90s and early 00s kids, there was "The Big Three," those being Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, and Cartoon Network. Everything else was secondary.
While Cartoon Network generally remained a TV-only enterprise—save for The Powerpuff Girls Movie—and Disney Channel's reputation proceeded itself. Nickelodeon's films proved to have a special X-factor the others did not. The following 10, most of which were based on characters first introduced on their network, speak to this notion and competed for many a Kids' Choice Awards in their day.
The Wild Thornberrys Movie (2002)
Though not as quotable as some other theatrical iterations of Nickelodeon shows, the film holds the distinction of being the only Nicktoon-based feature to earn an Oscar nomination:Best Original Song, Paul Simon's "Father and Daughter".
Receiving mostly positive reviews and grossing enough at the box-office to gain a crossover/sequel, the Paramount-distributed film followed Eliza Thornberry's quest to rescue an infant cheetah from ruthless poachers. Moviegoers left the theater pleased to know it was not the end, as The Wild Thornberrys continued to sporadically release new episodes until 2004.
Harriet The Spy (1996)
Known mostly for their animated features, it behooved Nickelodeon Films to liven up things a bit for its audiences who were soon to age out of cartoon-exclusive consumption.
Enter Harriet, he coming-of-age film followed the curve set by Matilda. While the latter dabbled in telekinesis as a child's saving grace, Nickelodeon's Harriet the Spy grounded its message more in practicality with its lead (Michelle Trachtenberg) aspiring to be a writer (...and a spy).
The Rugrats Movie (1998)
Even darker than the Rugrats' more serious fare, particularly some of their unanticipatedly authentic Holiday special episodes, the film followed the babies lost in the woods while their parents lost their minds.
Jealousy, paranoia, grief, and despair. All themes tackled in the commercially-successful, quintessential kids flick that still kept children laughing and none the wiser for the time being. While their parents counted down the days until they could acquire the gobsmacking goodness in its coveted orange VHS tape form.
Nacho Libre (2006)
"NACHOOOOOOOOOO!"
Jared Hess's warmed their hearts even more so when they grew older. For it was then they could realize that Nacho (Jack Black) represented their young selves while his doubters were stand-ins for the film critics who, like Ramses, were not dancing at the party.
Clockstoppers (2002)
Despite also garnering less than favorable reviews upon release, the sci-fi sleeper film prepared Elementary School audiences for when the substitute teacher would play Back to the Future in Junior High.
Another rare live-action Nickelodeon release, Clockstoppers follows the collateral damage runaround of an NSA-funded corporation that has developed "Hypertime." For those who ever included a "time-freezing device" on their Christmas wishlists, this film lent a portal into the downfall of fantasy.
Rugrats In Paris (2000)
There is The Godfather: Part II, and then there is Rugrats in Paris.
Two sequels that, against all odds, are widely argued to have sured their elite-status predecessors. The latter even went on-brand, full-spoof regalia on paying tribute to The Godfather saga's first installment in its opening scene. The image of Angelica as the Don Vito is still burned into the minds of '00s kids too young to get the reference.
Hey Arnold! The Movie (2002)
While the mystery of Arnold's parents would not be resolved until its TV movie revival Hey Arnold! The Jungle Movie (2017), the franchise's lone theatrical feature more than sufficed in its own right.
The film sees series antagonist "Big" Bob Ptaki teaming up with malevolently-drawn men to ransack the neighborhood and replace it with a Supermall. With their innocence on the line, Arnold and his trusted friends inexplicably go full Mission: Impossible to stop the forthcoming demolition.
The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004)
Those who grew up to go quote-for-quote in all things their youth at the high school lunch table uniformly point to this film as the exact cutoff for what constitutes quality Sponge.
Facing a writer's room overhaul at the time, the days of SpongeBob were soon to drastically change following the release of their first of many movies. But the Bikini Bottom gang pulled off their big-screen debut in style. While audiences everywhere "Goofy Goobered" their way out the theater and over to the Goo Lagoon of yesteryear.
Good Burger (1997)
"I'm a dude, he's a dude, she's a dude, 'cause we're all dudes—hey!"
Based on the All That skit of the same name, Brian Robbins' Good Burger teamed up Nickelodeon's answer to Abbott and Costello for their first feature-length outing together. Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell were busy men in the 90s, spending their weeks rotating between headlining a soundstage-filmed sitcom and flipping fictional burger meat. The payoff: "Who Loves Orange Soda?," Sinbad's perm, and the end of "Mondo Burger." Hey!
Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2001)
Adults everywhere are abducted by the evil alien warlord, King Goobot. Voiced by Sir Patrick Stewart, who is reading #ASonnetADay to soothe fans during quarantine, according to CBR, the "Kids of America" respond by taking to the streets to celebrate.
However, they soon realize they are nothing without those who are not done raising them yet. It is then up to the eponymous boy wonder himself and the Retroville faithful to rescue the displaced. Released just a few months after the 9/11 tragedy, the franchise-kickstarting film helped to begin the healing process for troubled, confused youth.
