The Bob's Burgers Movie is a 2022 American animated musical comedy film based on the animated television series Bob's Burgers. It is directed by the series creators Loren Bouchard and Bernard Derriman (in their feature directorial debuts), written by Bouchard and Nora Smith, and produced by Janelle Momary-Neely, Bouchard, and Smith. The original voice cast from the series reprises their roles including H. Jon Benjamin, Dan Mintz, Eugene Mirman, Larry Murphy, John Roberts, Kristen Schaal, David Wain, Zach Galifianakis, and Kevin Kline. The plot follows Bob and his family as they struggle to pay their loan after a sinkhole opens in front of their restaurant and affects business.

The Bob's Burgers Movie
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Loren Bouchard Bernard Derriman
Screenplay by	Loren Bouchard Nora Smith
Based on	Bob's Burgers by Loren Bouchard
Produced by	Janelle Momary-Neely Loren Bouchard Nora Smith
Starring	H. Jon Benjamin Dan Mintz Eugene Mirman Larry Murphy John Roberts Kristen Schaal Zach Galifianakis Kevin Kline
Edited by	Kris Fitzgerald
Music by	John Dylan Keith Loren Bouchard
Production companies	20th Century Animation 20th Century Family[1] Bento Box Entertainment Wilo Productions
Distributed by	20th Century Studios
Release dates	May 17, 2022 (2022-05-17) (El Capitan Theatre) May 27, 2022 (2022-05-27) (United States)
Running time	102 minutes[2]
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$33.8 million[3][4]

The film premiered at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood on May 17, 2022, and was theatrically released by 20th Century Studios in the United States on May 27, 2022, following previous delays of almost two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It received positive reviews from critics and has grossed over $33 million worldwide. The film was dedicated to character designer Dave Creek and matte painter Denise Fuller, both of whom died prior to its release.

Plot

As summer approaches, Bob and Linda Belcher are denied an extension on their business loan from the bank, and given a week to make the month's payment. Their children are facing their own challenges: Tina is nervous about asking Jimmy Pesto Jr. to be her summertime boyfriend, Gene hopes to reform his band, and Louise is ridiculed for refusing to perform a stunt on the school playground, afraid of losing her hat that she believes is the source of her bravery.

An underground water main breaks, creating a giant sinkhole in front of the family’s restaurant Bob's Burgers. Calvin Fischoeder, the family's landlord, is uninterested in having the hole repaired quickly. Climbing into the sinkhole to prove her bravery, Louise discovers a skeleton, which the police establish as the remains of Cotton Candy Dan, a carny at Wonder Wharf who disappeared six years earlier. Calvin is arrested after the murder weapon is found in his possession, but Louise is convinced of his innocence and enlists Tina and Gene to help her find the killer, having taken one of Dan's teeth.

The children locate their friend Mickey, another carny, at a trailer town of carnies who think Calvin is guilty. One carny reluctantly reveals that Dan met with Calvin and his brother Felix on the night of his disappearance. The children reason that Felix framed Calvin and learn from Sgt. Bosco that a novelty cufflink was found with Dan's remains. The Belchers’ friend Teddy constructs a grill cart so they can sell food on the street until the sinkhole is filled. Hiding from health inspectors, Bob, Linda, and Teddy move the cart to Wonder Wharf but run afoul of the carnies after accidentally destroying a memorial for Dan.

The children search Felix's treehouse for the other cufflink and overhear him planning to flee the country. They follow him to Wonder Wharf and into a secret clubhouse. Calvin arrives, having posted bail, followed by the brothers' cousin and lawyer Grover. Convinced that he will be convicted, Calvin prepares to escape with Felix in a repurposed submarine ride. Noticing a photo of Grover wearing the novelty cufflinks and matching a bite scar on his arm to Dan's tooth, Louise realizes that he is the killer.

Holding the group hostage with a spear gun, including Bob and Linda after they find their way into the clubhouse, Grover admits to killing Dan in a plot to frame Calvin, inherit the family fortune, and replace Wonder Wharf with a mega-park. His plan was foiled when the pile of dirt in which he left the body to be discovered was used to fill a previous sinkhole outside Bob's Burgers, then revived after Louise found the skeleton.

The Belchers escape in a go-kart under the wharf, but Grover gives chase after launching Calvin and Felix into the ocean to drown. The Belchers reach their restaurant, but Grover pushes their vehicle into the sinkhole and buries them alive. He returns to Wonder Wharf, lighting a fuse to burn down the park.

To raise Louise's spirits, Bob and Linda reveal that Linda made Louise’s hat as a reward for being brave on her first day of preschool, in honor of Bob’s mother and her favorite pink hat. Bob starts the go-kart engine, causing an exposed wheel rim to saw through the repaired water main. The resulting high-pressure jet of water launches the Belchers to the surface where Teddy is waiting for them. He calls the police as they rush to Wonder Wharf where Louise removes the fuse and prevents the fire. The police rescue Calvin and Felix from the ocean and arrest Grover.

One week later, Calvin makes the Belchers’ loan payment in gratitude. Tina admits her feelings to Jimmy Jr. and kisses him, which he reciprocates. Gene's band performs to a small audience. Louise performs the playground stunt and drops her hat, no longer afraid. The sinkhole is patched up, and Bob's Burgers reopens its doors once again.

Voice cast

Clockwise from top left: The voice cast includes H. Jon Benjamin (Bob), Dan Mintz (Tina), Larry Murphy (Teddy), Kristen Schaal (Louise), John Roberts (Linda), and Eugene Mirman (Gene).

• H. Jon Benjamin as Bob Belcher, Jimmy Pesto Jr., Ms. LaBonz, and Kuchi Kopi[5]
• Dan Mintz as Tina Belcher
• Eugene Mirman as Gene Belcher
• Larry Murphy as Teddy
• John Roberts as Linda Belcher and Jocelyn[5]
• Kristen Schaal as Louise Belcher
• David Wain as Grover Fischoeder[6]
• Zach Galifianakis as Felix Fischoeder[6]
• Kevin Kline as Calvin Fischoeder[6]
• Gary Cole as Sgt. Bosco[5]
• Paul F. Tompkins as Short Carnie
• John Q. Kubin as Mickey
• Nick Kroll as Scary Carnie
• Craig Anton as Mr. Dowling
• David Herman as Mr. Frond, Robot[5]
• Jaime Moyer as Ticket Seller Lady
• Brian Huskey as Regular-Sized Rudy[5]
• Bobby Tisdale as Zeke
• Stephanie Beatriz as Chloe Barbash[5]
• Jordan Peele as Fanny
• Rob Huebel as Dizzy Dog Carnie
• Parvesh Cheena as Potential Customer
• Aziz Ansari as Darryl[5]
• Jenny Slate as Tammy[5]
• Nicole Byer as Olsen Benner
• Robert Ben Garant as Critter
• Laura Silverman as Andy Pesto
• Sarah Silverman as Ollie Pesto
• Sam Seder as Hugo[7]
• Paul Rudd as Jericho
• Ron Lynch as Ron[5]
• Andy Kindler as Mort
• Ashley Nicole Black as Harley
• Brooke Dillman as Reporter

Additional voices by H. Jon Benjamin, Loren Bouchard, Katie Crown, David Herman, Phil LaMarr, Larry Murphy, Hannah Parikh, Ben Pronsky, John Roberts, Michelle Ruff, and David Zyler

The characters Jimmy Pesto Sr. and Trev appear but have no lines.

Production

Development

From left to right: Co-director and co-writer Loren Bouchard, co-director Bernard Derriman, and co-writer Nora Smith

On October 4, 2017, 20th Century Fox announced that a film adaptation based on the Fox animated series Bob's Burgers was in development, and it was scheduled to be released on July 17, 2020.[8] On October 30, 2017, a newly created 20th Century Fox division, Fox Family, was created to oversee feature film adaptation of its TV shows. This included taking Bob's Burgers over from 20th Century Fox Animation.[1]

Series creator Loren Bouchard had said the film would "scratch every itch the fans of the show have ever had", while also appealing to new audiences.[9] On July 18, 2018, Bouchard said that the script was submitted and accepted by the studios. The film is a musical comedy.[10] On September 24, 2020, star H. Jon Benjamin confirmed that work on the film was being done remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while also revealing that recording for the film has already begun,[11] with the cast reprising their roles from the television series.

Animation

Animation services were provided by Tonic DNA,[12] Lighthouse Studios, Bento Box Entertainment, Golden Wolf, Yeson Ententainment, Brillant Pictures, Synergy Animation, Mighty Animation, Dave Enterprises, and Mercury Filmworks. The production team wanted the film to be mostly done through hand-drawn animation because they wanted the visuals to remain similar to the series.[13] The larger budget, time, and animators available to the filmmakers allowed the animation to be more detailed than in the original series, such as adding more light, texture, and shadows into several shots.[13] This film would be the final animation work for both Tuck Tucker and Dale Baer before their deaths on December 22, 2020 and January 15, 2021 respectively. Tucker served as a storyboard revisionist, while Baer provided animation for the film.[14][15][16][17]

Music

Songs for the film were written by Loren Bouchard and Nora Smith while the original score was conducted, orchestrated and arranged by Tim Davies.[18] The soundtrack album was released on May 27, 2022 and includes three of the four songs featured in the film. The third song was excluded to avoid revealing details of the film's plot.

Soundtrack

Release

Theatrical

The Bob's Burgers Movie premiered at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood on May 17, 2022[19] and was theatrically released in the United States on May 27, 2022. It was initially scheduled to be released in theaters on July 17, 2020. The film was then briefly pulled from the schedule due to an error in listings.[20] In announcing revised released dates of various films due to the global health crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic, Disney announced that the film's release had been pushed back to April 9, 2021.[21] On January 22, 2021, the film was completely removed from the release schedule.[22] Bouchard explained that despite the film still being in production, a new release date announcement was not imminent and would not come until audiences felt completely safe coming back to theaters.[23] On September 10, 2021, it was officially set for a Memorial Day weekend release date of May 27, 2022.[24]

Home media

The Bob's Burgers Movie is scheduled to release on Blu-Ray, DVD, and Ultra HD Blu-ray on July 19, 2022 by 20th Century Studios Home Entertainment. Bonus features include an audio commentary track, deleted scenes, a behind-the-scenes featurette, and the animated short My Butt Has a Fever.[25][26]

The Bob's Burgers Movie is also scheduled to be released digitally on July 12, through digital purchase on PVOD platforms and on Hulu and HBO Max in the United States on July 12, after Disney reached a deal with WarnerMedia in December 2021 for a majority of the upcoming films from 20th Century Studios to be streamed collaboratively between Disney+, HBO Max and Hulu until HBO's deal with 20th Century, signed in 2013 before Disney's acquisition of the company, runs out at the end of 2022.[25][27][28][29] The film will be released on Disney+ (under the Star hub) in Canada on July 12 and in Europe (excluding Poland), the Middle East, and Africa on July 13, while in Latin America, the film will be released on Star+ on July 20.[30]

Reception

Box office

As of July 5, 2022^[update], The Bob's Burgers Movie has grossed $31.6 million in the United States, and $2.2 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $33.8 million.[3][4]

In the United States, the film was released alongside Top Gun: Maverick, and was projected to gross $10–15 million from 3,400 theaters in its opening weekend.[31] The film made $5.7 million on its first day, including $1.5 million from Thursday night previews. It went on to debut to $12.4 million (and $14.8 million over the four-day Memorial Day frame), finishing third at the box office.[32] The film stayed in the box office top ten until its sixth weekend.[33]

Outside the U.S., the film earned $700,000 from 54 international markets in its opening weekend.[34] It made $400,000 from eight markets in its second weekend.[35]

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 87% of 139 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.0/10. The website's consensus reads, "The Bob's Burgers Movie offers all the heart, humor, and clever callbacks that fans of the show will be looking for while remaining an entertaining entry point for the unconverted."[36] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 75 out of 100, based on 35 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[37] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale, while PostTrak reported 89% of audience members gave it a positive score, with 69% saying they would definitely recommend it.[32]

References

External links

• Official website
• The Bob's Burgers Movie at IMDb