Hey Arnold! The Movie

Movie Info

Genre(s): Family/Kids

Written by: Craig Bartlett (also characters)
Steve Viksten

Directed by: Tuck Tucker

Release Date:
Theatrical: June 28, 2002
DVD: December 31, 2002

Running Time: 75 minutes, Color

Origin: USA

Summary

RATING: PG for some thematic elements

Starring Spencer Klein, Francesca Smith, Jamil Walker Smith, Dan Castellaneta, Tress MacNeille, Paul Sorvino, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Christopher Lloyd

Nickelodeon character Arnold tackles life in the big city as he goes up against a powerful industrialist who threatens to build a mammoth "mall-plex" in the middle of Arnold's close-knit neighborhood.

Also On The Web: Internet Movie Database View The Trailer Official Studio Site

What The Critics Said

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What Our Users Said

Vote Now!The average user rating for this movie is 7.9 (out of 10) based on 11 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

J. Nome gave it a 10:
Wonderful concept of the constant need of big business's to develop our wonderful low-rise buildings, a real smile.

Angela R. gave it a 10:
Well since I watched this HA! movie and it's about a footballheaded kid saving the neighborhooed, it's also like saving your world from danger, I should give it a 10!

A movie critic gave it a 7:
This was never meant to be a movie. It was simply meant to be a TV special, but Paramount, sensing the oppurtunity, made it into a movie. That said, it actually turned out OK. It had cool action, etc. (kind of rare for this more realistic type of show...) When the film begins, I let out a gasp. It looks HORRIBLE. The worst animation I've seen in a while. Once I got used to it, though, I enjoyed the movie, despite it visually looking worse than the show. The plot is fairly simple, with no sub-plots at all, but it's based on a fairly simple show. The film's main gimic involves Helga and Arnold, but it had exactly NO EFFECT on the film. Or the show, for that matter. At the end, they just acted like it never happened. Nickelodeon movies really should get past using these gimmics to bring in crowds, and work harder on making a movie that is more complicated than the one simple plot. Yes, it's a kids movie, but I expected more than what seemed like an extended episode of the show with some action thrown in.

Simply Gilbert Mulroneycakes gave it a 6:
Hey Arnold! the series, while pretty good, doesn't really merit a feature-length cinematic version, and, I understand, was never supposed to have one. This is just a TV movie that's got lost. Wait for the video release, for that is where it belongs.

Sam P. gave it a 6:
I have a strange liking for Hey Arnold! (the series), though it steals just about any cliche in the (or for that matter, any) book its full of interesting characters (though even the characters are cliched) and most of the time some pretty good in-jokes. And if you have had the pleasure (or displeasure) of seeing it then you know their are three fun little "questions" that the audience is supposed to wonder. Number 1 What's Arnolds last name, Number 2 Where are Arnolds parents, Number 3 When is Helga going to tell Arnold that she has feelings for him?????????? Well unfortunately only one of these questions were answered in the film and it's NO surprise to the audience (the answer was shown in the in the preview for chrissake). But enough about the show. The movie is so-so. Again the story is cliched. The little dude goes up against the big powerful guy that runs everything. The question IS is he going to win??? See any feel-good Capra movie and you'll find the answer. I mentioned that I was a fan of the series. Well, I read an interview of Craig Bartlett (the creator) once and he mentioned that in the movie every character in the series will appear . Now as someone who has seen every episode I was thinking of ways they could use some of the urban legends that are used quite often in the series. Stoop Kid, Wheezin Ed, Piegon Man, Monkey Man. Think of the possibilities! To may dismay they were either not shown at all or only as a brief cameo. I sensed wasteed potential. So I suggest if you are a die-hard fan of the series you'll love it but if not Lilo and stitch is a much better alternative. Hey Arnold! The Movie could've been a good fun popcorn flick but it turned out to be just one big long cliched episode!

Golden Noses gave it a 9:
I am a big fan of Hey Arnold the series, and I enjoyed the movie too. What dissapointed me though was that the movie wasn't originally made for the big screen, it was going to be a Nick Flick on Nickelodeon and so it wasn't as good as it could have been. The animation was just regular, and the making of it was treated like a regular episode. Since the movie is mostly just a continuation of the series people who aren't familiar with the story won't understand it very well. With the creator leaving Nick and Hey Arnold being cancelled plus insufficient advertising, I'm suprised but happy that the movie did this well. Hey Arnold has been through a lot and in my opinion the critics went too hard on it. Overall I thought it was a great movie with hilarious humor and a good moral, and I recommend it to everyone, fan fan of the series or not.

Bayleef14 gave it a 0:
Biggest piece of sh.. I have have seen.

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