Hey Arnold!: The Movie

For the video game, seeHey Arnold!: The Movie (video game).

Hey Arnold!: The Movie(also known asArnold Saves the Neighborhood) is a 2002 Americananimatedadventurecomedy filmbased on theNickelodeonanimated television series of the same name.Directed byTuck Tuckerand written by series creatorCraig Bartlett(who also produced the film) andSteve Viksten,with music by series composerJim Lang,the film stars Spencer Klein,Francesca Smith,Jamil Walker Smith,Dan Castellaneta,Tress MacNeille,Paul Sorvino,andJennifer Jason Leigh,and follows Arnold, Gerald, and Helga on a quest to save their neighborhood from a greedy developer who plans on converting it into a huge shopping mall. The events of the film take place during the series'fifth and finalseason.

Hey Arnold!: The Movie
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Tuck Tucker
Written by	Craig Bartlett Steve Viksten
Based on	Hey Arnold! by Craig Bartlett
Produced by	Craig Bartlett Albie Hecht
Starring	Spencer Klein Francesca Marie Smith Jamil Walker Smith Dan Castellaneta Tress MacNeille Paul Sorvino Jennifer Jason Leigh
Edited by	Christopher Hink
Music by	Jim Lang
Production companies	Nickelodeon Movies Snee-Oosh, Inc. Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	June 28, 2002(2002-06-28)
Running time	76 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$3–4 million
Box office	$15.2 million

Produced byNickelodeon Movies,Snee-Oosh, Inc.andNickelodeon Animation Studio,and released on June 28, 2002, byParamount Pictures,it was the third film made by Nickelodeon Movies to be based on aNicktoon,afterThe Rugrats MovieandRugrats in Paris: The Movie,and is also the first Nickelodeon film based on a Nicktoon to get aPG ratingfrom theMPAA.It received negative reviews from critics and grossed $15.2 million worldwide against a production budget of $3–$4 million.

Amade for televisionsequel entitledHey Arnold!: The Jungle Movieaired on November 24, 2017.

Plot

Arriving home from being defeated by fifth-graders in a basketball game, Arnold Shortman and his best friend Gerald Johanssen learn from butcher Marty Green that Alphonse Perrier du von Scheck, the CEO of real estate company FutureTech Industries (FTI), has announced plans to redevelop the entire neighborhood of Hillwood as a luxurious high-riseshopping mall.That night, Helga Pataki finds that her father, Big Bob, is working with FTI to build a new super-sized branch of his beeper store in the proposed mall. She ultimately sides with her father, albeit hesitantly because of her love for Arnold.

Arnold hosts a block party named "Blockapalooza" as ademonstrationagainst FTI, but it fails when Scheck's employees steal their permit, and Arnold's grandmother Gertie is arrested for being hostile to the police suppressing the rally, causing the neighbors to lose hope and sell their homes to FTI. Just as the neighborhood's fate appears to be sealed, Arnold's grandfather Phil explains the "TomatoIncident, "a majorRevolutionary Warbattle fought in the city, revealing that it occurred at the site of the Sunset Arms boarding house. Arnold realizes that the neighborhood had to have been declared ahistoric districtafter the war, effectively ensuring its preservation. Arnold and Gerald search throughout the city for the legal document certifying its landmark status, and discover that the document was sold to Scheck, who denies obtaining it.

As the deadline draws near, Arnold gets a phone call from "Deep Voice" (a"Deep Throat"-esque character), who reveals that Scheck has the document inside his office safe, and is lying about not knowing its whereabouts. Arnold and Gerald steal the key to the safe from Scheck's assistant, Nick Vermicelli. Nick later notices the missing key, and informs Scheck. Meanwhile, Phil and the other residents of Sunset Arms devise a backup plan to stop the bulldozers from destroying the neighborhood, wiring thestorm draintunnels beneath their street with dynamite to intercept FTI's construction equipment. Big Bob later joins them after attacking Nick in his apartment when discovering Nick's contract states Scheck will control 51% of his company and consequently swindle him.

Aided by agent Bridget, Arnold and Gerald infiltrate the FTI headquarters, only for them to discover that Scheck has the document in his hand. Scheck then shares his own family's history regarding the Tomato Incident: his ancestor Archibald, the governor of the local British forces, was defeated and humiliated by the American colonists, including Arnold's ancestors, who protested the increased taxes on tomatoes. To avenge his family's honor, Scheck intends to demolish the neighborhood and replace it with a building carrying his name on it. He destroys the document to ensure that his plans will proceed, before summoning his guards to get rid of the duo. They escape, but believe they have failed, until "Deep Voice" advises Arnold to obtain the FTI's security-camera footage of Scheck burning the document.

Arnold discovers that "Deep Voice" is Helga, who admits that she became involved because of her love for him. The pair escape the building and meet Gerald on a city bus, convincing the driver Murray to accelerate at maximum speed when he learns that his former girlfriend Mona lives in the same neighborhood. Despite several near-collisions, the kids return unharmed. Mayor Dixie, who had previously approved plans for the mall, arrives at the scene, along with the police and a news crew. Accessing ajumbotroninstalled by FTI, Arnold and Bridget debut the footage of Scheck burning the document to everybody present. Dixie officially restores the neighborhood's status as a historic site, never to be destroyed by anyone for any purpose.

Scheck arrives, demanding to know why demolition has not begun, but then notices the footage of himself burning the document on the monitor, and realizes he has been caught and will likely be facing prison time. Having escaped prison, Gertie sabotages his car, and Scheck is promptly arrested. Bob then spots Nick trying to escape and punches him for trying to swindle him. Arnold's neighbor Harold Berman sits on the detonator, inadvertently igniting Phil's explosives and causing the jumbotron monitor to be destroyed. Helga denies loving Arnold, claiming she confessed to him in "the heat of the moment." Arnold, although unconvinced, pretends to accept it.

Voice cast

Main article:List of Hey Arnold! characters

• Spencer Klein as Arnold Shortman
• Francesca Marie Smithas Helga Pataki and Deep Voice
• Jamil Walker Smithas Gerald Johanssen and Rasta Guy
• Dan Castellanetaas Grandpa Phil Shortman and Nick Vermicelli
• Tress MacNeilleas Grandma Gertie Shortman, Mayor Dixie, and Red
• Paul Sorvinoas Alphonse Perrier du von Scheck
• Jennifer Jason Leighas Bridget
• Christopher Lloydas Coroner
• Maurice LaMarcheas Big Bob Pataki and Head of Security
• Sam Gifaldi as Sid
• Christopher P. Walberg as Stinky Peterson
• Olivia Hackas Rhonda Lloyd
• Blake McIver Ewingas Eugene Horowitz
• Anndi McAfeeas Phoebe Heyerdahl
• Justin Shenkarowas Harold Berman
• Vincent Schiavellias Mr. Bailey
• Kath Soucieas Miriam Pataki, Mona, and Reporter
• James Keaneas Marty Green and Riot Cop
• Elizabeth Ashleyas Mrs. Vitello
• Michael Levin as Ray Doppel
• Steve Vikstenas Oskar Kokoshka
• Dom Irreraas Ernie Potts
• Baoan Colemanas Mr. Hyunh
• Craig Bartlettas Brainy, Murray, Grubby, and Monkeyman

Production

In 1998, Nickelodeon renewedHey Arnold!for a fourth season, and gave creatorCraig Bartlettthe chance to develop twofeature-length adaptations.As work on the fifth season was completing, in 2001, Bartlett and company engaged in the production of the first film, titledArnold Saves the Neighborhood.TheNeighborhoodproject was originally produced for television and home video as the last 3 episodes of season 5,but eventually becameHey Arnold!: The Moviewhen executives atParamount Picturesdecided to release it theatrically after successful test screenings.According to animation historianJerry Beck(in hisAnimated Movie Guide), the decision was also buoyed by the financial success of the first twoRugratsfilms,The Rugrats MovieandRugrats in Paris: The Movie.

Release

The firsttrailerwas released theatrically in December 2001 withJimmy Neutron: Boy Genius.A second trailer consisting of new animation debuted during the2002 Kids' Choice Awards.They showed segments on Nickelodeon called "Backyard Players" where kids would play Arnold, Gerald, and Helga and act out scenes from the film. There was a contest held for a lucky winner to be Arnold for a day and go to the film's premiere. The song "2-Way"byLil' Romeowas used to help promote the film, and plays during the film's ending credits.

Hey Arnold!: The Moviewas Nickelodeon's first animated feature to receive aPG ratingfrom theMotion Picture Association of America(MPAA) for thematic elements.

Box office

Opening on June 28, 2002, in the United States, the film grossed over $15 million worldwide on a budget of $3–4 million. The film grossed $5.7 million, averaging $2,258 from 2,527 theaters, and ranking #6 for the weekend. It dropped 65% in its second weekend, grossing $2 million, falling to #14, averaging $793 from 2,534 theaters, and bringing the 10-day total to $10.7 million. In its third weekend, it dropped another 70%, grossing $610,028, falling to #20, averaging $302 from 2,021 theaters, and bringing the 17-day total to $12.6 million.The film closed on August 22, 2002, grossing a total of $13.7 million in the US and $1.5 million internationally.

Home media

Hey Arnold!: The Moviewas released onVHSandDVDon December 31, 2002 byParamount Home Entertainment.The film was released onBlu-rayon February 15, 2022.

Reception

OnRotten Tomatoesthe film holds an approval rating of 29% based on 78 reviews, with an average rating of 4.6/10. The website's critical consensus reads: "Bland, unoriginal and lacking the wit of the TV series,Hey Arnold!is a 30-minute cartoon stretched beyond its running time. "Metacriticassigned the film a weighted average score of 47 out of 100 based on 23 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".Audiences polled byCinemaScoregave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale.

Video game

THQreleaseda video game of the film,exclusively for theGame Boy Advance.The game consists of five worlds, with four levels each (each including a Boss on the fourth level) and the player can play as Arnold, Gerald, Grandpa, Grandma, and Helga, the latter of which is only unlockable through the use of a cheat code.

Future

A second film, titledHey Arnold!: The Jungle Movie,was in production but due to the disappointing results of the first film, the project was cancelled. Bartlett later left Nickelodeon, resulting inHey Arnold!'s cancellation, with the last episode airing on Nickelodeon on June 8, 2004, unannounced. In 2015, it was announced thatThe Jungle Moviehad resumed production as a TV film. The film was first broadcast on Nickelodeon and sister networksTeenNickandNicktoonsin the United States on November 24, 2017.The film was later broadcast on Nickelodeon channels and select theatres worldwide in 2018.The debut airing wassimulcaston Nickelodeon,TeenNick,andNicktoons.

External links

• Hey Arnold! The MovieatIMDb
• Hey Arnold! The MovieatBox Office Mojo
• Hey Arnold! The MovieatRotten Tomatoes
• Hey Arnold! The MovieatMetacritic