# Scooby-Doo in film

The animated series Scooby-Doo has been adapted and appeared in five feature-length films since its debut in 1969, not including the series of animated direct-to-video films that have been in production since 1998, or the four animated television films produced from 1987 to 1994.
Toward the end of the 1990s, Warner Bros. and producer Charles Roven began producing a series of feature live-action films starring Scooby-Doo, beginning with the 2002 film Scooby-Doo, directed by Raja Gosnell. Gosnell also directed the 2004 sequel Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004). A reboot television film, Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins (2009), was released by Cartoon Network. Brian Levant directed the film and its sequel, Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster (2010). A direct-to-video film entitled Daphne & Velma, with no connection to previous Scooby-Doo films, was released in 2018. An animated film titled Scoob! was scheduled for release in theaters on May 15, 2020, but was released direct-to-video on digital platforms due to COVID-19 closing most theaters in the United States and Canada. The film subsequently received a secondary theatrical release in the United States beginning on May 21, 2021 in selected markets. In December 2021, HBO Max confirmed the development of a further prequel film, Scoob! Holiday Haunt, the release of which was cancelled by Warner Bros. Discovery in August 2022, citing cost-cutting measures and a refocus on theatrical films rather than creating projects for streaming, despite the film already being completed.

## Background

Development for a live-action treatment of Scooby-Doo began in 1994 by producer Charles Roven. Originally the idea was to make a film with a much darker tone, essentially poking fun at the original cartoon series, much like The Brady Bunch Movie and was set for a PG-13 rating. Shaggy was set to be a stoner, Velma and Daphne had a side relationship, and there were many marijuana references.
Several rumors about these aspects in the original cartoon series were passed around by fans of Scooby-Doo, and were to be incorporated into the live action film.

## Live-action theatrical films
### Scooby-Doo (2002)

Scooby-Doo was released on June 14, 2002. Directed by Raja Gosnell, the film starred Freddie Prinze Jr., as Fred, Sarah Michelle Gellar as Daphne, Matthew Lillard as Shaggy, and Linda Cardellini as Velma. Scooby-Doo was created on-screen by computer-generated special effects and his voice was provided by Neil Fanning.
The plot shows the Mystery, Inc. gang coming back together after two years of separation, to investigate an amusement park called "Spooky Island", where they deal with real demons.
The film was a financially successful release, with a domestic box office gross of over $130 million. However, the film was not well reviewed, but was a great hit with young audiences and fans of the show.

### Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004)

Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed was released on March 26, 2004, with the same cast and director from the first film.
The plot shows the Mystery Inc. investigating the plans of a masked villain who wants to control the city of Coolsville using a machine to create monsters. Unlike the first film, Scooby-Doo 2 featured several of the monsters from the television series, including the Black Knight, the 10,000-Volt Ghost, the Pterodactyl Ghost, the Miner 49er, Captain Cutler and the Tar Monster.
The film had a poor performance at the box office, grossing $80 million in the US. Scooby-Doo 2 won the Razzie Award for "Worst Remake or Sequel".

## Live-action TV films
### Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins (2009)

Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins was aired by Cartoon Network on September 13, 2009, the 40th anniversary of Scooby-Doo. It was released on DVD and Blu-ray on September 22. Directed by Brian Levant, the plot is an origin story for the Mystery, Inc. gang, portraying the beginning of everything: how the gang met, their first mystery, their lives at school and how they got the Mystery Machine.

### Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster (2010)

Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster was aired by Cartoon Network on October 16, 2010, with the same director and cast from the previous film. In this film, the Mystery, Inc. gang is heading towards a beach club owned by Daphne's uncle, for temporary summer jobs. While involved with their tasks, they stumble on a new mystery.

## Live-action direct-to-video film
### Daphne & Velma (2018)

Daphne & Velma was released on DVD on May 22, 2018. Directed by Suzi Yoonessi, it features the title characters Daphne Blake and Velma Dinkley. The plot shows Daphne and Velma investigating mysteries in their high school. Sarah Jeffery and Sarah Gilman portray Daphne and Velma, respectively.

## Animated theatrical films
### Scoob! (2020)

Scooby-Doo is the hero of his own story in Scoob!, the first full-length, animated film, which reveals how he and his best friend Shaggy became two of the world's most beloved crime busters. The story takes us back to where it all began, when a young Scooby and Shaggy first meet, and team up with Velma, Daphne, and Fred to launch Mystery Incorporated.

### Scoob! Holiday Haunt (unreleased)

In June 2021, Cervone said that a sequel to Scoob! was in development. On December 22, 2021, HBO Max released a sizzle reel featuring a first look at a Christmas-themed prequel film, titled Scoob! Holiday Haunt, which was to be released on the service in December 2022. The film takes place in the gang's youth, with Welker and the actors who portrayed the younger versions reprising their roles while Cervone returned to write the film with Paul Dini as well to produce the project. The film was co-directed by Bill Haller and Michael Kurinsky, and had a production budget of $40 million. On August 2, 2022, Warner Bros. Discovery canceled its release, citing cost-cutting measures and a refocus on theatrical films rather than creating projects for streaming. Tony Cervone would go on to say on the same day that the project was "practically finished". Later that month, it was reported that the film would still be finished, even though Warner Bros. Discovery had no present plans to release it. The film was finally finished on November 4, 2022.

## Limited theatrical animated films
### Scooby-Doo! in Where's My Mummy? (2005)

The film had a limited theatrical release in the United States on May 13, 2005.

### Scooby-Doo! Stage Fright (2013)

The film had a limited theatrical release in the United States on August 20, 2013.

### Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2018)

The film was premiered at the TCL Chinese Theatre on January 6, 2018.

## Cast and crew
### Cast

   * A dark gray cell indicates the character did not appear in that installment.
   * An $^A$ indicates a performance through archived or previous work.
   * A $^V$ indicates a performance through voice-over work.
   * A $^Y$ indicates an actor or actress voiced a younger version of their character.
| Character | Films | Films | Television films | Television films | Spin-off film | Animated film |
| Character | Scooby-Doo | Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed | Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins | Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster | Daphne & Velma | Scoob! |
| Mystery Inc. |||||||
| Scooby Doo | Neil Fanning | Neil Fanning | Frank Welker | Frank Welker | | Frank Welker |
| Scooby Doo | Neil Fanning | Neil Fanning | Frank Welker | Danielle. E. Hawkins | | Frank Welker |
| Scooby Doo | Neil Fanning | J. P. Manoux | Frank Welker | Jane Oshita and Philip Albuquerque | | Frank Welker |
| Scooby Doo | Neil Fanning | J. P. Manoux | Frank Welker | Luke Youngblood | | Frank Welker |
| Shaggy Rogers | Matthew Lillard | Matthew Lillard | Nick Palatas | Nick Palatas | | Will Forte |
| Shaggy Rogers | Matthew Lillard | Cascy Beddow | Nick Palatas | Nick Palatas | | Iain Armitage |
| Shaggy Rogers | Matthew Lillard | Nazanin Afshin-Jam | Nick Palatas | Nick Palatas | | Iain Armitage |
| Fred Jones | Freddie Prinze Jr. | Freddie Prinze Jr | Robbie Amell | Robbie Amell | | Zac Efron |
| Fred Jones | Freddie Prinze Jr. | Ryan Vrba | Robbie Amell | Robbie Amell | | Pierce Gagnon |
| Daphne Blake | Sarah Michelle Gellar | Sarah Michelle Gellar | Kate Melton | Kate Melton | Sarah Jeffery | Amanda Seyfried |
| Daphne Blake | Sarah Michelle Gellar | Emily Tennant | Kate Melton | Kate Melton | Sarah Jeffery | Mckenna Grace |
| Velma Dinkley | Linda Cardellini | Linda Cardellini | Hayley Kiyoko | Hayley Kiyoko | Sarah Gilman | Gina Rodriguez |
| Velma Dinkley | Linda Cardellini | Lauren Kennedy | Hayley Kiyoko | Hayley Kiyoko | Sarah Gilman | Ariana Greenblatt |
| Ghosts, Monsters & Villains |||||||
| Scrappy-Doo | Scott Innes | | | | | |
| Scrappy-Doo | J. P. Manoux | | | | | |
| Zarkos | Sam Greco | | | | | |
| N'Goo Tuana | Steven Grieves | | | | | |
| Old Man Smithers The Luna Ghost | Nicholas Hope | | | | | |
| Dr. Jonathan Jacobo Evil Masked Figure | | Tim Blake Nelson | | | | |
| Dr. Jonathan Jacobo Evil Masked Figure | | Scott McNeil | | | | |
| Black Knight Ghost | | Kevin Durand | | | | Silent cameo |
| Black Knight Ghost | | Bob Papenbrook | | | | Silent cameo |
| Pterodactyl Ghost | | Dee Bradley Baker | | | | |
| Tar Monster | | Michael Sorich | | | | |
| Red-Eyed Skeleton | | Dee Bradley Baker | | | | |
| Green-Eyed Skeleton | | Wally Wingert | | | | |
| 10,000 Volt Ghost | | Terrence Stone | | | | |
| Captain Cutler's Ghost | | James Bamford | Silent cameo | | | Silent cameo |
| Zombie | | Christopher R. Sumpton | | | | |
| Zombie | | Dee Bradley Baker | | | | |
| Miner 49er | | C. Ernst Harth | | | | |
| Principal Deedle Dark Specter | | | Shawn Macdonald | | | |
| Principal Deedle Dark Specter | | | Dan Riordan | | | |
| Prudence Prufrock | | | Leah James | | | |
| Ezekial Gallows | | | Brian Sutton | | | |
| Ezekial Gallows | | | Al Rodrigo | | | |
| Wanda Grubwort | | | | Beverly Sanders | | |
| Wanda Grubwort | | | | Hayley Kiyoko | | |
| Carol | | | | | Vanessa Marano | |
| Tobias Bloom | | | | | Brookes Forester | |
| Dick Dastardly | | | | | | Jason Isaacs |
| Dick Dastardly | | | | | | Simon Cowell Christina Hendricks |
| Muttley | | | | | | Billy West |
| Muttley | | | | | | Don Messick |
| Cerberus | | | | | | Fred Tatasciore |
| Supporting characters |||||||
| Mary Jane | Isla Fisher | | | | | |
| Mr. Emile Mondavarious | Rowan Atkinson | | | | | |
| Patrick Wisley | | Seth Green | | | | |
| Heather Jasper-Howe | | Alicia Silverstone | | | | |
| Jeremiah Wickles | | Peter Boyle | | | | |
| Ned | | Zahf Paroo | | | | |
| Vice Principal Grimes | | | Garry Chalk | | | |
| Otis | | | C. Ernst Harth | | | |
| Librarian | | | Lorena Gale | | | |
| Mrs. Rogers | | | Uncredited actress | | | Pam Coats |
| Thorton "Thorny" Blake V | | | | Ted McGinley | | |
| Mr. Elmer Uggins | | | | Richard Moll | | |
| Principal Piper | | | | | Arden Myrin | |
| Griffin Griffiths | | | | | Evan Castelloe | |
| Spencer | | | | | Adam Faison | |
| Nedley Blake | | | | | Brian Stepanek | |
| Elizabeth Blake | | | | | Nadine Ellis | |
| Brian Crown Blue Falcon | | | | | | Mark Wahlberg |
| Dee Dee Sykes | | | | | | Kiersey Clemons |
| Dynomutt | | | | | | Ken Jeong |
| Dusty | | | | | | Vanara Taing |
| Capt. Daveman | | | | | | Tracy Morgan |

### Crew

| Crew/detail | Film | Film | Film | Film | Film | Film | Film |
| Crew/detail | Scooby-Doo | Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed | Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins | Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster | Daphne & Velma | Scoob! | Scoob! Holiday Haunt |
| Director | Raja Gosnell | Raja Gosnell | Brian Levant | Brian Levant | Suzi Yoonessi | Tony Cervone | Bill Haller & Michael Kurinsky |
| Producer(s) | Charles Roven Richard Suckle | Charles Roven Richard Suckle | Brian Gilbert Brian Levant | Brian Gilbert Brian Levant | Ashley Tisdale Jennifer Tisdale Suzi Yoonessi Amy S. Kim Jaime Burke | Pam Coats Allison Abbate | Allison Abbate Tony Cervone Mitchell Ferm |
| Writer(s) | Screenplay by James Gunn Story by James Gunn Craig Titley | James Gunn | Daniel Altiere Steven Altiere | Daniel Altiere Steven Altiere | Kyle Mack Caitlin Meares | Screenplay by Adam Sztykiel Jack Donaldson Derek Elliott Matt Lieberman Story by Matt Lieberman Eyal Podell Jonathon E. Stewart | Tony Cervone Paul Dini |
| Composer(s) | David Newman | David Newman | David Newman | David Newman | Sasha Gordon | Tom Holkenborg | Dara Taylor |
| Director of photography | David Eggby | Oliver Wood | Jan Kiesser | Dean Cundey | Meena Singh | — | — |
| Editor(s) | Kent Beyda | Kent Beyda | Eric Osmond | Eric Osmond | Kristina Davies | Ryan Folsey | Mark Solomon |

## Reception
### Box office performance

| Film | Release date | Box office revenue | Box office revenue | Box office revenue | Box office ranking | Box office ranking | Budget | Reference |
| Film | Release date | Domestic | Foreign | Worldwide | All time domestic | All time worldwide | Budget | Reference |
| Scooby-Doo | June 14, 2002 | $153,294,164 | $122,356,539 | $275,650,703 | #230 | #321 | $84 million | |
| Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed | March 26, 2004 | $84,216,833 | $97,250,000 | $181,466,833 | #651 | — | $80 million | |
| Scoob | May 15, 2020 | $2,188,425 | $26,400,000 | $28,588,425 | — | — | — | |
| Total | $83,593,643 | $237,510,997 | $244,506,539 | $485,705,961 | | | $109,000,000 | |

### Critical and public response

| Film | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic | CinemaScore |
| Scooby-Doo | 32% (146 reviews) | 35 (31 reviews) | B+ |
| Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed | 22% (119 reviews) | 34 (28 reviews) | A- |
| Scoob! | 48% (153 reviews) | 43 (33 reviews) | — |

## Cancelled projects

In October 2002, during the filming of Scooby-Doo 2, Warner Bros. gave the green light for production of a third film. Dan Forman and Paul Foley were hired to write the script for Scooby-Doo 3. In August 2004, Matthew Lillard said in an interview that the third Scooby-Doo film was cancelled. "There will be no Scooby 3," Lillard said. "The second one didn't do as well as it was expected to do, and I completely hold that to Warner Brothers' fault. I think Warner Brothers made a mistake releasing it at the time they did March 2004. I think the movie's much better than the first movie, and I honestly thought it was going to do ridiculously good box office. But we had a bad timeslot. We had 13 movies open up in two weeks after we opened up. I mean, it did well, but it didn't do great, and it needed to do great", added, noting that the studio was quite disappointed with the result, which prevented the production of a third film.