The CN Movie

The CN Movie is a 2024 live-action/animated adventure comedy film, making this film Cartoon Network Studios' first ever theatrical live-action film. The film is directed by James Bobin with writing alongside Nicholas Stoller and Cartoon Network veteran John McIntyre. The film stars Amy Adams with Will Arnett, Nathan Lane, Tina Fey, Wanda Sykes, and Seth Rogen as the supporting cast; Jeremy Shada, Thurop Van Orman, Asher Bishop, Linda Cardellini, Kate Micucci, Sean Giambrone, Keith Ferguson, Sean Marquette, and Grey Griffin star as the voices of the Cartoon Network characters. The film takes place in November 2018 and the follows Finn reuniting with his old friends Flapjack and Chowder, and on the verge of getting back home after a little fiasco.
The film premiered on October 18, 2024, and was released on October 23, by Warner Bros. Pictures The film has grossed $292 million worldwide and received mixed reviews from critics for its premise while praise was given to the animation, visual effects, and performances.
A spin-off television series, entitled The CN Show, was released on TBS on June 20, 2025.
== Plot ==
Ever since 2010, Finn had been friends with Flapjack and Chowder. But when August came around, Chowder and Flapjack's shows were canceled, and Finn was upset that they were gone. Doing his show, he could barely take his mind off them to stay focused, but with help from his friends, he was able to stay on track. Fortunately, after eight years on the air, Finn felt glad to be part of the concluded shows. In the present day, Finn had explained his predicament to the other defunct shows in the studio, which leaves everyone in pity for him.
In Ooo, he; Jake; BMO; Bonnibel Bubblegum; Marceline; Simon Petrikov; Phoebe; Lumpy Space Princess; and Lady travel to Lady's barn to celebrate Jake and Lady's children's birthday. While there, he is less enthusiastic. After the party, Bonnibel comforts Finn and has a talk with him. Still on the fact that he and his friends were still not on speaking terms, she questions if he could just go over and meet them otherwise; Finn gets the epiphany to reunite with his old friends. As Finn sets off to reunite with his old friends, he has Marceline lie about his whereabouts until further notice.
Upon the reunion, they discuss about the two's decrease in popularity and recognition, so Finn decides to get them each a film as to re-introduce them to the public. Arriving at the Warner Bros. studio, they get thrown out by security. After many attempts of getting in, they disguise as their creators and claim that they want to pitch their idea for The CN Movie; in which works. Heading inside, they meet the receptionist to ask if they could see head executive for their request on giving Chowder and Flapjack their own movies, in which she declines due to their shows' declining qualities, followed by getting thrown out again. They sneak into the executive's office via transition flip and meet executive Dan Manson. Unfortunately, he forgoes their wish of giving them a movie despite being their biggest fan. However, he decides to give them a tour of the studio instead.
After the tour, Manson apologizes for their request but wishes them luck. Heading back, Flapjack gets distracted by a silver hood ornament on a moving taxi, and Finn and Chowder go after. They follow the taxi all the way to Hollywood Burbank Airport. Before they could return back to the studio, Finn's backpack was taken into the cargo with the other luggage; the trio goes into the cargo hold to get his backpack, resulting in them being trapped inside along with the plane taking off. Meanwhile, back at the Cartoon Network studio, their friends are distraught and worried after discovering about the boys' absence, indicating that Marceline hadn't covered for Finn. Fortunately, they discover from Uncle Grandpa that Finn, Flapjack and Chowder are aboard a plane out of the country, thanks to the Powerpuff Girls' narrator deliberately explaining the plot point. In fear of losing each other all going, they choose volunteers to go out and find them; Mac and Bloo, CJ, Sadie, and Jeff volunteer due to knowing each of the three. Just so they don't get sidetracked, they bring a fourth-wall breaker to interact with the narrator, which ends up being Yumi.
Waking up, the boys get out and they find themselves New York City; they walk around the city in the meantime. As the group rides a Metro Bus in Los Angeles, Yumi gets word from the narrator that they had ended up in New York, so the group ventures out to follow them. But before they could resume the search, the Los Angeles Police Department arrives and arrests CJ and Sadie for theft of the bus ship they have commandeered (which was actually done by Mac and Bloo). In fear of losing the trio's trail, CJ suggests they resume their search without her and Sadie. Meanwhile, Finn discusses his depression and angst throughout the past eight years and how he was never happy with having a long-running show; Chowder and Flapjack went through the same problems, but got through by coping with their depression. With Yumi, Mac, Bloo, and Jeff having abandoned the transit bus, they end up hitchhiking with no success until Yumi stands in the middle of the road as a means of "acting aggressive", resulting in her hit by the oncoming car, knocking her unconscious; the driver behind the wheel named Judy goes over to revive Yumi through CPR, briefly inflating her until she ends up conscious again. Yumi asks Judy for a ride to New York after filling her in on their objective, which she obliges as she was on her way there.
With CJ and Sadie, they are sent to Arizona State Prison-Phoenix under request by Officer Ethel. Pressed for time (and Sadie's priorities on her show), they figure out a way to escape prison. Eavesdropping, an inmate named Jose helps them break out by setting a fire, which CJ prematurely does with torching Sadie's inmate shirt. The smoke from the flame attracts the guards. CJ and Sadie escape their cell after the guards open the door and they hijack one of the police cruisers on their way out. After spending a night in Kansas, Judy takes a liking towards the group, especially Yumi, who opened up about her relationship issues. Arriving in Oxford, Maryland, they find CJ and Sadie on the road and the group reconciles, while Judy notices their prison wear and cuts ties with them in fear of aiding and abetting fugitives, until Jeff says they were wrongfully accused of auto theft, with Mac and Bloo backing him up; Judy reluctantly resumes helping them get to New York as long as CJ and Sadie stay hidden.
The group finally arrives in New York, where they find the trio in Central Park and reunite. They were unfortunately followed by the LAPD, led by Ethel and her partner "Deputy" Waylon, with the help of Jose, who would be given five years off his sentence if he told them. They elude the police all over the city and lose them in the traffic. As they exit Judy's van, they lose Flapjack as a passing shiny car gets his attention, so Finn, Chowder, CJ, Sadie, Yumi and Jeff go to get him back. After chasing him around the city, Mac and Bloo return in a helicopter and the gang hops on the ladder. Their flight home is interrupted by a determined Ethel, who clings onto the bottom, weighing down the helicopter; Chowder slices the bottom half with his claws, dropping Ethel to the ground and having the gang fly off home.
Arriving back to the studio, they find everyone outside and relieved that they have returned. Suddenly, Manson and the press arrive after discovering the group in the helicopter. Manson came to tell them he was planning to call their studio for a one-year deal for a prime-time television series, to which they all accept; the press interviews the group afterwards. Their reunion is cut short when the police arrive in choppers with Judy in tow. Fortunately, they came to say that CJ and Sadie are pardoned after Judy informed them that they were on a rescue mission for their friends, but are also given a warning. As the police leave, the characters rejoice and throw a celebratory dance party, with Marceline singing "Ultimate" by Lindsay Lohan.
In a mid-credits scene, all the cancelled/concluded show characters are back in the studio interacting with the current running show characters, as Finn calls it "under one roof". In a second mid-credits scene, Dexter introduces the Cartoon Network characters Cartoon Network City 2.0 which is a computer-animated city consisting their respective shows' locations akin to the 2004–2007 CN City branding; the characters move into the city afterwards.
In a post-credits scene taking place in a white void, Marceline dances to Ke$ha's "Boogie Feet" and flies briefly during the song. The trio arrives and dances along with her, along with the other Cartoon Network characters joining in.
== Cast ==
=== Voice cast ===
* Jeremy Shada as Finn, the main character of Adventure Time.
* Thurop Van Orman as Flapjack, the titular character of The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack.
* Asher Bishop as Chowder, the titular character of Chowder.
** Chowder's original voice actor, Nicky Jones, makes a cameo as Chowder's original voice as to compare his current voice and regular voice to Finn and Flapjack. This is Jones' first time reprising his role as Chowder after Chowder's cancellation, as well as his first role to out of retirement in 2012.
* Linda Cardellini as CJ, a supporting character of Regular Show after her debut in its third season.
* Kate Micucci as Sadie Miller, a supporting character of Steven Universe.
** Micucci appears as herself when the sextet visits the Warner Bros. studio.
* Sean Giambrone as Jeff Randell, the tritagonist of Clarence.
* Sean Marquette as Mac, the main protagonist of Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends.
* Keith Ferguson as Bloo, the deuteragonist of Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends.
* Grey Griffin as Yumi Yoshimura, the secondary titular character of Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi. The actual Yumi Yoshimura of PUFFY provides her singing voice.
** Griffin also provides the voices of Mandy from The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy and Frankie Foster from Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends.
* Tom Kenny as the narrator of The Powerpuff Girls, who narrates throughout the film, with Chowder and Yumi being the only ones throughout said film who can hear him.
** Kenny also provides the voice of the Mayor from The Powerpuff Girls, Eduardo from Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, Simon Petrikov from Adventure Time, and Sumo Sumouski from Clarence.
Additional voices include John DiMaggio as Jake and Schnitzel; Hynden Walch as Bonnibel Bubblegum; Olivia Olson as Marceline Abadeer; Jessica DiCicco as Phoebe; Pendleton Ward as Lumpy Space Princess; Dee Bradley Baker as Cinnamon Bun; Niki Yang as Lady and BMO; Brian Doyle-Murray as Captain K'nuckles; Roz Ryan as Bubbie; Jeff Bennett as Peppermint Larry, Johnny Bravo and Raj; Jackie Buscarino as Sally Syrup and Susan Strong; Dwight Schultz as Mung Daal; Tara Strong as Truffles, Ben Tennyson, and Bubbles; Liliana Mumy as Panini; J. G. Quintel as Mordecai; William Salyers as Rigby; Sam Marin as Benson and Muscle Man; Mark Hamill as Skips; Janie Haddad Tompkins as Margaret Smith; Minty Lewis as Eileen Roberts; Natalie Palamides (replacing Zach Callison) as Steven Quartz Universe; Estelle Swaray as Garnet; Deedee Magno-Hall as Pearl; Tom Scharpling as Greg Universe; Shelby Rabara as Peridot; Jennifer Paz as Lapis Lazuli; Spencer Rothbell as Clarence Wendle; Katie Crown as Mary Wendle and Ms. Baker; Eric Edelstein as Chad Caswell and Grizz; Candi Milo as Dexter, Coco, and Madame Foster; Phil LaMarr as Wilt and Samurai Jack; Janice Kawaye (uncredited) as Ami Onuki, with the real Ami Onuki providing her singing voice; Roger Craig Smith as Thomas and Belson Noles; Pete Browngardt as Uncle Grandpa; and Courtenay Taylor as K.O. and Starla.
Cameos include Alex Walsh, Mumy, John Omohundro, Ian Jones-Quartey, and Strong as the Bravest Warriors characters.
=== Live-action cast ===
* Amy Adams as Judy, a single woman on a road trip to New York who encounters and helps the Cartoon Network characters.
* Will Arnett as Dan Manson, a Warner Bros. executive who has been a fan of Chowder, The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack and Adventure Time ever since. Arnett had narrated the Noods-era line-up, replacing Greg Cipes sometime later in 2008.
* Nathan Lane as Andrew "Andy" Neilly, Warner Bros. vice-president and assistant to Manson.
* Tina Fey as Sandra Alexander, receptionist at Warner Bros. Studios.
*Wanda Sykes as Officer Ethel, police officer of the Los Angeles Police Department. Sykes' character was meant to appear in Bobin's 2011 film The Muppets, but her role was cut.
*Seth Rogen as Officer "Deputy" Waylon, rookie officer of the Los Angeles Police Department and Ethel's partner.
*Danny Trejo as Jose, an inmate in Arizona State Prison-Phoenix who helps CJ and Sadie escape.
* Tom Cavanagh as a security guard at the Warner Bros. Studios' front gate.
** Jeff Bergman provides the voice.
Cameos consists of Ron Perlman as the director of Friends with Benefits; Kathleen Turner, Timothy Dalton, and Wayne Knight as the Friends with Benefits cast; Bryce Dallas Howard as a woman carrying luggage; and Dennis Haysbert as a news reporter; and John Oliver as himself. C. H. Greenblatt, Thurop Van Orman and Pendleton Ward also cameo as themselves as the trio's disguises.
== Production ==
The film was supposed to have Thurop Van Orman (voice of Flapjack) as director before James Bobin was chosen. Don Burgess, who has collaborated with Bobin before, is hired as the cinematographer, replacing Matthew F. Leonetti. Steven Rasch was previously chosen to edit the film until being replaced by Michel Aller. The locations featured in the film are filmed in Burbank, California and in London, United Kingdom.
The animation for the Cartoon Network characters was done by Primal Screen, the network's long-time animation provider on its television bumpers. Live-action objects the characters had to interact with in the film were animated by Animal Logic, rather than strings or robotic arms to hold actual props. Animal Logic also provided the environment of Cartoon Network City 2.0 in the mid-credit scene.
The show characters chosen to be in the film are the ones only produced by Cartoon Network Studios, excluding of Ed, Edd n Eddy; as the show was produced by a.k.a. Cartoon; Cow and Chicken and I Am Weasel; as they were produced by Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, the Lego shows produced by Wil Film ApS and The Lego Group, as well as any one of the shows produced by Warner Bros. Animation; Hanna-Barbera; and DC Entertainment, along with any other acquired programing.
== Music ==
=== The CN Movie Score ===
The CN Movie Score is the soundtrack to film's score of The CN Movie, composed by John Debney; the score of the film consists with guitar, drums, reggae organ, and orchestral instruments such as violins, piano and trumpets. The score soundtrack was released on October 22, 2024, a day before the film's initial release on October 23.
No.	Title 	Length
1 	"Present Day" 	2:58
2 	"Pups' Birthday" 	5:39
3 	"Finn and Bonnibel" 	2:32
4 	"Back Together Again" 	4:46
5 	"Warner Bros. Studios" 	7:03
6 	"Big Fan" 	3:11
7 	"Little Did They Know" 	5:20
8 	"New York City" 	4:19
9 	"Judy and the 'Toons" 	5:04
10 	"Breaking Out" 	2:13
11 	"Big Trouble in the Big Apple / Back to CN Studios"	8:51
12 	"Free Cheers" 	0:56
13 	"Credits Suite" 	6:50
14 	"CN City 2.0" 	2:01
=== The CN Movie: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack ===
The CN Movie: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is a soundtrack album to the 2024 film The CN Movie, consisting of songs featured from the film. The soundtrack was was released on October 22, 2024, a day before the film's initial release. The only exceptions are "My Generation" by The Who (which was only used in the second trailer), "Mighty Little Man" by Steve Burns (which was only used in the final trailer), "Larger Than Life" by the Backstreet Boys (which was used in television spots), "Hooray for Hollywood" by John Williams, "All Star" by Smash Mouth, "Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio?" by the Ramones and "Some Nights" by Fun.
No.	Title 	Artist 	Length
1 	"Carry On" 	Fun. 	4:39
2 	"I Fought the Law (Live at the Lyceum)"	The Clash 	2:25
3 	"Empire State of Mind" 	Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys 	4:36
4 	"Time Bomb" 	Ramones 	2:10
5 	"Ultimate" 	Olivia Olson feat. Puffy AmiYumi	3:07
6 	"Boogie Feet" 	Ke$ha 	2:54
== Marketing ==
On January 10, 2022, several individual television advertisements were released in theaters, such as with Chowder in Willy Wonka's chocolate factory of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; Flapjack paired with Aquaman from the DC Extended Universe; Finn in the Hogwarts Quiddich competition of Harry Potter; Mac and Bloo with Max and the monsters from Where the Wild Things Are; CJ, Mordecai and Rigby on the golf course of Caddyshack; the Universes and Crystal Gems encountering the woman in the Ferrari from National Lampoon's Vacation; and Clarence, Jeff and Sumo on a treasure hunt with Sloth from The Goonies. The film's teaser was released on April 24 on the Warner Bros. Pictures YouTube channel, along with the second/final trailer revealed on August 21.
On February 11, the film was first promoted on television with a tie-in with Super Bowl Sunday, featuring characters from Chowder; The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack; Adventure Time; Regular Show; Steven Universe; Clarence; The Powerpuff Girls; Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends; Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi, Dexter's Laboratory; The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy; The Life and Times of Juniper Lee; Camp Lazlo; Ben 10; Uncle Grandpa; Mighty Magiswords; OK K.O! Let's Be Heroes; and Craig of the Creek in a stadium seeing the football game. Cinemark promoted the film with a phone policy announcement on May 17; Cartoon Planet was revived on September 6 for the film's promotion, broadcasting a line of shows produced by Cartoon Network Studios and Cartoon Network showed promotional tie-ins on its network on October 18, consisting of bumpers with Finn, Flapjack and Chowder in a movie theater announcing the film. In addition, they host the entire line-up during intermissions between commercial breaks. McDonald's released a line of six Happy Meal toys on September 28.
== Release ==
=== Theatrical ===
The CN Movie premiered in Los Angeles on October 18, 2024 and on its general release on October 23, to celebrate Cartoon Network Studios' 30th anniversary, in theaters in North America and Canada.
=== Home media ===
The CN Movie was released on HBO Max on December 7, 2024, then later released on DVD, Blu-ray, and Ultra HD Blu-ray on December 31. The Blu-ray and 4K releases include one individual episode from Chowder ("The Big Mixer"), The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack ("The Return of Sally Syrup"), and Adventure Time ("Burning Low").
== Reception ==
=== Box office ===
The film had grossed $117.2 million in the United States and Canada, while grossing $194 million in other territories; thus grossing $292.5 million total.
In the United States and Canada, the film grossed around $30 million in its opening weekend, besting The Powerpuff Girls Movie's $6.1 million on its opening weekend. It went on to gross $42.1 million on its second weekend. The film then grossed $23 million in its third weekend, making back $98.1 million from its $85 million budget. On its fourth weekend, it grossed $19.1 million.
=== Critical response ===
Critical response aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gives the film an approval rating of 59% based on 84 reviews. The critical consensus reads: "Even though it has clever writing and great animation and succeeds on returning our favorite characters from our childhood, The CN Movie fails on a first impression by going on the Roger Rabbit and Muppets route." Metacritic gives the film scored a 55/100, indicating "mixed-or-average reviews". CinemaScore's review on the film is a "B" on its A+ to F scale.
=== Commercial reaction ===
Despite the mixed reviews, the film became a commercial success, which brought Cartoon Network to make shorts and specials of their defunct shows.
== Video game ==
An endless running app game, titled CN Rush!, is where you can play as Chowder, Flapjack and Finn to run around various locations of classic and modern Cartoon Network shows such as The Powerpuff Girls, Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends, Chowder, The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack, Adventure Time, Regular Show, Steven Universe, Clarence, and OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes.
The game was developed by Grumpyface Studios and released on iPhone, iPad, Android, and Windows on October 15, 2024.
== Future ==
=== Television series ===
The series was brought up after one of the co-writers had gotten inspiration from a MAD segment. Its genre was chosen as a mockumentary sitcom. The series is executive produced by Sam Register, executive producer of this film. The CN Show was released on June 20, 2025 on TBS.
=== Possible sequel ===
A sequel, under the working title CN World Tour, was briefly scrapped and to have Bobby Farrelly and Peter Farrelly directing, with Nicholas Stoller returning as writer alongside Mike Cerrone as co-writer, including the score composed by Christophe Beck.
Its cast would be Walt Dohrn as Thaddeus "Thad" Peterson, a Cartoon Network aficionado who gets hired as the characters' manager and to overlook their routines and acts; Tembi Locke as Amanda Westmen, Thaddeus' assistant who is in charge of taking notes; Antonio Banderas as Pedro Raphael, leader of the world's most wanted crime team; Los Three Diables; Rob Riggle as Chuck Jameson, weapons specialist and superhacker in Pedro's team; and Tiffany Haddish as Abby Howard-Ester, Pedro's master-of-disguise and Chuck's lover; with cameos consisting of Zachary Levi who originally had the role of Neilly from the first film; Danny Trejo as Finn, Flapjack and Chowder's cellmate; and Rebel Wilson as herself in the New York Broadway finale near the end of the film.
In the film, the Cartoon Network characters go around the world to preform certain acts on stage as a way to reintroduce the characters from the original shows on their behalf. Meanwhile, its subplot focuses on a team that is on the run from the law. Its protagonists were supposed to be Yumi Yoshimura from Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi, Jeff Randell from Clarence, Lapis Lazuli from Steven Universe, CJ from Regular Show, and Mac and Bloo from Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends.
Category:2024 films
Category:English-language films
Category:American adventure films
Category:American films
Category:American comedy films
Category:Crossover animation
Category:Crossover films
Category:CN (franchise)
Category:Film scores by John Debney
Category:Films featuring anthropomorphic characters
Category:Films set in 2018
Category:Films set in California
Category:Films set in United Kingdom
Category:Films with live action and animation
Category:Self-Reflexive films
Category:Cartoon Network Studios films
Category:Warner Bros. Pictures films
Category:Warner Bros. animated films
Category:SmashupMashups's Ideas