Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Animated BFFs' quirky time-travel story has some violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Regular Show: The Movie
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 16 parent reviews
Based on 17 kid reviews
Kids say the movie is enjoyable with great animation and comedy, but many reviews express concern about the sci-fi violence and mild nudity that may be upsetting for younger viewers. While some appreciate the deeper themes of friendship and adventure, others find the depiction of violence and certain scenes disturbing, suggesting it may not be suitable for all ages.
- violence concerns
- comedy praise
- animation quality
- friendship theme
- nudity mentions
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
REGULAR SHOW: THE MOVIE catches up with best friends Mordecai (voiced by J.G. Quintel) and Rigby (William Salyers) as they're visited by Rigby's future self, who brings a dire warning. Unbeknownst to them at the time, a high school science experiment went awry and created a "Timenado," opening portals throughout the world and sending civilization hurtling toward utter destruction. Now Mordecai and Rigby must travel back in time themselves, revisiting their old stomping grounds and eliminating the threat before it begins. Meanwhile an evil volleyball coach (Jason Mantzoukas) with an ax to grind with Rigby plots his own revenge on his high school nemesis.
Is It Any Good?
This movie is every bit as meandering and bizarre as is the TV series, which should please fans who like its creative animation and quirky characters. Aside from the cartoonish violence, it dials down iffy content that sometimes plagues the show. You definitely have to set aside your grasp of reality to really get into the story, but that's just part of the fun.
On a more cerebral level, Rigby's journey into his past presents him with an opportunity to change the course of his life, but it's at a cost. It's an interesting point to consider and could provide some talking points about setting and achieving goals and being resilient after unexpected forks in the road.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the appeal of fantasy cartoons such as this one. Why is it fun to imagine the world much differently from how it really is? In so doing, can you identify ways to make the real world better?
If you had the opportunity to alter one aspect of your past, would you? How are we shaped by our experiences, both good and bad?
Do popular TV shows always translate to enjoyable movies? What examples can you think of that have succeeded? That have failed? What shows would you like to see done in a longer format?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : October 31, 2015
- Cast : J.G. Quintel , William Salyers , Jason Mantzoukas
- Director : J.G. Quintel
- Studio : Cartoon Network
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , School ( High School )
- Run time : 69 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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