This article chronicles the history of the depiction of Lego building toys in media franchising with emphasis on film and television co-produced by owner The Lego Group.
Brickfilms (films using Lego) have existed since the 1970s. In 2003, Lego officially made its first partnership to make films based on its toy property. They chose Bionicle as the property and they made a deal with Miramax to make a trilogy of Bionicle films. After the trilogy ended, a new trilogy based on Bionicle was planned with Universal Pictures after the Miramax film contract ended and the first film in the new trilogy would be titled Bionicle: The Legend Reborn , but plans broke down between Lego and Universal, resulting in the fifth film being cancelled. Another film was later released, entitled Lego: The Adventures of Clutch Powers . The film received positive reviews from fans and critics and, after the DVD release, a sequel was set to star Clutch as the hero again. A short film based on Clutch Powers was later released but a full sequel never materialized.
In the summer of 2009, Lego made a deal with Warner Bros. Pictures to make a film based on the property. In the same year, Lego also planned the concept for the now successful theme Lego Ninjago. In 2011, Lego released a TV series titled Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu and Ninjago series achieved popularity. A video game based on the show was later released and the show reached its planned conclusion after a two-year run.
A new show titled Legends of Chima aired in January 2013 and was intended to be Ninjago's successor. The show received mixed reviews, however, with Lego fans instead demanding the return of Ninjago. Lego revived Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu in 2014 with a new season and continued to release 1–2 seasons every year. Initially titled "Lego: The Piece of Resistance", the film was later renamed The Lego Movie by Warner Bros. and was released in February 2014. Due to the success of the film, its sequel, The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part , was released five years later, while its spin-offs, The Lego Batman Movie and The Lego Ninjago Movie , were released in 2017. The Lego Ninjago Movie is not connected to the events shown in the television show.
In 2014, Mixels also debuted. In late 2015, Nexo Knights was introduced, replacing Legends of Chima.
In late 2016, Ninjago released a Halloween TV special for its fifth anniversary.
An additional film with Warner Bros named Billion Brick Race was planned, but cancelled in 2018 for unknown reasons. Little is known about what the film was supposed to be, with the exception of some concept artwork shared by director Jorge Gutierrez.
In March 2019, Ninjago released an 88-minute TV movie called March of the Oni on Cartoon Network, which also celebrated the 100th episode of the show. The show reached its 11th year of airing having released season 15 in 2022.
By April 2020, Universal Pictures established a five-year deal for exclusive rights for the production of further Lego films with The Lego Group; the four existing Lego films made by Warner Bros. (The Lego Movie, The Lego Movie 2, The Lego Batman Movie, and The Lego Ninjago Movie) would stay with that studio. This move potentially allows Universal to make Lego films based on its own catalog of properties such as Woody Woodpecker , Curious George , Jaws , Jurassic Park , Fast & Furious , The Land Before Time , Despicable Me , The Secret Life of Pets , Johnny English , Sing , Back To The Future , Bourne , Ted , Shrek , Trolls , Madagascar , Kung Fu Panda , How to Train Your Dragon , The Boss Baby , Spirit , Shark Tale , The Bad Guys , Over The Hedge , Monsters Vs. Aliens , Megamind , The Croods , Ruby Gillman , and The Wild Robot . [1] [2] [3]
In January 2024, it was announced that Pharrell Williams is making an animated biographical film of his career in Lego form. It is set to be released in October 2024 by Focus Features. [4]
Year | Title | Co-production with | Distributor | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | The Lego Movie | Warner Animation Group Village Roadshow Pictures Vertigo Entertainment Lin Pictures | Warner Bros. Pictures | |
2017 | The Lego Batman Movie [5] [6] [7] | Warner Animation Group DC Entertainment RatPac Entertainment Lin Pictures Lord Miller Productions Vertigo Entertainment | Spin-offs of The Lego Movie. | |
The Lego Ninjago Movie [6] [5] [7] | Warner Animation Group RatPac Entertainment Lin Pictures Lord Miller Productions Vertigo Entertainment | |||
2019 | The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part [5] [7] | Warner Animation Group Rideback Lord Miller Productions Vertigo Entertainment | Sequel to The Lego Movie. | |
Upcoming | ||||
2024 | Piece by Piece [4] | Tremolo Productions I Am Other | Focus Features | Animated biographical film about Pharrell Williams. |
TBA | Untitled Lego Movie film [8] [9] | Rideback Lord Miller Productions Vertigo Entertainment | Universal Pictures | Live action/animation hybrid. Reboot of The Lego Movie franchise. |
Year | Title | Co-production with | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2001 | Jack Stone | Artworld UK | Released on VHS. [21] |
Monty Python & the Holy Grail in Lego | Spite Your Face Productions | Released as a bonus feature on the Monty Python and the Holy Grail DVD release. | |
2005 | Lego Star Wars: Revenge of the Brick | Treehouse Animation | Premiered on Cartoon Network. |
2006 | Lego Batman: Bricks, Bats & Bad Guys | ||
2008 | Lego Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Brick | M2Film | |
2009 | Lego Star Wars: The Quest for R2-D2 | ||
2010 | Lego Clutch Powers: Bad Hair Day | Tinseltown Toons Threshold Animation Studios | Released as a bonus feature on the Lego: The Adventures of Clutch Powers DVD release. |
LEGO Prince of Persia Mini Movie | Unknown | Aired on Disney XD. | |
Lego Star Wars: Bombad Bounty | M2Film | Premiered on Cartoon Network. | |
2011 | Lego City: A Clutch Powers 4-D Adventure | Threshold Animation Studios | Shown in the Legoland theme parks. |
2012 | The Lego Story | Lani Pixels | Produced to celebrate The Lego Group's 80th anniversary. |
Lego Marvel Super Heroes TV Short | Unknown | Aired on Disney XD. | |
2013 | Legends of Chima: 4D Movie Experience | M2Film | Shown in the Legoland theme parks. |
2014 | Enter the Ninjago | Warner Animation Group Animal Logic | Released as a bonus feature on The Lego Movie DVD release. |
2016 | The Lego Movie: 4D – A New Adventure | Pure Imagination Studios | Shown in the Legoland theme parks. |
Nexo Knights 4D: The Book of Creativity | M2 Entertainment | ||
Lego Jurassic World: Employee Safety Video | Universal Pictures Home Entertainment | Released as bonus on the Jurassic World/Lego Jurassic World 2-pack DVD. | |
The Master | Warner Animation Group Animal Logic | Shown in theaters with Storks . | |
2017 | Batmersive VR Experience | Virtual reality short film; released online. | |
Dark Hoser | Released as bonus features on The Lego Batman Movie DVD release. | ||
Batman is Just Not That Into You | |||
Cooking with Alfred | |||
Movie Sound Effects: How Do They Do That? | |||
Shark E. Shark in "Which Way to the Ocean?" | Released as bonus features on The Lego Ninjago Movie DVD release. | ||
Zane's Stand Up Promo | |||
2018 | Lego Ninjago: Master of the 4th Dimension | Pure Imagination Studios | Shown in the Legoland theme parks. |
Emmet's Holiday Party | Warner Animation Group Animal Logic | Released on YouTube. | |
2019 | Lego City 4D - Officer in Pursuit | Pure Imagination Studios | Shown in the Legoland theme parks. |
Lego City Sky Police and Fire Brigade - Where Ravens Crow | M2 Entertainment | Released on YouTube as a two-part short series. |
Year | Title | Co-production with | Network | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2010 | Lego Atlantis: The Movie | Threshold Animation Studios | Cartoon Network | |
2011 | Lego Star Wars: The Padawan Menace | Animal Logic Lucasfilm Animation | Includes a Young Han Solo Lego minifigure in the DVD release. | |
2012 | Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out | Threshold Animation Studios/Lucasfilm Animation | Includes a Darth Vader with Medal Lego minifigure in the DVD release. | |
2013 | Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Maximum Overload | Arc Productions Marvel Entertainment | Disney XD | Originally released as a five-part short miniseries. |
2014 | "Brick Like Me" | Gracie Films 20th Century Fox Television | Fox | Aired as the 550th episode of The Simpsons . |
Jake's Buccaneer Blast | M2Film | Disney Junior | Originally released as an eight-part short series. | |
Lego DC Comics: Batman Be-Leaguered | Warner Bros. Animation DC Entertainment | Cartoon Network | [22] | |
2015 | Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Avengers Reassembled! | Arc Productions Marvel Entertainment | Disney XD | [23] |
Lego Scooby-Doo! Knight Time Terror | Warner Bros. Animation | Cartoon Network | [24] | |
Lego Elves: Unite the Magic | Ja Film | Disney Channel | ||
2016 | Lego Jurassic World: The Indominus Escape [25] [26] | Universal Pictures Home Entertainment | Direct-to-video | Originally released as a five-part short series. |
Lego Elves: Dragons To Save, Time To Be Brave | Ja Film | Disney Channel | ||
Lego Elves: Down a Dark Path | ||||
Lego Frozen Northern Lights [27] | M2Film | Originally released as a five-part short series. | ||
Ninjago: Day of the Departed | Wil Film ApS | Cartoon Network | Halloween special of Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu . | |
2017 | Lego DC Super Hero Girls: Galactic Wonder | Warner Bros. Animation DC Entertainment | Boomerang Cartoon Network | |
Lego Marvel Super Heroes - Guardians of the Galaxy: The Thanos Threat | Marvel Entertainment | Disney XD | [28] | |
2018 | Lego Marvel Super Heroes - Black Panther: Trouble in Wakanda | YouTube Disney XD | [29] | |
Lego Jurassic World: The Secret Exhibit | Atomic Cartoons Universal Studios | NBC | [30] [31] | |
2019 | Lego Marvel Spider-Man: Vexed by Venom | Atomic Cartoons Marvel Entertainment | YouTube Disney XD | [32] [33] |
2020 | Lego Monkie Kid: A Hero is Born | Flying Bark Productions | TV3 | |
Lego Jurassic World: Double Trouble | Atomic Cartoons Universal Studios | Nickelodeon | [34] [35] | |
The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special | Atomic Cartoons Lucasfilm Animation | Disney+ | [36] | |
Lego Marvel Avengers: Climate Conundrum | Atomic Cartoons Marvel Entertainment | YouTube Disney XD | ||
Lego Hidden Side: Night of the Harbinger Halloween Special | Pure Imagination Studios | Cartoon Network | [37] | |
2021 | Lego Monkie Kid: Revenge of the Spider Queen | Flying Bark Productions | TV3 | |
Lego Star Wars: Terrifying Tales | Atomic Cartoons Lucasfilm Animation | Disney+ | [38] [39] | |
Lego Marvel Avengers: Loki in Training | Atomic Cartoons Marvel Entertainment | [40] | ||
2022 | Lego Marvel Avengers: Time Twisted | [41] | ||
Lego Friends: Holiday Special | WildBrain Studios | YouTube | ||
Lego Monkie Kid: Embrace Your Destiny | Flying Bark Productions | CITV | Originally released as a four-part miniseries. | |
Lego Star Wars: Summer Vacation | Atomic Cartoons Lucasfilm Animation | Disney+ | [42] [43] | |
2023 | Lego Monkie Kid: The Emperor's Wrath | Flying Bark Productions | HappyKids | |
Lego Disney Princess: The Castle Quest | Pure Imagination Studios | Disney+ | [44] | |
Lego Jurassic Park: The Unofficial Retelling [45] [46] | Atomic Cartoons Universal Studios | Peacock | Retelling of the film Jurassic Park . [47] | |
Lego Marvel Avengers: Code Red | Atomic Cartoons Marvel Entertainment | Disney+ | [48] |
Title | Original running | Seasons / Episodes | Co-production with | Network | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ended | |||||
Edward and Friends | 1987 | 1 season, 28 episodes | FilmFair | BBC2 | Based on the Fabuland theme. |
Galidor: Defenders of the Outer Dimension | 2002 | 2 seasons, 26 episodes | CinéGroupe Tom Lynch Company | Fox Kids | First live-action series based on a Lego theme. |
Lego Hero Factory | 2010–2014 | 11 episodes | Threshold Animation Studios (episodes 1–10) Ghost (episode 11) | Nicktoons (episodes 1–10) YouTube (episode 11) | |
Ninjago | 2011–2022 | 15 seasons, 210 episodes | Wil Film ApS (seasons 1–10) WildBrain Studios (seasons 11–15) | Cartoon Network (2011–2020) Netflix (2021–2022) | Formerly known as Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu in the pilot episodes and from seasons 1 to 10. |
Lego Friends of Heartlake City | 2012–2017 | 5 seasons, 19 episodes | M2 Entertainment | Disney Channel | |
Lego Star Wars: The Yoda Chronicles | 2013–2014 | 2 seasons, 7 episodes | Wil Film ApS Lucasfilm | Cartoon Network (2013) Disney XD (2014) | Miniseries. Renamed as Star Wars: The New Yoda Chronicles for the 2014 episodes. |
Legends of Chima | 3 seasons, 41 episodes | M2 Entertainment | Cartoon Network | ||
Mixels | 2014–2016 | 2 seasons, 31 episodes | Cartoon Network Studios | Cartoon Network | First 2D animated series based on a Lego theme. |
Lego Elves | 2015–2018 | 2 seasons, 36 episodes | Ja Film | Disney Channel | [49] |
Lego Star Wars: Droid Tales [50] | 2015 | 1 season, 5 episodes | Wil Film ApS Lucasfilm | Disney XD | Miniseries. |
Nexo Knights | 2016–2017 | 4 seasons, 40 episodes | M2 Entertainment | Cartoon Network | |
Lego Bionicle: The Journey to One | 2016 | 1 season, 5 episodes | Volta | Netflix | [51] |
Lego Friends: The Power of Friendship | 2 seasons, 4 episodes | M2 Entertainment | |||
Lego Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures | 2016–2017 | 2 seasons, 26 episodes | Wil Film ApS Lucasfilm | Disney XD | |
Lego Elves: Secret of Elvendale | 2017 | 1 season, 8 episodes | Studio Mir | Netflix | [52] |
Lego Masters UK | 2017–2018 | 2 seasons, 10 episodes | Tuesday's Child Endemol Shine Group | Channel 4 | First reality competition series. Inspired a format used to launch localized series around the world. |
Unikitty! | 2017–2020 | 3 seasons, 104 episodes | Warner Bros. Animation | Cartoon Network | Spin-off of The Lego Movie. [53] |
Lego Star Wars: All Stars | 2018 | 1 season, 5 episodes | Wil Film ApS Lucasfilm | Disney XD | |
Lego Friends: Girls on a Mission | 2018–2021 | 4 seasons, 70 episodes | M2 Entertainment | KidsClick (2018–2019) Kabillion (2019–2021) | |
Lego Jurassic World: Legend of Isla Nublar | 2019 | 1 season, 13 episodes | Atomic Cartoons Universal Brand Development | Nickelodeon | Miniseries. [54] [55] |
Lego Hidden Side | 2019–2020 | 1 season, 20 episodes | Pure Imagination Studios | YouTube HappyKids | Web short series. |
Lego City Adventures | 2019–2022 | 4 seasons, 65 episodes | Passion Paris Axis Studios (seasons 1–2) | Nickelodeon (seasons 1–2) Netflix (season 3-4) YouTube (season 4) | [56] [57] |
Ongoing | |||||
Lego Monkie Kid | 2020–present | 5 seasons, 58 episodes | Flying Bark Productions (seasons 1–4) WildBrain Studios (season 5) [58] | Amazon Prime Video (seasons 1–2) HappyKids (season 3–) | [59] |
Lego Friends: The Next Chapter | 2023–present | 2 seasons, 21 episodes | Passion Paris | YouTube Netflix HappyKids | |
Lego Dreamzzz | 2 seasons, 30 episodes | Pure Imagination Studios WildBrain Studios (season 2; 2 episodes) | Amazon Prime Video Netflix YouTube Sky UK ITVX Happykids | [60] [61] | |
Ninjago: Dragons Rising | 2 seasons, 30 episodes | WildBrain Studios | Netflix YouTube (season 2) | Sequel to Ninjago. [62] | |
Lego City: No Limits | 2 seasons, 18 episodes | Blue Zoo Animation Studio | YouTube ITVX | Web short series. | |
Upcoming | |||||
Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy | 2024 | 1 season, 4 episodes | Lucasfilm | Disney+ | Miniseries. [63] |
Lego is a line of plastic construction toys manufactured by the Lego Group, a privately held company based in Billund, Denmark. Lego consists of variously coloured interlocking plastic bricks made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) that accompany an array of gears, figurines called minifigures, and various other parts. Its pieces can be assembled and connected in many ways to construct objects, including vehicles, buildings, and working robots. Assembled Lego models can be taken apart, and their pieces can be reused to create new constructions.
Lego Batman is a discontinued theme and product range of the Lego building toy, introduced in 2006, based on the superhero character Batman, under license from DC Comics. The sets feature vehicles, characters and scenes from the comics and films. The inspirations for the design of these vary widely. For example, the Batmobile retains its basic sleek shape and prominent fins from the Tim Burton films, whereas the "Bat-Tank" seems to be based on the tank-like Batmobile in Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns. The theme was relaunched in early 2012 as part of the Lego DC Universe Superheroes line, which is a sub-theme of the Lego Super Heroes line. In total there were 17 sets, almost all of them including Batman.
Lego Spider-Man is a product range of the Lego construction toy, based on the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man. When the theme first launched in 2002, it was inspired by the Spider-Man film released the same year and was part of the Lego Studios line. Additional sets were released two years later, based on the film's sequel, Spider-Man 2. The theme was discontinued before the release of Spider-Man 3, and the rights were sold to rival Mega Brands, who entered a multi-year licensing deal with Marvel Enterprises, giving them the rights to produce playsets, vehicles, and other building-themed products based upon various Marvel characters for their Mega Bloks toys.
Lego Ninjago is a Lego theme that was created in 2011 and a flagship brand of The Lego Group. It is the first theme to be based on ninjas since the discontinuation of the Lego Ninja theme in 2000. It was produced to coincide with the animated television series Ninjago, which was superseded in 2023 by a new series titled Ninjago: Dragons Rising.
Lego Super Heroes is a theme and product range of the Lego construction toy, introduced in 2011, owned by The Lego Group and licensed from DC Entertainment, Marvel Entertainment, Warner Bros., The Walt Disney Company and Pixar.
The Lego Batman Movie is a 2017 animated superhero comedy film produced by Warner Animation Group, DC Entertainment, RatPac-Dune Entertainment, Lego System A/S, Lin Pictures, Lord Miller Productions, and Vertigo Entertainment, and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. It was directed by Chris McKay from a screenplay by Seth Grahame-Smith, Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Jared Stern, and John Whittington. Based on the characters from the DC Universe created by DC Comics and the Lego DC Super Heroes' Batman toy line, the film is a collaboration between production houses from the United States, Australia, and Denmark, the first spin-off in The Lego Movie franchise and the second installment overall. The film features Will Arnett reprising his role as Batman from The Lego Movie alongside Zach Galifianakis, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson, and Ralph Fiennes. The story follows the eponymous character (Arnett) as he attempts to overcome his greatest fear while saving Gotham City from the Joker's (Galifianakis) latest scheme.
The Lego Movie is an American media franchise and shared universe based on Lego construction toys. It began with the 2014 film The Lego Movie, which was directed and written by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. The success of the film led to the release of two licensed video games, a 4D film theme park attraction, two spin-off films titled The Lego Batman Movie and The Lego Ninjago Movie, which were released in 2017, Unikitty! an animated television series that also came out in the same year, and the sequel to the original film titled The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part in 2019. Plans for a third spin-off film and a sequel to The Lego Batman Movie were later shelved. Development would end in 2020, with Warner Bros. letting the rights lapse back to The Lego Group after The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part underperformed at the box office and the studio failing to create any new projects within that time frame.
Lego Juniors was a product range of the construction toy Lego, designed for children aged 4 to 7 years old. It acted as a transition from the Duplo to the regular Lego System. Lego Juniors initial release was on February 14, 2014, with the tagline Easy to build. It was the successor to the Bricks & More line released in 2009. Unlike its predecessor, Lego Juniors offered specialized bricks to make builds look more realistic while using fewer pieces for an easier build. The product line was discontinued by December 31, 2018 and rebranded as "4+" in 2019.
The Lego Movie is a Lego product line based on the 2014 film of the same name. It was licensed from The Lego Group and Warner Bros. Animation. The theme was first introduced on 26 December 2013 in the United Kingdom and 30 December in the United States to coincide with the release of the film, along with The Lego Movie Video Game. Further sets were produced to coincide with the release of the second film in The Lego Movie franchise, titled The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part. The product line was discontinued by 31 December 2019.
The Lego Batman Movie was a product line based on The Lego Batman Movie, the second film of The Lego Movie franchise. It is licensed from The Lego Group, DC and Warner Bros. Animation Studios. The theme was first introduced on 10 February 2017 as part of a licensing and merchandising programme associated with the film. Alongside the release of the Lego sets, the programme included the release of several promotional short films and The Lego Batman Movie Game app. The product line was discontinued by 31 December 2018.
The Lego Ninjago Movie was a product line based on The Lego Ninjago Movie, the third film of The Lego Movie franchise. It was licensed from The Lego Group and Warner Bros. Animation. The theme was introduced on 22 September 2017 as part of a licensing and merchandising programme associated with the film. Alongside the release of the Lego sets, the programme included the release of several promotional short films and The Lego Ninjago Movie Video Game. The product line was discontinued by 31 December 2019.
Lego DC Super Hero Girls (stylized as LEGO DC Super Hero Girls) was a Lego theme based on the DC Super Hero Girls franchise. It is licensed from DC Comics and Warner Bros. Animation. The theme was first introduced in November 2016. The toy line was accompanied by several shorts, a television special and films based on Lego DC Super Hero Girls. The Lego DC Super Hero Girls theme was discontinued by the end of 2018.
Lego BrickHeadz is a Lego theme that recreates iconic characters from themes like DC, Marvel Comics, Star Wars and Disney as buildable characters. The theme was first introduced in 2016.
Jared Stern is an American screenwriter, director and producer. He collaborated with John Whittington on The Lego Batman Movie (2017), The Lego Ninjago Movie (2017), and DC League of Super-Pets (2022), the latter of which he also directed.
John Whittington is an American screenwriter. He is best known for his collaborations with Jared Stern, including The Lego Batman Movie (2017), The Lego Ninjago Movie (2017), and DC League of Super-Pets (2022).