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. The name "Clutch Powers" is a tribute to the term the LEGO Group uses in quality control tests to describe characteristics of the ABS plastic: "clutch power" describes the force with which studs and anti-studs adhere.[1]
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 critical and commercial success of the film, it launched a franchise, and 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, with an animated television series titled Unikitty! premiering in the same year. 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 Second Part, The Lego Batman Movie, and The Lego Ninjago Movie) would stay with that studio. This move allows Universal to make separate Lego films.[2][3][4]
On August 5, 2022, in a podcast interview with The Ankler, Dan Lin revealed that he'll produce an upcoming Lego film that is in development, saying "We know we have to switch it up and take to a different art form that's still true to LEGO." Lin promised that the creative team had "reinvented" the Lego world for the film, but it does not yet have a release date.[5][6] By July 2023, it was announced that it will be a live-action/animation hybrid similar to the films of The Lego Movie franchise, and that Aaron and Adam Nee were attached to direct the film.[7][8]
In January 2024, it was announced that Pharrell Williams was making an animated biographical film of his career, titled Piece by Piece, in Lego form. It was released on October 11, 2024, by Focus Features the United States and Canada, and Universal Pictures internationally.[9]
In October 2024, Universal Pictures confirmed the production of three new LEGO films, each directed by Jake Kasdan, Patty Jenkins, and Joe Cornish. Kasdan’s film is based on an original concept by Matt Mider and Kevin Burrows, featuring a script by Andrew Mogel and Jarrad Paul. Jenkins is working with Geoff Johns to write the screenplay of her film. Cornish, in turn, is revising a draft by Heather Anne Campbell based on a treatment by Simon Rich. These films are announced to be set in live-action.[10] A new live-action film set in the Lego Ninjago theme is also confirmed, and will be written by Dan and Kevin Hageman, who were initially the head writers of the first nine seasons of the original Ninjago television series.[11] It remains unclear whether these films will incorporate animation in any form or be entirely live-action.
Year | Title | Co-production with | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2001 | Jack Stone | Artworld UK | Released on VHS.[34] |
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 | [35] | |
2015 | Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Avengers Reassembled! | Arc Productions Marvel Entertainment |
Disney XD | [36] |
Lego Scooby-Doo! Knight Time Terror | Warner Bros. Animation | Cartoon Network | [37] | |
Lego Elves: Unite the Magic | Ja Film | Disney Channel | ||
2016 | Lego Jurassic World: The Indominus Escape[38][39] | 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[40] | 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 | [41] | |
2018 | Lego Marvel Super Heroes - Black Panther: Trouble in Wakanda | YouTube Disney XD |
[42] | |
Lego Jurassic World: The Secret Exhibit | Atomic Cartoons Universal Studios |
NBC | [43][44] | |
2019 | Lego Marvel Spider-Man: Vexed by Venom | Atomic Cartoons Marvel Entertainment |
YouTube Disney XD |
[45][46] |
2020 | Lego Monkie Kid: A Hero is Born | Flying Bark Productions | TV3 | |
Lego Jurassic World: Double Trouble | Atomic Cartoons Universal Studios |
Nickelodeon | [47][48] | |
The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special | Atomic Cartoons Lucasfilm Animation |
Disney+ | [49] | |
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 | [50] | |
2021 | Lego Monkie Kid: Revenge of the Spider Queen | Flying Bark Productions | TV3 | |
Lego Star Wars: Terrifying Tales | Atomic Cartoons Lucasfilm Animation |
Disney+ | [51][52] | |
Lego Marvel Avengers: Loki in Training | Atomic Cartoons Marvel Entertainment |
[53] | ||
2022 | Lego Marvel Avengers: Time Twisted | [54] | ||
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+ | [55][56] | |
2023 | Lego Monkie Kid: The Emperor's Wrath | Flying Bark Productions | HappyKids | |
Lego Disney Princess: The Castle Quest | Pure Imagination Studios | Disney+ | [57] | |
Lego Jurassic Park: The Unofficial Retelling[58][59] | Atomic Cartoons Universal Studios |
Peacock | Retelling of the film Jurassic Park.[60] | |
Lego Marvel Avengers: Code Red | Atomic Cartoons Marvel Entertainment |
Disney+ | [61] | |
2024 | Lego Marvel Avengers: Mission Demolition | Atomic Cartoons Marvel Studios Animation |
[62] |
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 (2011–2022) |
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 | [63] |
Lego Star Wars: Droid Tales[64] | 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 | [65] |
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 | [66] |
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.[67] |
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.[68][69] |
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 (seasons 1–4) YouTube (season 4) |
[70][71] |
Lego Pixar: BrickToons | 2024 | 1 season, 5 episodes | Pixar Animation Studios | Disney+ | Short films based on Pixar films. |
Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy | 1 season, 4 episodes | Lucasfilm Atomic Cartoons |
Miniseries.[72] | ||
Ongoing | |||||
Lego Monkie Kid | 2020–present | 5 seasons, 58 episodes | Flying Bark Productions (seasons 1–4) WildBrain Studios (season 5)[73] |
Amazon Prime Video (seasons 1–2) HappyKids (season 3–ongoing) |
[74] |
Lego Friends: The Next Chapter | 2023–present | 2 seasons, 21 episodes | Passion Paris | YouTube Netflix HappyKids |
|
Lego Dreamzzz | 2 seasons, 40 episodes | Pure Imagination Studios WildBrain Studios (season 2; 4 episodes) |
Amazon Prime Video Netflix YouTube Sky UK ITVX Happykids |
[75][76] | |
Ninjago: Dragons Rising | 2 seasons, 40 episodes | WildBrain Studios | Netflix YouTube (season 2) |
Sequel to Ninjago.[77] | |
Lego City: No Limits | 2 seasons, 18 episodes | Blue Zoo Animation Studio | YouTube ITVX |
Web short series. |