Does The Lego Movie Still Hold Up?
Photo source: Into Film
The Lego Movie is a film that has defined a generation. Released in 2014, its humor and animation created an entire film franchise. Many people my age have had their humor inspired by this piece of cinematic history, and every time it’s mentioned I hear something along the lines of “I love that movie!” It’s easy to categorize The Lego Movie as a huge advertisement for the Lego Company; however, I think it’s more than that. In the early weeks of 2026, my dear friend, Pluto Gunsburg ’27, and I had the opportunity to see this film in theaters twelve years after its release.
I hadn’t seen this film since it first came out, though I remembered loving it when I was a kid. Our experience was only heightened by the fact that this screening was in 3D. Even though I have definitely aged out of the film's target demographic, I still found myself entertained by its plot and style of humor. There were several jokes that I had never caught when I was younger and I was genuinely laughing out loud throughout the film. Pluto and I left the theater with joy in our hearts. We walked all the way to the car with a childlike sense of wonder.
There is certainly some nostalgia that affected my viewing of this film, but I don’t think that is the only reason I enjoyed it. The Lego Movie is one of those children’s films that has heart. It’s obvious that everyone who worked on it cared a lot. It’s also obvious that they respected their audience. You don’t see that too often nowadays. Oftentimes it feels like children’s movies treat children like they're stupid, but The Lego Movie doesn’t do that. It has serious and complex themes such as self-worth, growing up, and parental control. It’s a movie about the inherent good that can be found in everyone.These themes help the film resonate not only with younger audiences, but with older ones too. When I first saw it in 2014, I loved it. When I saw it two months ago, I still loved it. Everyone can relate to at least one character within the film, whether it’s Emmet’s lack of knowledge of who he is, Wyldstyle’s desire to be a rebel, or Batman’s inability to express his emotions in a healthy way. I related to these characters then, and I relate to them in different ways now. That is one of the greatest strengths of this film–that it can appeal to audiences of any age.
The Lego Movie is so much more than a huge advertisement–it’s a movie with a complex and engaging story that cares deeply about its audience and characters. So the answer to the question “Does The Lego Movie hold up?” Yes, yes it does.