Can a plastic toy franchise survive a box-office disappointment and a live-action reboot?
In short: The Lego Ninjago Movie, a 2017 animated martial arts comedy, was the first theatrical film based on an original Lego property. Despite its star-studded cast and high-profile production team, the film became the franchise's first box-office disappointment. Now, the story of Lloyd Garmadon faces a potential live-action future.
Released on 22 September 2017, The Lego Ninjago Movie was a collaboration between production houses in the United States and Denmark. Directed by Charlie Bean, Paul Fisher, and Bob Logan, the film expanded the Lego cinematic universe following the success of The Lego Movie and The Lego Batman Movie. It featured a voice cast including Dave Franco, Justin Theroux, and Jackie Chan, who also performed live-action choreography for the character Master Wu. The production process was notably immersive; to capture a genuine father-son dynamic, Franco and Theroux recorded their lines together, with Franco reporting that he found himself crying more intensely than in his live-action roles.
The narrative centers on Lloyd Garmadon, a teenager struggling with his identity as the son of the villainous Lord Garmadon. While the city of Ninjago is terrorized by Garmadon’s sea-themed army, Lloyd leads a secret team of ninjas—Kai, Cole, Jay, Zane, and Nya—to defend their home. The plot takes a surreal turn when a laser pointer attracts a live-action cat named Meowthra, forcing the characters to reconcile their personal conflicts with their elemental powers. The film’s score was composed by Mark Mothersbaugh, who had previously worked on The Lego Movie, and the project was supported by over twenty tie-in Lego sets and a video game developed by TT Fusion.
Despite these efforts, the film struggled to replicate the financial success of its predecessors. It grossed $123.8 million worldwide against a $70 million budget, marking it as the franchise's first box-office disappointment. Critics provided mixed reviews, and the film’s legacy is now shifting. While the animated version remains a unique entry in the Lego canon, Universal Pictures is currently developing a live-action reboot, signaling that the story of Ninjago may soon be reimagined for a new generation of viewers.
The film’s production history reflects the rapid evolution of the Lego brand in cinema. Originally announced in September 2013, the release date was shifted multiple times, eventually landing in September 2017. The project was deeply integrated into the broader Lego marketing ecosystem, with trailers appearing alongside other franchise entries and a dedicated video game released simultaneously with the film. Whether the upcoming live-action iteration can capture the same creative spirit remains to be seen.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Lego Ninjago Movie
- Also: Wikidata — The Lego Ninjago Movie Video Game · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — The Lego Ninjago Movie · CC0
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