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 Lego A/S, also known as the Lego Group, is a Danish construction toy production company based in Billund. It manufactures Lego-branded toys, consisting mostly of interlocking ABS plastic and rubber bricks. The Lego Group has also built severa ...

History

Brickfilm A brickfilm is a film or Internet video made by either shooting stop motion animation using construction set bricks like Lego bricks (and figures) or using computer-generated imagery or traditional animation to imitate the look. They can some ...

s (films using

Lego Lego (, ; ; stylised as 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 acrylonitri ...

) have existed since the 1970s. In 2003, Lego officially made its first partnership to make films based on its toy property. They chose

Bionicle Bionicle (stylized all caps) is a discontinued line of Lego construction toys marketed primarily towards 8-to-16-year-olds. The line was launched in 2001, originally as a subsidiary of Lego's Technic series. Over the following decade, it beca ...

as the property and they made a deal with

Miramax Miramax, LLC, formerly known as Miramax Films, is an American independent film and television production and distribution company owned by beIN Media Group and Paramount Global. Based in Los Angeles, California, it was founded on December 19, ...

to make a trilogy of Bionicle films. After the trilogy ended, a new trilogy based on Bionicle was planned with

Universal Pictures Universal City Studios LLC, doing business as Universal Pictures (also known as Universal Studios or simply Universal), is an American filmmaking, film production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered at the 10 Universal Ci ...

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. In the summer of 2009, Lego made a deal with

Warner Bros. Pictures Warner Bros. Pictures is an American film studio and distribution arm of the Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group division of Warner Bros., both of which are owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. It is headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex ...

to make a film based on the property. In the same year,

also planned the concept for the now successful theme

Lego Ninjago Lego ''Ninjago'' (stylized as ''LEGO NINJAGO''; , ) is a List of Lego themes, 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 th ...

. 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 ''The Lego Movie'' is a 2014 animated adventure comedy film written and directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. Based on the Lego line of construction toys, the film stars the voices of Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks, Will ...

'' 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 ''The Lego Batman Movie'' is a 2017 animated superhero comedy film, based on characters created by DC Comics and the Lego Batman toy line. It was directed by Chris McKay (in his feature directorial debut) from a screenplay that is based on a ...

'' and ''

The Lego Ninjago Movie ''The Lego Ninjago Movie'' is a 2017 animated martial arts film, martial arts comedy film, based on the toy/kit line Lego Ninjago, of the same name and the Ninjago (TV series), TV show starring the same characters. Directed by Charlie Bean (anim ...

'', were released in 2017, with an animated television series titled ''

Unikitty! ''Unikitty!'' (stylized as ''UniKitty!'') is an American animated television series developed by Ed Skudder and Lynn Wang for Cartoon Network and produced by The Lego Group and Warner Bros. Animation. The series is based on and stars the char ...

'' premiering in the same year. ''The Lego Ninjago Movie'' is not connected to the events shown in the television show. In 2014, ''

Mixels ''Mixels'' is an American animated television series that aired on Cartoon Network and was produced by Cartoon Network Studios. Following colorful creatures known as Mixels, the series depicts their exploits involving their ability to combine wi ...

'' also debuted. In late 2015, ''

Nexo Knights ''Nexo Knights'' (stylized in all caps) is a 3D animated television series that aired on Cartoon Network and premiered in 2015. It was produced by the Lego Group to coincide with the Lego theme of the same name. The series is based on a fantasy c ...

'' 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,

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. On August 5, 2022, in a podcast interview with ''

The Ankler Ankler Media is an American digital media company owned by the Ankler Media Group. In 2021, its Hollywood newsletter, ''The Ankler'', was listed as one of the top three business publications on Substack and has been nominated for two Webby Awar ...

'', 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. 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. In January 2024, it was announced that

Pharrell Williams Pharrell Lanscilo Williams (; born April 5, 1973), also known mononymously as Pharrell, is an American musician, singer, songwriter, rapper, record producer, and fashion designer. He first became known as one half of the music production duo ...

was making an animated

biographical A biography, or simply bio, is a detailed description of a person's life. It involves more than just basic facts like education, work, relationships, and death; it portrays a person's experience of these life events. Unlike a profile or curric ...

film of his career, titled '' Piece by Piece'', in Lego form. It was released on October 11, 2024, by

Focus Features Focus Features LLC is an American independent film production and distribution company, owned by Comcast as a unit of Universal Pictures, which is itself a unit of Comcast's division NBCUniversal. Focus Features distributes independent and fore ...

the United States and Canada, and Universal Pictures internationally. In October 2024, Universal Pictures confirmed the production of three new LEGO films, each directed by

Jake Kasdan Jacob Kasdan (born October 28, 1974) is an American filmmaker and actor. He is best known for directing ''Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story'' (2007), ''Bad Teacher'' (2011), ''Sex Tape (film), Sex Tape'' (2014), ''Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle'' (2 ...

Patty Jenkins Patricia Lea Jenkins (born July 24, 1971) is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. She has directed the feature films '' Monster'' (2003), ''Wonder Woman'' (2017), and '' Wonder Woman 1984'' (2020). For the film ''Monster'', sh ...

, and

Joe Cornish Joseph Murray Cornish (born 20 December 1968) is an English comedian and filmmaker. With Adam Buxton, he forms the comedy duo Adam and Joe. In 2011, Cornish released his directorial debut ''Attack the Block''. He also co-wrote ''The Adventures ...

. Kasdan’s film is based on an original concept by Matt Mider and Kevin Burrows, featuring a script by Andrew Mogel and

Jarrad Paul Jarrad Paul (born June 20, 1976) is an American screenwriter, director and actor. Early life and education Paul grew up in Miami, Florida. After graduating from high school, he moved to Los Angeles. Career Paul co-created and executive produce ...

. Jenkins is working with

Geoff Johns Geoffrey Johns (born January 25, 1973) is an American comic book writer, screenwriter, and film and television producer. Johns's work on the DC Comics characters Green Lantern, Aquaman, Flash (comics), Flash, and Superman has drawn critical accl ...

to write the screenplay of her film. Cornish, in turn, is revising a draft by

Heather Anne Campbell Heather Anne Campbell is an American writer, comedian, podcast host, and actress. Life and career Born in Chicago, Illinois, Campbell began studying improvisational comedy at iO Theater at the age of fifteen, under the tutelage of Del Close. Fo ...

based on a treatment by Simon Rich. These films are announced to be set in live-action. A new live-action film set in the ''

'' 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. It remains unclear whether these films will incorporate animation in any form or be entirely live-action.

Feature films

Theatrical films

Direct-to-video films

Short films

Specials

Television series

Series by themes

''
Lego City Lego City (stylized as ''LEGO City'') is a theme under which Lego building sets are released based on city life, with the models depicting city and emergency services (such as police and fire), airport, train, construction, and civilian service ...
''

* '' Lego City Shorts'' (2011–present) * ''

Lego City Adventures ''Lego City Adventures'' is an animated television series that premiered on Nickelodeon in the United States on June 22, 2019, loosely based on the long-running Lego City toyline theme. The third season of the series was released on Netflix in ...

'' (2019–2022) * '' Lego City 4D - Officer in Pursuit'' (2019) * ''Lego City Sky Police and Fire Brigade - Where Ravens Crow'' (2019) * ''Lego City: No Limits'' (2023–present)

''
Lego Ninjago Lego ''Ninjago'' (stylized as ''LEGO NINJAGO''; , ) is a List of Lego themes, 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 th ...
''

* '' Ninjago'' (2011–2022) * '' Lego Ninjago: Day of the Departed'' (2016) * ''

'' (2017) (also part of ''The Lego Movie'' franchise) * '' Lego Ninjago: Master of the 4th Dimension'' (2018) * '' Ninjago: Dragons Rising'' (2023–present)

''
Bionicle Bionicle (stylized all caps) is a discontinued line of Lego construction toys marketed primarily towards 8-to-16-year-olds. The line was launched in 2001, originally as a subsidiary of Lego's Technic series. Over the following decade, it beca ...
''

* '' Bionicle: Mask of Light'' (2003) * '' Bionicle 2: Legends of Metru Nui'' (2004) * '' Bionicle 3: Web of Shadows'' (2005) * '' Bionicle: The Legend Reborn'' (2009) * '' Lego Bionicle: The Journey to One'' (2016)

'' Clutch Powers''

* '' Lego: The Adventures of Clutch Powers'' (2010) * ''Lego Clutch Powers: Bad Hair Day'' (2010) * ''Lego City: A Clutch Powers 4-D Adventure'' (2011)

''
Lego Star Wars Lego ''Star Wars'' (stylized as ''LEGO Star Wars'') is a List of Lego themes, Lego theme based on the Star Wars, ''Star Wars'' media franchise created by George Lucas. It includes over 928 Lego building toy sets, 1389 Lego minifigures, an ep ...
''

The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special ''The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special'' is a 2020 CGI-animated Christmas special based on the ''Star Wars'' franchise, in which Rey trains Finn in the ways of the Force. Directed by Ken Cunningham from a script by David Shayne, it is produced ...

'' (2020) * '' Lego Star Wars: Terrifying Tales'' (2021) * '' Lego Star Wars: Summer Vacation'' (2022) * '' Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy'' (2024)

''
Lego Friends Lego Friends (stylized as LEGO Friends) is a product range of Lego construction toys designed primarily for girls which was launched in 2012. It introduced "mini-doll" figures, which are about the same size as traditional Lego minifigures but ...
''

* ''Lego Friends of Heartlake City'' (2012–2017) * ''Lego Friends: Girlz 4 Life'' (2015) * ''Lego Friends: The Power of Friendship'' (2016) * ''Lego Friends: Girls on a Mission'' (2018–2021) * ''Lego Friends: The Next Chapter'' (2023–present)

''
The Lego Movie ''The Lego Movie'' is a 2014 animated adventure comedy film written and directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. Based on the Lego line of construction toys, the film stars the voices of Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks, Will ...
''

* ''

'' (2014) * '' The Lego Movie: 4D – A New Adventure'' (2016) * ''

'' (2017) (also part of the '' Lego DC'' franchise) * ''

'' (2017) (also part of the ''

'' franchise) * ''

'' (2017–2020) * '' The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part'' (2019)

''
Lego Super Heroes Lego ''Super Heroes'' (stylized as ''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 W ...
''

''Lego DC''

* '' Lego Batman: Bricks, Bats and Bad Guys'' (2006) * '' Lego Batman: The Movie – DC Super Heroes Unite'' (2013) * '' Lego DC: Batman Be-Leaguered'' (2014) * '' Lego DC Super Heroes: Justice League vs. Bizarro League'' (2015) * '' Lego DC Super Heroes: Justice League – Attack of the Legion of Doom'' (2015) * '' Lego DC Super Heroes: Justice League – Cosmic Clash'' (2016) * '' Lego DC Super Heroes: Justice League – Gotham City Breakout'' (2016) * ''

'' (2017) (also part of ''The Lego Movie'' franchise) * ''Lego DC Super Hero Girls: Galactic Wonder'' (2017) * '' Lego DC Super Hero Girls: Brain Drain'' (2017) * '' Lego DC Super Heroes: The Flash'' (2018) * '' Lego DC Super Hero Girls: Super-Villain High'' (2018) * '' Lego DC Super Heroes: Aquaman – Rage of Atlantis'' (2018) * '' Lego DC Batman: Family Matters'' (2019) * ''

Lego DC Shazam! Magic and Monsters ''Lego DC Shazam! Magic and Monsters'' is a 2020 American animated superhero comedy film based on the DC Comics and Lego brands. The film is produced by DC Entertainment, The Lego Group and Warner Bros. Animation and distributed by Warner Bros. ...

'' (2020)

''Lego Ultimate Marvel''

* ''Lego Marvel Super Heroes TV Short'' (2012) * ''Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Maximum Overload'' (2013) * ''Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Avengers Reassembled'' (2015) * ''Lego Marvel Super Heroes - Guardians of the Galaxy: The Thanos Threat'' (2017) * ''Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Black Panther: Trouble in Wakanda'' (2018) * ''Lego Marvel Spider-Man: Vexed by Venom'' (2019) * ''Lego Marvel Avengers: Climate Conundrum'' (2020) * ''Lego Marvel Avengers: Loki in Training'' (2021) * ''Lego Marvel Avengers: Time Twisted'' (2022) * ''Lego Marvel Avengers: Code Red'' (2023) * ''Lego Marvel Avengers: Mission Demolition'' (2024)

'' Lego Elves''

* ''Lego Elves: Unite the Magic'' (2015) * '' Lego Elves'' (2015–2018) * ''Lego Elves: Dragons To Save, Time To Be Brave'' (2016) * ''Lego Elves: Down a Dark Path'' (2016) * '' Lego Elves: Secret of Elvendale'' (2017)

'' Lego Scooby-Doo''

* '' Lego Scooby-Doo! Knight Time Terror'' (2015) * '' Lego Scooby-Doo! Haunted Hollywood'' (2016) * '' Lego Scooby-Doo! Blowout Beach Bash'' (2017)

'' Lego Jurassic World''

* ''Lego Jurassic World: The Indominus Escape'' (2016) * ''Lego Jurassic World: Employee Safety Video'' (2016) * '' Lego Jurassic World: The Secret Exhibit'' (2018) * '' Lego Jurassic World: Legend of Isla Nublar'' (2019) * '' Lego Jurassic World: Double Trouble'' (2020) * ''Lego Jurassic Park: The Unofficial Retelling'' (2023)

Other series

* '' Monty Python & the Holy Grail in Lego'' (2001) * '' Galidor: Defenders of the Outer Dimension'' (2002) * ''

Lego Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Brick Lego Indiana Jones (stylized as LEGO ''Indiana Jones'') is a Lego theme based on the ''Indiana Jones'' film franchise created by George Lucas, licensed from Lucasfilm. The exclusive franchise (for the 'Construction Category Rights') was first a ...

'' (2008) * '' Lego Atlantis: The Movie'' (2010) * '' LEGO Prince of Persia Mini Movie'' (2010) * '' Hero Factory'' (2010–2014) * '' Legends of Chima'' (2013–2014) * ''

The Simpsons ''The Simpsons'' is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening, James L. Brooks and Sam Simon for the Fox Broadcasting Company. It is a Satire (film and television), satirical depiction of American life ...

'': " Brick Like Me" (2014) * ''

'' (2014–16) * ''

'' (2016–2017) * '' Lego Hidden Side'' (2019–2020) * '' Lego Monkie Kid'' (2020–present) * '' Lego Dreamzzz'' (2023–present)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lego films and TV series Lego films Lego television series