Danny Phantom Returns

Danny Phantom Returns is a 2026 American computer-animated supernatural superhero action comedy film directed by Steve Marmel and produced by Karen Malach, based on the Nickelodeon television series, Danny Phantom. It is the first installment of the Nicktoons Cinematic Series released by Nickelodeon Movies. The film stars David Kaufman, Grey Griffin, Rickey D'Shon Collins and Colleen O'Shaughnessey reprising their roles as the main characters.

The film takes place after the events of the series and its series finale, with Danny now retired from being Danny Phantom, and an outcast called Nolan Malthone (voiced by Jake Johnson) plans to take over Amity Park for his humiliation from the citizens of the town.

Danny Phantom Returns premiered on June 9, 2026 in Los Angeles and was released on in the United States on June 19 by Paramount Pictures, in RealD 3D and Dolby Cinema. The film was a critical success with audiences and critics for the film's animation and character's return, as well as a commercial success grossing $171 million over a $45 million budget.

Plot
Two years later, Danny Fenton had retired from being his ghost superhero alter-ego Danny Phantom to focus on his regular life. At school, he is praised and respected by his fellow classmates. Returning home, he finds his parents selling their ghost equipment as the town has been free from ghosts ever since the last two years, but Danny convinces them to keep their stuff just in case, in which they agree to do. Unbeknownst to anyone, an occult, under the name Nolan Malthone, arrives in Amity Park to seek revenge on the town.

Upstairs in his bedroom, his sister Jazz enters and has a talk with him about his retirement; their conversation ends with Danny saying that he did it because Amity Park can't keep relying on him to assist, claiming they might loose their independence if he continues. Jazz comforts her brother about his decision, yet tells him that one day, he will return, in which he defies. At his girlfriend Sam Manson's house, he, Sam and his best friend Tucker Foley are preparing to have a movie night. During so, Danny mentions his talk with Jazz about returning as Danny Phantom whereas Tucker respects his decision, although Sam agrees with Jazz's opinion as she worries about his choice and believes one day, she will die and he will not be around to save her. Danny promises to think about it.

As Sam goes out to get some popcorn. she forgot about buying, she inadvertently bumps into Malthone, who claims he is only "sightseeing". She mentions her conversation about her boyfriend's suggestion of returning to his crime-fighting duties, in which Malthone agrees with Danny's choice of living an ordinary life and that independence is important and moral for the citizens of her hometown; Sam scoffs at him siding with her boyfriend's choice before leaving. Malthone infiltrates Fenton Works to receive powers as Danny after coaxing Sam into telling him about he got them; entering the Ghost Portal, he receives the powers and moves on with his next goal: sack revenge on Amity Park. He later possesses Sam's body after struggling with walking with his newfound ghost powers.

The next day, Danielle a.k.a. Dani Phantom stops by to visit Danny and friends who later helps the group find Sam who had gone missing. They later find Sam in prison for a crime spree and bail her out, but find her out of her cell before they could. Fortunately, with the help of Danny and Dani's ghost senses, they find the Sam at City Hall, again possessed by Malthone, making an announcement to the public that every single person in Amity Park will pay for shunning him on his supernatural findings and calls them out on their hypocrisy upon the existence of Danny Phantom and other ghosts. Before he leaves, Malthone rises up to the top of City Hall and exits Sam's body before shoving her off as a warning to the civilians; Sam was fortunately saved by Danny, still in his human form, by catching her in his arms.

Curious about the discovery of Malthone, Jack and Maddie tell the group much about him; while having never met him in person, they had read about him in his novel that had shown little about his encounters or proof of ghosts, only backed up by theories and claims. With Malthone now a halfa, the Fentons create new Specter Deflectors in the form of ankle bracelets. Before Sam could put hers on, she gets possessed by Malthone again, who takes her down to the basement before having her claim to the others she forgot something. Suspicious, Danny and company go down to find Sam near the Ghost Portal which was opened, releasing a swarm of ghosts. Malthone, still possessing Sam, introduces himself to the group and warns them that vengeance is coming. Malthone escapes with the swarm after leaving Sam's body mid-air, dropping her down to the floor; she ends up falling on her legs, breaking her ankles.

With Malthone on the loose, Danny renounces his retirement and Team Phantom is re-banded; Sam, now wearing her ankle bracelet, stays behind while guiding the others via Fenton Phones. Malthone, meanwhile, had persuaded the swarm into being his army with a promise of giving them half of Amity Park to rule. Tucker, Jazz, Jack, Maddie, and Dani fight off the army while Danny fights Malthone until the latter subdues the former with his army. Danny surrenders and offers to give Malthone his powers in exchange to spare the town, in which he agrees on as he calls off his army. Returning to Fenton Works' laboratory with Malthone's ghost army accompanying him, it turns out to be a ruse as Sam uses the Ecto-Stoppo-Power-Erfier to revert Malthone back to his human form while the rest of the team sends the ghost army back to the Ghost Zone with the Fenton Bazooka. With Malthone later arrested for destruction on the town, Danny announces to the public that he has decided to come out of retirement for good.

In a mid-credit scene, Danny, Tucker, and Jazz head into the Ghost Zone to discover the rumored location called the Elsewhereness. In a post-credit scene, Vlad Masters a.k.a. Vlad Plasmius sulks in boredom before spotting an elder astronaut.

Cast

 * David Kaufman as Danny Fenton / Danny Phantom: The half-human/half-ghost protector of Amity Park who was once an outcast to his peers who had retired from his alter-ego. He is the leader of Team Phantom.
 * Jake Johnson as Nolan Malthone / The Destructor: An occult who was shunned by the society of Amity Park.
 * Grey Griffin as Sam Manson: A goth who is of Danny's best friends now girlfriend. She is the second-in-command of Team Phantom.
 * Rickey D'Shon Collins as Tucker Foley: Danny's tech-savvy best friend who is currently running for mayor. He is the third member of Team Phantom.
 * Colleen O'Shaughnessey as Jazz Fenton: Danny's older sister who was the third person to know about her brother's ghost powers. He is the fourth member and rookie of Team Phantom.
 * Rob Paulsen as Jack Fenton: Danny and Jazz's absent-minded father and once ghost-obsessed hunter.
 * Kath Soucie as Maddie Fenton: Danny and Jazz's sensible mother.
 * AnnaSophia Robb as Danielle Fenton / Dani Phantom Danny's younger, female clone who was the creation of Vlad Masters' who had later gone out to save the world outside of Amity Park. She was previously voiced by Krista Swan in the episode "D-Stabilized". Robb reprises her role as Dani for the first time since her debut episode "Kindred Spirits".

Additional cast members include Cree Summer as Valerie Gray, Jason Marsden (replacing S. Scott Bullock) as Dash Baxter, James Sie as Kwan, Tara Strong as Tiffany Snow and Star, Aimee Carrero as Paulina Sanchez, Ron Perlman as Mr. Lancer, Dee Bradley Baker as Lance Thunder, and Martin Mull as Vlad Masters / Vlad Plasmius.

Casting
Jason Lee was chosen to be the main antagonist Nolan Malthone before Jake Johnson was given the role. The original cast members of the series reprise their roles as their characters, while Jason Marsden replaces S. Scott Bullock as Dash Baxter.

Jack Fenton's father, named Harvard Fenton, was originally to appear in the film voiced by Michael Caine. Unfortunately, he was written out of the film.

Animation
Dallas-based animation studio Reel FX was tasked to animate the film.

Music
Tyler Bates, known for composing Guardians of the Galaxy and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, composed the film's score. Adam Berry, John Debney, David Newman and Michael Giacchino were previously chosen to compose the film. Guy Moon served as music supervisor. The show's theme song for the film was composed by Bates.

Release
Danny Phantom Returns had premiered in Los Angeles on June 9, 2026. The film opened in theaters in Dolby Cinema on June 19. It was accompanied by Toyed With, a short film based on the Rugrats franchise.

Home media
Danny Phantom Returns was released on digital on September 1, 2026, followed by its release on Blu-ray and DVD on September 29 by Paramount Home Entertainment. The Blu-ray release includes a follow-up short film titled Back in Black, which takes place a day before the film's mid-credits scene. It was later released on Ultra HD Blu-ray on April 3, 2029 in commemoration of Danny Phantom 's 25th anniversary; an exclusive featurette of the cast and crew discussing the series was included on the 4K release.

Box office
Danny Phantom Returns grossed $64.1 million in the United States and $107.6 million internationally, making $171.7 million in total.

Critical response
Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gives an 80% from 102 reviews from critics and an average rating of 7/10. The site's consensus reads, "With Nickelodeon Movies opening its series of computer-animated films, Danny Phantom Returns brings some new energy towards the series while staying true to its identity." Metacritic has the film with a score of 66 out of 100 based on 43 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". CinemaScore grades the film an "A" on its A+ to F scale.

Team Phantom
In April 2029, Paramount Television Studios and Nickelodeon Animation Studio released a follow-up series, Team Phantom, which picks up after the film's mid-credits scene and revolves around the titular team finding the Elsewhereness in the Ghost Zone. The series was teased through the tagline "Team Phantom will return" at the very end of the film. Kaufman, Griffin, D'Shon Collins, and O'Shaughnessey reprise their roles while Ian McShane stars as Sojourn.

Jazzed About Ghosts
Jazzed About Ghosts is a short film released alongside The Fairly Odd Movie on November 2, 2029, focused on Jazz catching a loose ghost around Amity Park. O'Shaughnessey reprises her role as Jazz.