Steven Universe: The Movie

Steven Universe: The Movie is a 2019 American animated musical film based on the animated television series Steven Universe created by Rebecca Sugar. The film is directed, co-written, produced and executive produced by Sugar and fellow longtime crew members Kat Morris and Joe Johnston. Steven Universe: The Movie takes place two years after the events of the season 5 finale "Change Your Mind", and follows the Crystal Gems as they attempt to save all organic life on Earth from a mysterious new Gem. The film is produced by Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios. It is the first Cartoon Network film since The Powerpuff Girls Movie. The film was released theatrically in movie theaters for the United States and Canada on February 22, 2019, by Warner Bros. Pictures. The film also premiered on Cartoon Network on September 2, 2019. This makes it the first and only theatrical Steven Universe film to hit the big screen, which lead up to the new series Steven Universe Future. In theaters, an Infinity Train short entitled Looped In Time was shown prior to the film.

The film stars Zach Callison, Estelle, Michaela Dietz, Deedee Magno Hall, and Sarah Stiles, alongside an ensemble cast reprising their roles from the television series. The film received positive reviews from critics and was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $404 million worldwide against a $45 million budget, making it the first Cartoon Network animated film to gross as high as $100 million in the United States, and also beating out The Jungle Book 's record for highest-grossing 2D-animated film of all time and making it the fifth highest-grossing animated film based on a television series, behind The Simpsons Movie, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water, Mr. Peabody and Sherman, and The Rugrats Movie.

The film was announced at San Diego Comic-Con 2018, and a short teaser trailer was later released on the Cartoon Network and Warner Bros. Pictures YouTube channels. At San Diego Comic-Con 2019, a trailer for the film was released, along with the announcement of a documentary based on the film's creation to be released along with the DVD.

The film takes place between Steven Universe and the upcoming Steven Universe Future.

Synopsis
Two years after the events of "Change Your Mind", Steven (now 16 years old) and his friends are ready to enjoy the rest of their lives peacefully. However, all of that changes when a new sinister Gem arrives, armed with a giant drill that saps the life force of all living things on Earth. In their biggest challenge ever, the Crystal Gems must work together to save all organic life on Earth within 48 hours.

Plot
After an introduction from the Diamonds ("The Tale of Steven"), Steven Universe (now 16 years old) greets the citizens of the reformed Gem Empire. The Diamonds want him to stay to fulfill his mother Pink Diamond's role as leader ("Let Us Adore You"), but he refuses. Back on Earth, Steven, Pearl, Garnet, and Amethyst celebrate their newfound "Happily Ever After". Almost immediately afterwards, a giant drill lands on the hillside of Beach City and Spinel, a deranged and cartoonish Gem, appears, announcing her intent to kill Steven and the rest of the Earth ("Other Friends"). Using a scythe-like weapon, she "poofs" Pearl, Garnet, and Amethyst back into their gem forms; her attacks also weaken Steven's Gem powers, though his body is unharmed. Steven manages to poof Spinel with the scythe.

Steven calls his father, Greg, for help. The Gems regenerate their bodies (including Ruby and Sapphire separately), but their memories have been erased; Pearl assumes that she is Greg's servant ("system/BOOT.pearl_final(3).Info"). With her memories gone, Spinel is a goofy and happy-go-lucky Gem whose function is to entertain her companion. Steven seeks advice from Peridot, Lapis Lazuli, and Bismuth; they encourage Steven not to give up ("Who We Are"). Spinel compares the situation to a puzzle, suggesting that they find the Gems' "missing pieces" to restore their memories, inspiring Steven to try to reenact Ruby and Sapphire's first fusion. Spinel's antics cause scaffolding to collapse, almost crushing Ruby; when Sapphire shoves her to safety, they fuse into Garnet ("Isn't It Love?"), but she still has no memory of her life.

After Steven recovers Amethyst's memory by reenacting experiences the two had together ("No Matter What"), Peridot discovers that Spinel's drill is injecting a toxic chemical that will kill all organic life on Earth. Steven's attempts to remove the injector only accelerate the poison's effects. In order to revive Pearl's memory, the group takes her to a Sadie Killer and the Suspects concert, in the hope their music will bring back her memories of rebellion ("Disobedient"), but Pearl insists that as long as Greg exists she will obey him. Steven uses what little energy he has left to fuse with Greg ("Independent Together"), which enables Pearl to recover her memory. She tells Steven that Spinel was once Pink Diamond's playmate; Spinel is suddenly overcome with sadness and flees.

After sending for Connie, Steven finds Spinel crying at his house. She takes Steven to a desolate garden in space and reveals her backstory: when Pink Diamond went to begin the Gem colonization of Earth, she told Spinel to wait for her in the garden; Spinel was left there alone for 6,000 years until she learned of Pink Diamond's fate ("Drift Away"). Steven tells her that he will never abandon her and that he will make up for his mother's mistakes ("Found").

Back in Beach City, Spinel turns off the injector, but when Steven begins shifting his attention back to everyone else, she accuses Steven of just using her and then abandoning her or planning to wipe her memory again. She turns the injector back on and attacks Steven. As he tries to explain the truth to her, Garnet recovers her memory. Steven sends the others out to rescue the humans of Beach City while he confronts Spinel ("True Kinda Love"). Steven finally realizes why his Gem powers have not yet returned: his desire for an unchanging "happily ever after" has left him resistant to the very notion of growth and change, which he needs to re-experience. Embracing this fact, he regains his powers and battles Spinel, trying to convince her that she can change as well ("Change"). Their fight destroys the injector, and Spinel relents after realizing how much she hates what she has become.

The Diamonds suddenly arrive, intending to live on Earth with Steven. He introduces Spinel to them and they take an immediate liking to her and her goofy personality ("Let Us Adore You (Reprise)"). The Diamonds accept her in place of Steven and she happily goes with them, now with people who will love her unconditionally. Steven and his friends gather to rebuild Beach City. Steven, Connie, Pearl, Garnet, Amethyst, and Greg perform a Broadway-style "Finale".

Cast
The film features the main and recurring characters of the series, and introduces the new characters Spinel and Steg.

Protagonists

 * Zach Callison as Steven Universe, a Gem-human hybrid member of the Crystal Gems and former member The Great Diamond Authority.
 * Michaela Dietz as Amethyst, one of the Crystal Gems.
 * Deedee Magno Hall as Pearl, one of the original members of the Crystal Gems.
 * Estelle Swaray as Garnet, a fusion who is the de facto leader of the Crystal Gems.

Antagonists

 * Sarah Stiles as Spinel, the former playmate of Pink Diamond, Steven's late mother. She is drawn in a "rubber-house" style of 1930s animation and originally had a childlike personality before becoming vengeful about Pink Diamond abandoning her.

Supporting

 * Uzo Aduba as Bismuth, one of the original members of the Crystal Gems.
 * Christine Ebersole as White Diamond, the leader of the Great Diamond Authority, who rules over the Gem race.
 * Lisa Hannigan as Blue Diamond, a member of the Great Diamond Authority.
 * Erica Luttrell as Sapphire, one of Garnet's components, a cool and collected precognitive Gem and spouse of Ruby.
 * Kate Micucci as Sadie Miller, a friend of Steven.
 * Ted Leo as Steg, the fusion of Steven and Greg Universe.
 * Patti LuPone as Yellow Diamond, a member of the Great Diamond Authority.
 * Aimee Mann as Opal, the fusion of Pearl and Amethyst.
 * Matthew Moy as Lars Barriga, a friend of Steven.
 * Toks Olagundoye as Nanefua Pizza, the mayor of Beach City.
 * Jennifer Paz as Lapis Lazuli, a member of the Crystal Gems who was formerly aligned with Homeworld.
 * Shelby Rabara as Peridot, a member of the Crystal Gems who was formerly aligned with Homeworld.
 * Grace Rolek as Connie Maheswaran, Steven's best friend.
 * Tom Scharpling as Greg Universe, Steven's father.
 * Charlyne Yi as Ruby, one of Garnet's components, a hotheaded soldier Gem and spouse of Sapphire.

Non-Speaking

 * Pink Diamond (flashback; non-speaking)
 * Rose Quartz (pictured/flashback; non-speaking)


 * Alexandrite (non-speaking)
 * The Off Colors
 * Fluorite (non-speaking)
 * Rhodonite (non-speaking)
 * Rutile Twins (non-speaking)
 * Padparadscha (non-speaking)


 * Citizens of Beach City
 * The Cool Kids (non-speaking)
 * Jenny Pizza
 * Sour Cream
 * Buck Dewey


 * Bill Dewey (non-speaking)
 * Harold Smiley (non-speaking)
 * Ronaldo Fryman (non-speaking)
 * Onion (non-speaking)
 * Vidalia (cameo; non-speaking)
 * Yellowtail (cameo; non-speaking)
 * Peedee Fryman (cameo; non-speaking)
 * Mr. Fryman (cameo; non-speaking)
 * Kiki Pizza (cameo; non-speaking)
 * Kofi Pizza (cameo; non-speaking)
 * Barbara Miller (cameo; non-speaking)
 * Jamie (cameo; non-speaking)
 * Cat Steven
 * Various Unknown Gems (non-speaking)
 * Unknown Quartzes


 * Various Uncorrupted Gems
 * Snowflake Obsidian (non-speaking)
 * Biggs Jasper (non-speaking)
 * Snow Monster (non-speaking)
 * Nephrites (non-speaking)
 * Quartz Monsters (non-speaking)
 * Heaven Beetle (non-speaking)
 * Earth Beetle (non-speaking)
 * Ice Monster (non-speaking)
 * An uncorrupted Watermelon Tourmaline, possibly a fusion (non-speaking)
 * An uncorrupted Worm Monster Gem (non-speaking)
 * Jasper (debut regeneration; pictured)
 * Nephrite (as the Centipeetle Mother; pictured)
 * "Doc" (pictured)
 * "Eyeball" (pictured)
 * Holly Blue Agate (pictured)
 * Aquamarine (pictured)
 * Topaz (pictured)
 * Carnelian (pictured)
 * "Skinny" Jasper (pictured)
 * Three "Famethyst" Amethysts, including 8XJ (pictured)
 * Peridots (non-speaking)
 * Topazes (non-speaking)
 * Another Heaven and Earth Beetles (non-speaking)
 * a blue Zircon and a yellow Zircon (non-speaking)

Locations

 * Gem Homeworld
 * Unknown City
 * Diamond Palaces
 * Diamond Ship Docking Bay
 * Pink Diamond's Palace
 * Diamond Throne Room
 * Trial Building (flashback)
 * Unknown City planet (debut)
 * Unidentified Beach planet (debut)
 * Solar System
 * Jupiter
 * Galilean moons
 * Io
 * Ganymede
 * Europa
 * Earth's moon
 * Earth
 * Beach City
 * Crystal Temple
 * Beach House
 * Steven's Room
 * Steven's Bathroom
 * Steven's Conservatory (debut)
 * Big Donut
 * The Lighthouse
 * Beach Citywalk Fries
 * Beach City Funland
 * Fish Stew Pizza
 * Onion's House
 * Funland Arcade
 * U-Stor
 * Abandoned Warehouse
 * Little Homeworld (debut)
 * Prime Kindergarten
 * Space Camp (mentioned)
 * Pink Diamond's Garden (debut)

Musical contributors
The movie will include collaborations with several outside musical artists in different kinds of genres, as well as regular contributors to the franchise: A new soundtrack is scheduled to be released both physically and digitally before the film.
 * Estelle (voice of Garnet)
 * Aimee Mann (voice of Opal)
 * Patti LuPone (voice of Yellow Diamond)
 * Uzo Aduba (voice of Bismuth)
 * Aivi & Surasshu
 * Jeff Liu
 * Mike Krol
 * Jeff Ball
 * Chance The Rapper
 * James Fauntleroy
 * Gallant
 * Grant Henry (Stemage)
 * Julian "Zorsy" Sanchez
 * Macie Stewart
 * Ted Leo (voice of Steg)

Rating
Steven Universe: The Movie is Rated PG for Parental Guidance.

Production
The film is a musical, with songs written by the series creator Rebecca Sugar featuring musical collaborations with Aivi & Surasshu, Chance The Rapper, Gallant, James Fauntleroy, Macie Stewart, Mike Krol, Grant Henry (Stemage), Jeff Liu, Jeff Ball, and Julian "Zorsy" Sanchez, as well as Estelle, Ted Leo, and Aimee Mann, who have voice roles. The film is executive produced by Rebecca Sugar. The co-executive producers are Chance The Rapper, Kat Morris, Joe Johnston, Alonso Ramirez Ramos and Ian Jones-Quartey. The film was directed by Rebecca Sugar, Kat Morris, and Joe Johnston. The story for the film was developed by Ben Levin, Hilary Florido, Ian Jones-Quartey, Jack Pendarvis, Joe Johnston, Kat Morris, Matt Burnett, and Rebecca Sugar.

Marketing
The film was announced at San Diego Comic-Con 2018, and a short teaser trailer was later released on the Cartoon Network and Warner Bros. Pictures YouTube channels, before being shown in front of Regular Show: The Movie II on December 7, 2018. A poster was released a week before San Diego Comic-Con 2019, revealing a glimpse of the film's antagonist and a visibly older Steven, setting the film two years after the events of "Change Your Mind".

At San Diego Comic-Con 2019, a trailer for the film was released, along with the announcement of a documentary based on the film's creation to be released along with the DVD, before being shown in front of Wabbit: A Looney Tunes Movie on February 1, 2019.

Adult Swim’s action oriented Toonami block aired a second trailer for the film during their August 24th broadcast, after the second trailer was shown in front of The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part on February 8, 2019.

Theatrical release
The movie first had an early screening at Ace Hotel Los Angeles on February 17, 2019 before it hit theaters worldwide. The film was then released theatrically in movie theaters for the United States and Canada on February 22, 2019, by Warner Bros. Pictures, on the same year as Cartoon Network's next film OK K.O.! Let's Save the Universe. The film was presented in a 1.85:1 format, rather than Warner Animation Group's standard 2.39:1 format on its previous titles. The film's theatrical release was preceded by Looped In Time, a short film based on Cartoon Network's forthcoming animated television series Infinity Train, created by former Regular Show writer/storyboard artist Owen Dennis.

Home media
The film was released on Digital on May 7 and Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K-Ultra HD on May 28, 2019, by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. It contains the Infinity Train short film Looped In Time, the documentary Behind the Curtain: The Making of Steven Universe The Movie, animatics with commentary and a sneak peek of OK K.O.! Let's Save the Universe.

Television premiere
The film also premiered on September 2, 2019 on Cartoon Network; the Every Steven Ever marathon aired leading up to the movie.

Viewership
Steven Universe: The Movie was seen by 1.57 million viewers on its theatrical release and original telecast, which was commercial-free. This made the movie the highest rated theatrical release of the series in over three years.

Music
The first single from the film's soundtrack, "True Kinda Love", performed by Estelle and Zach Callison, was released on January 11, 2019. The soundtrack will release on February 15, 2019, by WaterTower Music. The soundtrack peaked at number 57 on the US Billboard 200 chart, number 6 on the Independent Albums chart, and number 5 on the Soundtracks chart. Additionally, two songs from the soundtrack charted on the Billboard Kid Digital Songs chart. "Other Friends" and True Kinda Love" peaked at number 1 and number 8 respectively. The song "Happily Ever After" was later adapted into the title theme of the epilogue limited series Steven Universe Future.

Track listing
Track listing and credits adapted from Apple Music and Tidal. 

Box office
Steven Universe: The Movie has grossed $169 million in the United States and Canada, and $235 million in other territories, for a total worldwide gross of $404 million, against a production budget of $45 million.

In the United States and Canada, Steven Universe: The Movie was released alongside How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, and was initially projected to gross around $31 million from 4,210 theaters in its opening weekend, with a chance to go as high as $100 million. Therefore, Steven Universe: The Movie was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $404 million worldwide, making it the first Cartoon Network animated film to gross as high as $100 million in the United States, and also beating out The Jungle Book 's record for highest-grossing 2D-animated film of all time and making it the highest-ever grossing film based on an animated television series until the premiere of Chuck's Choice: The Movie in 2020.

Critical reception
Review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a 100% approval rating based on 25 critics, and its average rating is 8/10. The critical consensus reads, "Steven Universe: The Movie manages to debut on the big screen because it plays like an extended episode of Steven Universe and it has some heartwarming musical numbers, and amazing new characters, so it should please the audience and fans of the show. Because if Teen Titans Go! got its first movie on the big screen, then that means Steven Universe's movie should be on the big screen, too, instead of just airing on television." Metacritic, assigns the film a score of 90 out of 100, based on 40 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". CinemaScore gives the film an "A+" on its A+ to F scale.

Steven Universe: The Movie was universally acclaimed by critics prior to its theatrical release, with the music, animation and characters highlighted in particular. Speaking of its effectiveness as a stand-alone story in Forbes, Dani Di Placido described Steven Universe: The Movie as "both approachable to newcomers and deeply rewarding for longtime fans of the series". ComicBook.com's Rollin Bishop summarised that the film contains "amazing musical numbers with striking illustrations and breathtaking animation to outdo anything the franchise has attempted before", while Shamus Kelley commented on the strong emotional content of the film for Den of Geek, saying that "this is a movie that will stick with you long after it’s finished airing in theaters worldwide and on television. [...] Like the best entertainment, it holds up a mirror and lets you examine your life in a safe way".

Artbook
An artbook, The Art of Steven Universe: The Movie, published by Dark Horse, will be made by Ryan Sands and Rebecca Sugar and released alongside the premiere of the movie. It can be pre-ordered through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, DarkHorse.com, and at your local comic shop. This unique, 96-page zine-like softcover retails for $19.99.

Trivia

 * The movie is executive produced by Cartoon Network Studios and Rebecca Sugar. Co-executive producers include Kat Morris, Joe Johnston, Alonso Ramirez Ramos (known for storyboarding 14 episodes of the series Gravity Falls), and Ian Jones-Quartey.
 * Rebecca Sugar also serves as the film's director.
 * Former Crewniverse member Ian Jones-Quartey is also involved on the film's story.
 * Storyboard work on the movie took place between late 2017 and early 2018.
 * Christopher Pianka, otherwise known for The Owl House, is credited as a storyboard artist on the movie.


 * This is the first ever feature film of the series.
 * This is the first animated Steven Universe movie to hit theaters.
 * The film marks the sixteenth time a theatrical Cartoon Network film is produced by Warner Bros. Animation, instead of Warner Animation Group since the group's formation in 2013.
 * The movie is Rated PG.
 * This is Cartoon Network's sixth original program to get a theatrical release, after "The Powerpuff Girls Movie" released 17 years prior,   Star Wars: The Clone Wars  released 11 years prior,  Regular Show: The Movie  released 4 years prior,  The Lego Ninjago Movie" released 2 years prior and  Teen Titans Go! To the Movies '' released a year before.
 * Although, Teen Titans Go! and Ninjago are only aired by CN, and they’re made by Warner Bros.
 * The original cast reprised their roles in the movie.
 * This is the next theatrical 2D animated movie in 21 years after Quest for Camelot (1998), 20 years after The Iron Giant (1999) and 3 years after Tiny Toon Adventures: The Motion Picture (2016).
 * This marks as Warner Bros.' next 2D animated theatrical film. Warner Bros. had its original feature animation division, which produced 2D animated films.
 * This is the twenty-third Warner Bros. traditionally animated film to be released theatrically, after  Clifford's Really Big Movie   released 15 years prior.
 * This is the very first theatrical Warner Bros. film to rely solely on hand-drawn animation instead of Flash animation, or CGI animation.
 * This is Warner Animation Group's twenty-third traditionally animated film.
 * The film was originally considered to be released as a television film when storyboard work took place between late 2017 and early 2018. However, because executives at Warner Bros. Pictures liked it so much, and because of Steven Universe 's popularity, they redid the movie for cinemas.
 * The movie takes place after the events of the show's season 5 finale, "Change Your Mind".
 * This is the third CN original movie, after "Ed, Edd n Eddy's Big Picture Show", which aired on November 8th, 2009 and  Regular Show: The Movie , which was released theatrically in movie theaters on August 14, 2015.
 * Before the movie, a short film called "Looped In Time  based on Cartoon Network' s forthcoming animated television series Infinity Train'' was played.
 * This is Cartoon Network's second coming-of-age animated film to be released theatrically, after  Adventure Time: The Kingdom of Ooo   released a year before.
 * This was one of the successful films of 2019.
 * The film was in normal 3D, Real D 3D, IMAX 3D, Digital 3D, & XD 3D.
 * This is the second CN original movie to be released theatrically in movie theaters, after  Regular Show: The Movie  back in 2015.
 * This is the 2nd collaboration between Zach Callison, Estelle and Deedee Magno Hall. Their first was   The Amazing World of Gumball: The Movie   released a year before.
 * This is Kate Micucci 's second Warner Bros. animated film, after  The Lego Batman Movie''" released 2 years prior.
 * This is Zach Callison 's third animated film, after  Mr. Peabody & Sherman" released 5 years prior and   The Amazing World of Gumball: The Movie ''  released a year before.
 * This is Charlyne Yi 's second Warner Bros. animated film, after  The Lego Ninjago Movie''" released 2 years prior.
 * This is the twelfth Warner Bros. animated musical film, after Gay Purr-ee, Rover Dangerfield, Thumbelina, A Troll in Central Park, Quest for Camelot, The King and I, The Polar Express, Corpse Bride, Happy Feet and Happy Feet Two and Smallfoot.
 * This is the seventh Warner Bros. animated film to be released in February, after  Clifford's Really Big Movie  released 15 years prior,  The Lego Movie   released 5 years prior, "Tiny Toon Adventures: The Motion Picture" released 3 years prior,  The Lego Batman Movie" released 2 years prior and   Wabbit: A Looney Tunes Movie  and  The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part ''  both released this year.
 * This is Uzo Aduba 's second animated film, after  My Little Pony: The Movie   released 2 years prior.


 * It was animated by Sunmin Image Pictures Co. and Rough Draft Korea Co.
 * The title sequences were animated by Chromosphere Studio.
 * On December 13, 2018, new musical additions to the cast such as Chance The Rapper and Gallant were announced via Cartoon Network's Twitter.
 * The film was announced at San Diego Comic-Con 2018, and the first teaser trailer was released in front of Regular Show: The Movie II on December 7, 2018, after being released on the Cartoon Network and Warner Bros. Pictures YouTube channels on July 21, 2018.
 * The official trailer was released in front of Wabbit: A Looney Tunes Movie on February 1, 2019, after being shown on January 11, 2019 during the Steven Universe panel at San Diego Comic-Con.
 * The second and final trailer was released in front of The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part on February 8, 2019, before being aired by Adult Swim’s action oriented Toonami block during their August 24th broadcast.
 * This movie takes place May 21-22, as seen on Sadie Killer and the Suspects' poster.
 * Given Steven's birthday is August 15, Steven is 16 years, 9 months and 6 days old in the movie.


 * The mysterious treasure chest in Lion's mane has been opened during the two-year time-skip, although its contents are still unknown.
 * Lars only has one line in the whole movie.


 * At the end of the first airing of "Change Your Mind", the teaser trailer played revealing a part of the planned release date.
 * The brief glimpses of the Gems in the teaser shows them in their pre-regeneration outfits. This was most obvious with Garnet's visor being their original shape instead of the top of a star. This was likely done to avoid spoiling the Diamond Days arc's mass regeneration, though their appearances were not updated for the trailer shown after "Change Your Mind" first aired on Television.
 * A video by Cartoon Network (featuring sketches by Rebecca Sugar and interviews with Sugar and Zach Callison) confirmed that the movie would take place approximately two years after Season 5, with Steven receiving a new design first shown in the official poster. Steven, in his 16-year-old design, now wears a blue star shirt with a pink jacket, is taller, and has a visible neck.
 * Alongside some Peridots, Topazes, and other Gems, the two Zircons from "The Trial" — Zircon (Defense)and Zircon (Prosecuting) — are seen in the crowd that receives Steven's message.
 * Ted Leo (who voices Steg) sings with Aimee Mann, the voice of Opal in "Independent Together." They are both co-members of their musical duo called The Both.
 * This is the first time Opal is shown voluntarily un-fusing rather than falling apart or poofing.
 * This is the first time a Gem that initially has intentions on killing Steven recognizes him as his own person rather than Rose or Pink.
 * The film has a general theme of "stories", interspersed throughout the songs, dialogue, and plot:
 * The opening number of "The Tale of Steven" features a storybook of the show's history and plot (also a reference to the old openings of classic Disney movies; see below).
 * The arc words "once upon a time" and "happily ever after" are featured— phrases often respectively used at the beginning and end of fairytales.
 * During "Other Friends", Spinel says that she's "heard the story over and over again" and "[doesn't] like how it ends".
 * In "Drift Away", she mentions discovering Pink Diamond's fate— learning "about how the story ends".
 * Steven exclaims that the challenges he's facing are essentially "the story of [his] life".


 * In a rare moment for the series, blood is shown in the movie when Steven's arm is hit by acid and when he gets a nosebleed after Spinel punches him in the face. These are the only times in the movie this happens.
 * When Steven and Spinel are searching for Amethyst, Onion appears in every shot of the four different places shown.
 * In Spinel's original/reset form, her three eyelashes are above her eyes. In her current form, these lines (now thicker) are below her eyes. In addition to referencing her upside-down gemstone, they also now resemble running mascara from crying.
 * While in her reset form, when Spinel angrily exclaims "No!", her eyelashes briefly switch to being below her eyes (as they are in her current form).


 * The outfits worn by Steven, Garnet, Amethyst, Pearl, and Connie in "Finale" resemble the outfits worn by them in a 2016 San Diego Comic-Con poster.
 * The film currently holds a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
 * Pearl's "customization feature" that appears before she reforms is in the shape of an oyster. Pearls in real life are made from oysters.
 * As Spinel waits for Pink Diamond in the flashback, forget-me-not flowers can be seen in the background, symbolizing the hope she had for her to eventually return.
 * Additionally, before Pink leaves her in the garden, red spider lilies can be seen in the background. Some legends say that when you see someone that you may never meet again, these flowers bloom along the path.
 * A cut scene from the film, as revealed by Amish Kumar's storyboards included Vidalia and Steven in her art studio, finding her shapeshifted into a bucket, to her distraught.
 * Additionally, there is a cut tap dance sequence while Steven and Amethyst are on the train during "No Matter What."

Continuity

 * Several objects referencing past episodes are shown in Steven's new room. These include:
 * the Moon Goddess Statue (from "Cheeseburger Backpack"),
 * a roll of duct tape (referencing "House Guest")
 * Greg and Rose's photo, with the new frame from "Maximum Capacity",
 * Greg's album Space Train to the Cosmos (from "Story for Steven"),
 * an Explorer Gal toy (from "Onion Friend"),
 * Steven's "World's Best Stephen" mug (from "Catch and Release"),
 * a mug of pine needle tea (which Steven first drinks in "Gem Hunt"),
 * Vidalia's painting of Garnet and Steven (from "Pool Hopping"),
 * and what seems to be a Lonely Blade poster (for a film entitled Lonely).
 * In the living room, more objects referencing past episodes are seen, including:
 * the remains/hilt of Rose's Sword (which was broken in "Reunited"), seen on one of Steven's shelves,
 * a T-shirt cannon and sunglasses used by Steven in "Shirt Club",
 * a baseball (referencing "Hit the Diamond"),
 * a box containing Conquerors of Eldermore (one of the games mentioned in "The Test"),
 * a box of a game called "A Game" which was occasionally shown on the shelves of the old Beach house
 * an umbrella which resembles the umbrella occasionally shown hanging in the old Beach House (possibly the same umbrella),
 * Rose's painting which previously hung above the front door of the old Beach House,
 * Nephrite's drawing from "Monster Reunion",
 * a mug saying "I ❤️ E C" ("I Love Empire City"), similar to the one seen on Sardonyx's desk in "Know Your Fusion",
 * and an image of the Barn before it was destroyed in "Reunited".
 * As Nanefua Pizza is still mayor (after the events of "Dewey Wins"), Bill Dewey is shown to still be an employee of the Big Donut (after the events of "Letters to Lars").
 * Lars is seen baking a purple Ube roll, a Filipino yam dessert first shown in "The Good Lars".
 * Bismuth's new Forge features the old sword from the previous Forge first seen in "Bismuth".
 * Peridot is once again seen watching Camp Pining Hearts (which she first watched in "Log Date 7 15 2").
 * Various past forms of the Gems (or past forms yet unseen) are seen when reforming (or in stylized flashbacks, in Pearl's case):
 * Amethyst's feet-hand/big-ear form, Pearl-like form, and half-muscular form can be seen as she is transforming into her regular self after "No Matter What".
 * Garnet is shown in silhouette of various past forms/regenerations not seen before.
 * During Pearl's stylized flashback scene before her regeneration, she takes the form of her design created for the Pilot. This is mostly noticeable due to her hair having the pointed front, which is unique to the original pilot design.
 * Peridot being worried that she would "lose all her character development" after touching the Gem Rejuvenator refers to the events of her adjustment on Earth during "Catch and Release" to "Message Received" and onward.
 * The way Steven and Amethyst cheat at skee-ball by sitting atop the machine and dropping the balls in is a nod to when Amethyst did the same in "Arcade Mania".
 * The train route which was shown previously in "On the Run" and "Back to the Kindergarten" is once again used to travel to the Prime Kindergarten— this time by Amethyst, Steven and Spinel.
 * Greg's storage unit first shown in "Maximum Capacity" reappears and seems to have remained tidy after having being cleaned out 3 years prior.
 * Steven and Greg agree to let Amethyst shapeshift into Rose in a further attempt to revive Pearl's memories, despite their obvious discomfort over it. This is a nod back to when Amethyst used the form to torment Greg in "Maximum Capacity".
 * Yellow Diamond confirms that she's now liberated her colonies and dismantled her armies, and Blue Diamond confirms that she hasn't shattered anyone recently.
 * Peridot, Bismuth, and Lapis all recalling how long it took them to stop trying to kill Steven refer to previous episodes;
 * Peridot saying it was a few months, referring to the events from "Friend Ship" up to "Catch and Release".
 * Bismuth saying it took about a day and a half, referring to the events of "Bismuth" to her return in "Made of Honor".
 * Lapis jokingly saying she's still on the fence, making subtle references to "Ocean Gem".

Cultural References

 * During the opening credits, the Earth and the Sun are pictured in a similar way as in the intro for nature documentary Planet Earth.
 * Spinel's mannerism and behavior is akin to rubber hose animation, an early style of animation originating in the United States during the 1920s and 1930s. Its name is derived from the rubber-like features prominent in cartoon characters from the era, which included arms, and sometimes legs, that are able to stretch and flow without any apparent articulation (no hinged wrists or joints).
 * Additionally, Spinel speaks in a dialect associated with that era, using expressions such as "gee" and "swell".


 * Spinel's hair is similar to Mickey Mouse's ears; regardless of which direction she faces, her two hair tufts always stay at the same place along the outline of her head.
 * In addition to her elasticity, Spinel pulling out a giant fist to punch Steven is a reference to Monkey D. Luffy's gum-gum attack from the anime One Piece.
 * Spinel's squeaky footsteps, in addition to referencing the bounciness of "rubberhose" animation, may be a reference to SpongeBob SquarePants.
 * The musical opening of the film "The Tale of Steven" is a reference to the old openings in classic Disney Animated films like "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (1937), "Cinderella" (1950), and "Sleeping Beauty" (1959).
 * A picture of Connie dressed similarly to Lana from Future Boy Conan can be seen in Steven's room in the background. Rebecca and Ian have mentioned being big fans of the show.
 * The posters advertising the Sadie Killer and the Suspects gig outside the warehouse features a design similar to that of the flag commonly associated with libertarian socialism, a political philosophy rooted in anti-authoritarianism and criticism of capitalism and wage labor relationships within the workplace, themes that are often explored in songs performed by Sadie.
 * At the concert, Buck Dewey is wearing an outfit reminiscent of the musician Prince.
 * During "Other Friends", Spinel swings onto a building in a Spider-Man-like pose.

Errors

 * When Spinel activates the Gem Injector, the star on Pearl's jacket is missing.
 * When Spinel is walking on the roof of the lighthouse during "Other Friends", an inbetween frame is missing the moment she starts walking.
 * During the scene when Steven said, "No idea", to Greg, the star on his shirt is missing.
 * The tools Peridot throws out from her garbage bin disappear in the next scene.
 * When Spinel "tags" Amethyst, in one frame her gem is missing its facet.
 * Steg's second right arm disappeared for a second several times.
 * When Garnet looks to her right with crossed arms in "True Kinda Love", the rings switch colors.
 * During the live broadcast, Spinel is seen facing the communicator with the vines clinging onto her legs. But during the scene where Spinel explains her backstory, she is seen facing sideways from where Steven's message was being broadcasted, which then makes her turn to her left to watch the live announcement.
 * Although Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl were running towards Spinel before she was about to attack them with the Gem Rejuvenator, they appeared to be facing the opposite direction when being sliced. However, this was probably done on purpose for a dramatic effect.
 * During the song "Change", Spinel enlarges her right hand and punches Steven with it, but after landing her punch, her enlarged hand was changed into her left hand.
 * Amethyst's gem facet changes direction for a few minutes after she reformed.
 * When Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl run towards Spinel, Spinel's legs (which should be wrapped around the injector) are missing.
 * Right when Steven poofs Spinel with the Rejuvenator, as Spinel's gemstone falls, it is a right side up heart, opposite to her new form during "Other Friends" where it is upside down..
 * When Spinel says,"Just can it, won't ya?!" her gem wasn't upside down.