The Simpsons Movie Release Date and Theatrical Run
The Simpsons Movie premiered on July 21, 2007, at the Fox Village Theatre in Westwood, California, before its wide theatrical release on July 27, 2007, in the United States. The film was distributed by 20th Century Fox and produced by Gracie Films and Film Roman, with a runtime of 87 minutes and a PG-13 rating from the MPAA. It opened in 3,923 domestic theaters and earned $74 million in its opening weekend, debuting at number one at the U.S. box office. The worldwide theatrical run concluded with a global gross of $536.4 million against a production budget of $75 million. You can check the official box office totals on Box Office Mojo.
The release strategy included a limited IMAX engagement in select markets, and the film was accompanied by a marketing campaign involving Fox Broadcasting, Fox Searchlight Pictures, and numerous licensed consumer products. International release dates varied, with most territories opening between late July and early September 2007. The theatrical window closed in early 2008 for most markets, after which the film moved to home video and television syndication. The home video release on DVD and Blu-ray launched on December 3, 2007, in North America, and it quickly became a top seller on physical media charts.
Production, Creative Team, and Franchise Context
Development of The Simpsons Movie began in 2001, with Matt Groening, James L. Brooks, Matt Selman, and Al Jean serving as producers. The screenplay was written by a team including Matt Groening, James L. Brooks, Matt Selman, Al Jean, George Meyer, Mike Reiss, David Mirkin, Mike Scully, and Ian Maxtone-Graham. The film was directed by David Silverman, and the score was composed by Hans Zimmer. The voice cast includes Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, and Harry Shearer, reprising their roles from the television series. Production took place at Film Roman in Burbank, California, with additional animation handled by Rough Draft Studios in South Korea.
The Simpsons Movie was the first feature-length film based on the animated series The Simpsons, which premiered as shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show in 1987 and launched as a standalone series on Fox on December 17, 1989. The franchise includes 36 seasons of television, multiple streaming series, and a long-running brand extension across merchandise, video games, and themed attractions. The show is produced by 20th Television Animation and Gracie Films, and it remains one of the longest-running scripted television series in history. You can find the series production details on the Fox Broadcasting official site.
Streaming Availability and Current Distribution
The Simpsons Movie is currently available for streaming on Disney+, following the consolidation of Fox content under the Disney platform after the acquisition of 21st Century Fox assets by The Walt Disney Company. The film is also available for digital purchase and rental on major platforms including Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, and Vudu, and it remains in circulation on DVD and Blu-ray through 20th Century Studios Home Entertainment. Availability may vary by region, and some territories still see periodic theatrical re-releases or special event screenings. You can verify current streaming access on the Disney+ official site.
For viewers interested in the broader Simpsons library, the series itself streams on Disney+ in many markets, and select episodes and related content are available on Hulu in the United States. The film is frequently cited in industry analyses of animated features and franchise monetization, and it ranks among the highest-grossing animated films based on a television series. You can explore related