THE LEGO NINJAGO MOVIE Trailer

Yeah, there’s another Lego movie on the horizon, and with ninjas and dragons being added to the colorful, boisterous world, I doubt anyone’s too upset about the expanding universe.

The mile a minute gags that typify this series keeps audiences happy, but its strongest weapon is its irreverent streak. A prime example of this is the perfectly timed addition of Taylor Swift’s Bad Blood to this trailer’s father-son setup. The Lego Ninjago Movie knows that its presenting one of the oldest conflicts in the book, and instead of letting it build to Shakespearean levels, it quickly undercuts the drama with a poppy bit of on the nose lyricism. A father and son are going to face off, but its way more fun to dwell on the Lego shark and dragon bashing into each other.

Finding the balance between a satisfying story and silly self-awareness is something the series has down pat, and its clearly not abandoning that winning formula. With no existing characters being held over from The Lego Movie, a whole new raft of cleverly cast voice actors get to join the fun. Dave Franco and Justin Theroux face off as Lloyd and Garmadon, and Jackie Chan stars as a ninja master (obviously).

With two well-received films under The Lego Movie banner, it’s easy to forget just how wrong these films can go. No one expected the original to be as good as it was, and while it will always be easy for the series to stumble on its inherent product placement, it’s earned the respect and anticipation that comes to the best crowd pleasers.

The Lego Ninjago Movie is directed by Charlie Bean and stars Dave Franco, Jackie Chan, and Olivia Munn. It will be released in the U.S. on September 21st, 2017 and in the U.K. on October 13th, 2017. For international release dates, click here.

Do you think The Lego Ninjago Movie will continue the series’ hot streak? Let us know in the comments!