Recess: School's Out (2001)

As the jubilant sun sets on the final day of the school year at Third Street Elementary, the air buzzes with the electrifying promise of summer freedom. For six intrepid friends - TJ Detweiler, Vince LaSalle, Ashley Spinelli, Gretchen Grundler, Mikey Blumberg, and Gus Griswald - the end of fourth grade should herald an exciting break from the classroom. But the thrill of summer quickly loses its shine for TJ when his closest compatriots set off for summer camp, leaving him to face the long, hot days alone. One fateful day, a mysterious emerald glow radiating from the school's auditorium lures TJ's attention. This eerie illumination is the handiwork of the nefarious ex-principal of Third Street, Phillium Benedict - a man with an unholy alliance of ninjas and secret service doppelgängers at his disposal. Armed with a Tractor Beam stolen from a US Military Base, Benedict is hatching a diabolical plan to obliterate summer vacation forever, aiming to skyrocket US test scores by keeping children in school all year round. In the face of this chilling threat, TJ rallies his camp-bound friends back to the battlefront. Together, they wage a war against the clock and the cruel Dr. Benedict, who is not only hell-bent on eradicating summer but also seeks to harness his laser beam's power to manipulate the weather, plunge the nation into a perpetual winter, and create a ceaseless school year. In this thrilling adventure, the fate of summer and the joyful freedom it represents hang in the balance. It falls to TJ, his loyal friends, the other students, and a band of unlikely allies - Principal Prickly, Ms. Finster, and the other teachers - to save not only their vacations but also those of children across the globe. Will they dismantle Benedict's laser and thaw his icy plot, or will the world succumb to an endless winter and the relentless toll of the school bell?

Recess: School's Out is an animation movie featuring Andrew Lawrence and directed by Chuck Sheetz.

Recess: School's Out is currently streaming on Disney Plus.

It is also possible to buy Recess: School's Out on AMC on Demand, Amazon Video, Apple TV, DIRECTV, Google Play Movies, Microsoft Store, Vudu and YouTube.