Good Burger 2 Release Date, Plot, Trailer, Cast And More Details
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It's been nearly 30 years since "Good Burger" made its way to theaters and rocked the comedy world, becoming an instant genre classic. While a direct sequel didn't immediately materialize, fans received "Good Burger 2 Go" in 1999, a children's book that serves as a continuation of the original film.
Of course, that wasn't enough for diehard fans — we wanted a proper follow-up. And now, an actual movie sequel to "Good Burger" is on its way. "Good Burger 2" is just sitting on the counter under a warming lamp until it's time for it to be delivered to hungry customers via the miracle of online streaming.
In the meantime, you probably have a few questions about "Good Burger 2," some of which can be answered below. If you're among the millions of "Good Burger" fanatics out there eager for the belated follow-up, read on. And if you're not, perhaps you would prefer the fare available at Mondo Burger across the street.
When will Good Burger 2 be released?
Kenan and Kel fans have long waited to hear those magical words one more time. You know the ones we're talking about: "Welcome to Good Burger, home of the Good Burger. Can I take your order?" The original "Good Burger" film was released as a summer event in July 1997 and, as a result, made over $23 million at the box office. It wasn't exactly a surprise, though; Ed and Dexter were fan favorites on Nickelodeon's sketch comedy series "All That," which prompted the children's entertainment studio to try for the big time.
Unlike its predecessor, the eagerly anticipated sequel is coming to Paramount+ in the fall rather than the summer, with a release date of November 22, 2023. Now, November 22 is a pretty huge day for cinema — "Good Burger 2" finds itself among some very prestigious company: Ridley Scott's "Napoleon," Bradley Cooper's "Maestro," and Disney's "Wish" all hit theaters on that same day. Of course, if you're not in the mood for dramatic biopics, animated adventures, or — you know — going to the theater, staying home and streaming "Good Burger 2" sounds like a pretty great evening to us.
What is the plot of Good Burger 2?
If you're curious about where these characters could possibly go following the perfection of the original movie, the official logline gives a small hint of what's to come: "The movie follows Dexter Reed [Kenan Thompson] and original cashier Ed [Kel Mitchell] as they reunite in the present day at fast-food restaurant Good Burger with a hilarious new group of employees."
An earlier Paramount press release from March 2023 went into a little more detail, saying, "Dexter Reed is down on his luck after another one of his inventions fails. Ed welcomes Dex back to Good Burger with open arms and gives him his old job back. With a new crew working at Good Burger, Dex devises a plan to get back on his feet but unfortunately puts the fate of Good Burger at risk once again."
The official "Good Burger 2" trailer also shows that Ed and Dexter are going to find themselves fired — along with the entire staff — as part of a plan by the evil corporate executive who runs Good Burger's parent company. Her ultimate plan is to open outlets around the world that are staffed entirely by robots. With this delightfully fun premise, we're hoping the movie will serve up plenty of goofy comedy, a dose of '90s nostalgia, and perhaps a few heartstring tugs, in much the same way that Good Burger's fresh buns deliver beef patties, lettuce, tomatoes, and special sauce into the mouths of customers.
Who is starring in Good Burger 2?
From a fan's perspective, the most important thing to know about "Good Burger 2" is that stars Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell return to their signature roles of Dexter Reed and Ed, respectively. It's impossible to imagine any piece of entertainment carrying the "Good Burger" brand without these two actors, as they've been playing these characters going all the way back to "All That." But they will be joined by an ensemble of new and returning faces.
Lil Rel Howery will play Cecil McNevin, described in a Paramount press release as "a lawyer for the corporation MegaCorp." Jillian Bell will play the role of MegaCorp CEO Katt Boswell. Kamaia Fairburn is "Mia, a cool and confident teen who works at Good Burger to help her mother when she can." And perhaps most intriguingly of all, Alex R. Hibbert is said to be playing "Ed2, a mini-me version of his dad, Ed, and Good Burger's newest trainee."
As the whole "Good Burger" cinematic universe originated as a recurring sketch on Nickelodeon's "All That" in the 1990s, cast members of that show will reunite with Thompson and Mitchell in "Good Burger 2." Josh Server and Lori Beth Denberg will reprise their roles as Fizz and Connie Muldoon, respectively. Perhaps most significantly, Carmen Electra — in her first role in five years — is also returning to play her character from the original "Good Burger." Producers lined up a slew of celebrity cameos and brief appearances by notable personalities too. "Today" weatherman Al Roker, comic and "Nailed It!" host Nicole Byer, comedian Flula Borg, and NFL star Rob Gronkowski all pop up in "Good Burger 2."
Who is directing Good Burger 2?
It takes more than a bun and some beef to make a hamburger, and it takes more than just a cast and celebrity cameos to produce "Good Burger 2." Just because Kenan and Kel got back together doesn't mean that the rest of the O.G. crew is lining up for seconds. Brian Robbins — later known for directing Disney's "The Shaggy Dog" remake and the Eddie Murphy comedy "Norbit" — didn't return to helm this picture. Sitting in the director's chair for the second installment is Phil Traill, who has worked prolifically in film and television over the years. This is Traill's first feature film since 2011's "Chalet Girl," though he's helmed a few made-for-TV productions in the meantime. But what may be the most impressive part of his resume is that he has directed episodes of a ton of well-regarded comedy TV series, such as "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," "Black-ish," "Modern Family," "Fresh Off the Boat," and more. With some luck, that TV comedy sensibility will serve "Good Burger 2" well.
Who is writing and producing Good Burger 2?
Here's another piece of good news for "Good Burger" fans hoping to see "Good Burger 2" replicate some of that spectacular '90s magic. Kevin Kopelow and Heath Seifert, who wrote the original "Good Burger" as well as material on "All That," have penned the script, with additional material from James III ("All That," "Tyler Perry's Young Dylan"). Kopelow and Seifert are also serving as executive producers on the project. Of course, the biggest hole in the "Good Burger" sandwich is Dan Schneider, the mastermind behind Nickelodeon shows "Drake & Josh," "iCarly," "Victorious," and others dating back to the "All That" and "The Amanda Show" days. But after allegations of misconduct were made public in 2018, Schneider was dropped by his long-running network and the producer went on a multi-year hiatus.
With that in mind, it's understandable why someone like Schneider wouldn't be invited back to the party. Thankfully, Kopelow and Seifert are here to keep the good times and good food going strong.
Is there a trailer for Good Burger 2?
In August 2023, Paramount unveiled a 30-second teaser trailer for "Good Burger 2," consisting of Dexter Reed nearly being "car-burgered to death" by Ed and characters delivering the famous "welcome to Good Burger" spiel. While it wasn't very long, it was more than enough to get "Good Burger" fans hyped for the upcoming comedy.
On October 30, 2023, Paramount released the first official, full-length trailer for "Good Burger 2." Jumping off from (and reiterating) Ed's teaser highlight line — "The new adventures of Ed and Dex start now" — the trailer delves into the plot of the film in greater detail, showing the trigger for the friends' extended reunion is that Dex needs a job. Ed gets him rehired at his old gig, as he's still working at Good Burger and engaging in slapstick mayhem.
Meanwhile, the CEO of owner MegaCorp wants to replace all Good Burger employees with robots, including ones built in Ed's image. It's now up to Ed and Dex, best friends forever, to quell this threat to their livelihood.
What will Good Burger 2 be rated?
Back in 1997, the original "Good Burger" was given a PG rating due to a few coarse words and some sexual innuendos. Given the PG rating of the original, it shouldn't come as a shock that "Good Burger 2" won't get a hard R. Instead, since the movie is coming to streaming instead of theaters, the movie has been labeled with a TV-PG, which means you can probably expect the same kind of content the first film offers. Perhaps a few jokes might be a tad edgier to account for the older "Good Burger" audience, but don't expect anything shocking. Not unlike how "iCarly" transitioned from a Nickelodeon sitcom to a Paramount+ revival, the basic content will likely be the same, albeit with a slightly more mature theme or two.
Where to watch the original Good Burger
While we're waiting for Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell to reprise their iconic fast food roles, it might be a good idea to revisit the original comedy classic. Sure, it might be a bit dated now — it did come out nearly 30 years ago if you can believe that — but the wild adventures of the teenage Ed and Dexter are just as memorable as ever. If you want to relive the magic of the first film — or place your order for the very first time — 1997's "Good Burger" is available to stream on Paramount+ as well as PlutoTV. If renting is more your speed and you can't find the nearest Blockbuster, sites such as Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and Vudu also have the first "Good Burger."
Where was Good Burger 2 filmed?
As most Hollywood productions do — and especially if they're affiliated with Nickelodeon — the original "Good Burger" was filmed exclusively in California, with West Covina being the primary shooting location for the comedy feature. The restaurant used as a stand-in for Good Burger, "Peter's El Loco," has been used in other productions over the years, including the series "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend." But although the first film was shot entirely in Sunny California, the sequel opted to switch coasts. Don't let that fool you, we're pretty sure Ed and Dexter still reside in Los Angeles.
"Good Burger 2" was filmed in Rhode Island. Taking over a former Friendly's restaurant in North Providence, the "Good Burger 2" crew re-created the magical burger joint complete with the same tiled walls. Kenan Thompson even surprised the Newport Police with donuts in May 2023 while in town filming. Though it's certainly weird that "Good Burger 2" would shoot on the East Coast instead of the West, it all makes sense when you consider that longtime "Saturday Night Live" staple Thompson has his home base in New York.
From what we see in the trailer, it's entirely believable that both films take place in the same town, even if they were shot on opposite sides of the country.
Why did it take so long for Good Burger 2 to happen?
According to Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell, ever since the first movie came out, they've been wanting to do a sequel, but nothing ever got off the ground. For years these two have teased a "Good Burger 2," with Mitchell going on record in 2018 that the movie was in the works. But still, we waited.
"You know, we've been talking about it," Mitchell told TODAY in 2021. "Kenan and I, we're all about it, but we're letting them work it out contractually and all that stuff like that. But yeah, me and Kenan, we're down." No doubt, prompting from his youngest son — who he says wanted to see his dad do another "Good Burger" — helped speed the process along, and a Kenan and Kel reunion at the 2022 Emmys gave fans further hope. "The sequel's coming at you," Thompson said on camera (via Entertainment Weekly).
It wasn't until March 2023 that Kenan and Kel made the official announcement that "Good Burger 2" was indeed happening on The Tonight Show, crediting the fans for making it happen.
Good Burger 2 will be a little different than the first movie
If you're expecting the same old "Good Burger" the second time around, then prepare yourself for a new order. According to Kenan Thompson, "Good Burger 2" is going to be a completely different thing, though fans of the original should still find something to write home about. "We want to make a funny quirky little movie, but everybody's much, much older now. And we're going to have to get past how different everybody looks because it's been 25 years," Thompson told TODAY in April 2023, right before filming began. "But then, if we're able to enjoy the story along with that, hopefully, we'll have balance."
Despite Thompson's claims, it's hard to believe that "Good Burger 2" will be "completely different" from the original. After all, many of the same familiar jokes return in the film's trailer, with plenty of new material likely to follow. It doesn't help that the plot almost seems like a carbon copy of the original, with Mondo Burger swapped out for Mega Burger and the automation from the first one replaced by a life-like Ed-looking android.
But although Dexter Reed has seemingly grown in the past 26 years, Ed (whose last name will hopefully be revealed this time around) seems like practically the same guy from where we left him in the original.
A Good Burger animated series was once up for order
Back in the day, original "Good Burger" director Brian Robbins – who now doubles as the CEO and president of Nickelodeon and a chief content officer at Paramount+ — hoped to continue the story of Dexter and Ed into the world of animation. Given Nickelodeon's excellent track record with previous animated shows it seems like "Good Burger" might be a good fit for the network. "Kenan and Kel and I would really like to make an animated 'Good Burger,'" Robbins revealed on X (formerly Twitter) in 2021.
"I do have knowledge about that," Kel Mitchell told Business Insider in December 2022. "[Robbins] called me up and was like, 'Hey, let's do an animation with 'Good Burger,” and I believe Chance [the Rapper] was part of that too." Mitchell explained that the project ultimately went on hold when "Good Burger 2" came into the picture, but that doesn't mean the animated continuation is dead in the fryer. If "Good Burger 2" does well, it could wind up sparking some more burger-centered material for Nickelodeon to pursue. And no, we're not hoping for a "Mr. Meaty" revival.
The Tonight Show's Good Burger reunion whet appetites for Good Burger 2
Did you know that there was a live-action "Good Burger" reunion long before "Good Burger 2" came out? In case you forgot the hilarious skit that premiered back in the day on "The Tonight Show," Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell made their way to Jimmy Fallon's corner of late-night TV for a special surprise. What acted as a precursor to "Good Burger 2" — and the "All That" revival — was this "Welcome to Good Burger" sketch.
Playing Ed once more, Mitchell does his regular routine with Fallon acting as his wingman. All things are normal as Ed handles customers with his specific charm before a "hangry" construction worker named Lester Oakes, who looks awfully like Ed's pal Dexter Reed, shows up demanding a burger. Though Thompson doesn't return as Dexter here, it's fun seeing Kenan and Kel on opposite sides of the counter, and this skit made waves across the Internet. And when the comedic duo officially announced "Good Burger 2," they returned to The Tonight Show to do it.
Al Roker got to drive the Burgermobile
One of the most notable pieces of "Good Burger" memorabilia is the Burgermobile itself. In "Good Burger 2," there's a new Burgermobile, and this one rides in style. To promote the upcoming streaming feature, the legendary TODAY host known best for his longtime coverage of the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Al Roker was given the chance to drive the movie car with all its trademark toppings. Visiting the set of "Good Burger 2," Roker was caught on camera singing the "We're All Dudes" song as he drove around the parking lot.
"A hot dog headrest, I can relish that," Roker remarked from behind the wheel. Since Roker visited the set during production, he was granted a surprise cameo himself. While we don't know when Roker will show up on screen, we anxiously await whatever "Good Burger 2" throws at us. "It was this relaxed, fun place, everybody was enjoying it," Roker remarked about the experience, reminding audiences to catch "Good Burger 2" when it hits streamers.
The original Burgermobile was eventually sold off and sent to be restored by its new owner, who just so happens to be the co-owner of his own burger joint, the Hi-Pointe Drive-In in St. Louis, Missouri. Today, the original Burgermobile can be seen parked outside Hi-Pointe, which you can gaze at while munching on a good burger.
Good Burger 2 Go: The original sequel
Back in the day, there was a "Good Burger 2" before "Good Burger 2" was even ordered. The children's book, "Good Burger 2 Go," was meant to continue the story of Ed and Dexter into 1998 where they find themselves on a zany new adventure. Apparently, the story came from Dan Schneider himself based on a rejected script for a sequel. This time around, our heroes discover that Good Burger has been selling Ed's secret sauce without a license, and to get it registered, Ed is needed for a taste test.
The problem though is that Ed wanders off to Paris in an effort to give a customer 18 cents in change. With Dexter on his trail, Ed finds his way to the other side of the world. Thankfully, his best burger buddy is there to help get him out of trouble. Despite being the first Nickelodeon book sequel to a feature film, the 160-page "Good Burger 2 Go" wasn't exactly a trailblazer. So, we don't know whether Ed and Dexter's international adventure is a part of "Good Burger" canon.