Intended as a television pilot for The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2002). But, when Paramount's executives were shown very early footage, and early design plans for it, they were so impressed by it, that they decided to fund it for theatrical release.
The creators described Jimmy Neutron as "one-third Bart Simpson, one-third Albert Einstein, and one-third Jim Carrey."
The first movie produced by Nickelodeon Movies to receive an Academy Award nomination.
The character name Sheen Estevez comes from Martin Sheen, whose birth name is Ramon Estevez, as well as his children, Emilio Estevez, Charlie Sheen (Carlos Estevez), Ramon Estevez, and Renée Estevez.
To promote the movie, a series of shorts were created about Jimmy's daily life, that aired months in advance on Nickelodeon. Goddard's "play dead" routine in the film is even inspired from one short where Jimmy and Cindy are competing over whose pet is better.