sonic the hedgehog 3 movie review

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Sonic the Hedgehog

After discovering a small, blue, fast hedgehog, a small-town police officer must help him defeat an evil genius who wants to do experiments on him. After discovering a small, blue, fast hedgehog, a small-town police officer must help him defeat an evil genius who wants to do experiments on him. After discovering a small, blue, fast hedgehog, a small-town police officer must help him defeat an evil genius who wants to do experiments on him.

• Jeff Fowler
• Josh Miller
• Ben Schwartz
• James Marsden
• 1.4K User reviews
• 273 Critic reviews
• 47 Metascore
• 3 wins & 12 nominations

• Dr. Robotnik

• Agent Stone

• Major Bennington

• Vice Chairman Walters

• (as Melody Niemann)

• Roadhouse Waitress

• Roadhouse Thug

• Secretary of Homeland Security

• Navy Chief of Staff

• Air Force Chief of Staff

• Army Chief of Staff

• Businessman
• Yuji Naka (uncredited)
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Jim Carrey Brings His 'Sonic the Hedgehog' Role to Life

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Did you know

• Trivia Jim Carrey remarked during his press promotion for the film that "very little of the dialogue from the pages of the script ended up in the movie". He also was given a lot of creative freedom for his non-verbal scenes, receiving basic instructions like "Here's the room and this is the music, just do something to go with it".
• Goofs When Sonic and Robotnik arrive in Egypt near the Giza pyramids, there's nothing but desert visible in all directions. The pyramids and the Sphinx are actually surrounded by roads, numerous other monuments, and city on three sides. There's a Pizza Hut less than 1000 feet from the Sphinx itself.

Sonic the Hedgehog : Where am I? What year is it? Is the Rock president?

• Crazy credits SPOILER: There is a scene in the closing credits: Tails the fox, Sonic's ally, arrives on Earth.
• Connections Featured in AniMat's Crazy Cartoon Cast: The Oscars' Best Popular Film (2018)
• Soundtracks Friends Written by Ian Tsuchiura (as Ian Masa Tsuchiura) & Kevin Villecco Performed by Hyper Potions Courtesy of GameChops

User reviews 1.4K

• educunhaholanda
• Feb 11, 2020
• How long is Sonic the Hedgehog? Powered by Alexa
• What will be the age rating for this movie?
• Will there be comedy?
• Will Sonic look more like his Film Style Guide 2D design?
• February 14, 2020 (United States)
• United States
• Official Facebook
• Official Site
• Ladysmith, British Columbia, Canada
• Paramount Pictures
• Sega Sammy Group
• Original Film
• See more company credits at IMDbPro
• $85,000,000 (estimated)
• $148,974,665
• $58,018,348
• Feb 16, 2020
• $319,715,683

Technical specs

• Runtime 1 hour 39 minutes
• Dolby Digital
• Dolby Atmos
• Dolby Surround 7.1
• D-Cinema 96kHz 7.1
• 12-Track Digital Sound

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Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is the third installment of the Sonic movies.

Knuckles Showrunner Teases More Spinoffs to Come from the Sonic Franchise

Knuckles showrunner Toby Ascher says they 'have a really good plan for the future of Sonic.'

Knuckles Series Knocks Out Sonic with Franchise Best Rotten Tomatoes Debut

The first reviews for the Idris Elba-led Knuckles series suggest the show might be the strongest entry in the growing Sonic franchise,.

Idris Elba Hypes Sonic the Hedgehog 3 as the 'One For All the Real Die-Hard Fans'

Sonic the Hedgehog 3's Idris Elba says real fans are in for a treat.

Sonic 3 and Keanu Reeves' Shadow the Hedgehog, Explained

Who is Sonic's new foe, Shadow the Hedgehog, and how could Sonic 3 best utilize him?

2-Year-Old Viral Video Predicted Keanu Reeves' Casting as Shadow in Sonic the Hedgehog 3

One social media user managed to predict Keanu Reeves' surprise casting as Shadow years ago.

Keanu Reeves Joins Sonic the Hedgehog 3 as Iconic Character

Keanu Reeves is about to lend his voice to the newest movie in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, joining the all-star cast for the December release.

Jim Carrey's Game Accurate Robotnik Confirmed for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 in CinemaCon Footage Description

Jim Carrey will be back for a third round of Sonic the Hedgehog action, as CinemaCon footage reveals his latest Eggman form.

Jim Carrey Will Return as Dr. Robotnik in Sonic 3

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will feature the return of Jim Carrey as the mustachioed villain, Dr. Robotnik.

Sonic 3 & Knuckles Spinoff Get Promising Update From Star: 'You Are Going to Be Extremely Happy'

The Sonic the Hedgehog franchise will expand with Sonic 3 and the Knuckles spinoff series, and Tika Sumpter has offered an update.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Teases the Debut of Shadow, Confirms December Release Date

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 keeps December release date and teases the arrival of Shadow.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 to Start Filming in London in August

Starring Ben Schwartz as everyone's favorite blue hedgehog, the threequel will race into theaters December of next year.

Sonic 3 Star Addresses Hopes for Jim Carrey’s Return

Jim Carrey is yet to announce whether he will return for Sonic 3, but Ben Schwartz would love to see it happen.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3: 10 Actors Who Should Play Shadow

It’s gonna take guts for someone to step into the red shoes of Shadow the Hedgehog. Here are 10 actors who could pull it off in the Sonic 3 movie.

The Smurfs Musical Movie Bumped to 2025 By Sonic the Hedgehog 3

The Smurfs were expected to make their big screen return in December 2024, but the movie has now been replaced with Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Speeds Into Theaters in December 2024

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has gotten an official release date set for the 2024 holiday season.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Writers Reveal the Video Game Inspiration Behind Upcoming Sequel

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is now in development, and is expected to focus on that mid-credits reveal.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Director Teases Knuckles Spinoff & Sonic 3

Jeff Fowler has been discussing ideas for both the Knuckles spinoff series and Sonic the Hedgehog 3...

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Officially a Go, Knuckles Spinoff Series Also in the Works

We're getting a whole lot more of Sonic the Hedgehog and pals with a third film in development alongside a Knuckles series at Paramount+.

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Sonic the hedgehog, common sense media reviewers.

Carrey lights up video game movie; peril, some drinking.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Intended to entertain rather than educate.

Messages about the value of friendship: It's how w

Deputy Tom Wachowski is the reliable rock of Green

Cartoonish fantasy violence includes drones that s

Language is more rude than profane -- words includ

Pop culture references fly; some mentions of brand

Sonic and Tom go into a bar where Tom drinks what

Parents need to know that Sonic the Hedgehog is a kid-targeted action/adventure movie starring the iconic Sega video game character. The famous blue hedgehog is also an alien with special powers that put him in danger in his world. While he's being pursued, his mama bird is shot with an arrow (she seems OK)…

Educational Value

Positive messages.

Messages about the value of friendship: It's how we survive. Treat others like you'd like to be treated.

Positive Role Models

Deputy Tom Wachowski is the reliable rock of Green Hills but feels he could be of greater value in a big city -- he wants to help people facing life-or-death situations. His wife, Maddie, is the town veterinarian and has a big, kind, understanding heart. Their relationship is depicted as aspirational, supportive, loving and offers positive representation. Dr. Robotnik is a cartoonishly evil villain.

Violence & Scariness

Cartoonish fantasy violence includes drones that shoot lasers, bullets, and some type of explosive device. Punches are thrown both as a means of escape for main characters (they brag about it) and as a means of aggression for rough bikers. Two people fall off a building but are saved. A tranquilizer gun is used.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Language is more rude than profane -- words include "butt," "fart," "hell," and "freak." A couple of times, a profane expression is started, but the strongest word gets cut off/out (e.g., "son of a ..." and "what the ... ").

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Pop culture references fly; some mentions of brands like Mello Yello and Amazon feel like they're meant as easy jokes; others feel more like product placement. Recurring joke about Olive Garden involves characters saying the restaurant's catchphrase, mentioning a promotional dish, talking about how much they love it. A Toyota Tacoma is also shown in a light that seems like it could be advertising. Other brands mentioned/seen include Volvo, Invisalign. And, of course, the film serves as a long commercial for Sonic video games.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Sonic and Tom go into a bar where Tom drinks what appears to be beer; he drives soon after (without incident).

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Sonic the Hedgehog is a kid-targeted action/adventure movie starring the iconic Sega video game character. The famous blue hedgehog is also an alien with special powers that put him in danger in his world. While he's being pursued, his mama bird is shot with an arrow (she seems OK). For Sonic's safety, she pushes him through a portal to Earth with a warning that he must hide and stay on the run. Sonic never feels abandoned, but he is lonely. And the movie's messages, such as they are, revolve around the importance of companionship. Language is mostly mild ("hell"); it's more jokes about "butts" and "farts" than any actual swearing. One scene may raise eyebrows: Sonic and human hero Tom ( James Marsden ) stop at a roadside bar/restaurant where they get into a brawl (mostly punches), and Tom is seen drinking a beer and driving soon afterward, without incident. In general, the movie's violence is cartoonishly explosive, like an unrealistic video game: It's mostly drones shooting fireballs, lasers, and bullets. There are some moments of peril, but the audience is never in doubt that everyone will be OK -- even hysterically evil villain Dr. Robotnik ( Jim Carrey ). To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Community Reviews

• Parents say (45)
• Kids say (162)

Based on 45 parent reviews

Use of God's name in vain.

This is great, what's the story.

In SONIC THE HEDGEHOG, iconic Sega video game character Sonic (voiced by Ben Schwartz ) is on the run in rural Montana from Dr. Ivo Robotnik ( Jim Carrey -- how you've been missed!). Robotnik wants to steal Sonic's supersonic speed powers to take over the world. With the help of local cop Tom "Donut Lord" Wachowski ( James Marsden , who interacts with a CGI figure with ease and charm), Sonic takes off to evade his captor. Naturally, he gets into plenty of mischief along the way.

Is It Any Good?

Watching Carrey is an absolute delight; his comedic genius exudes more wattage than Sonic's moments of heated emotion -- and Sonic's outbursts cause power outages. Why did it take Hollywood so long to make Carrey a handlebar-mustachioed villain? His Dr. Robotnik is reminiscent of the over-the-top silly characters he famously created in movies like The Mask, Dumb and Dumber , and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective . Carrey's performance helps take Sonic the Hedgehog to levels of laughing you never expected. The best moment of all is when Robotnik does his Dance of Anarchy. Please, sir, may I have some more?

But as great as Carrey is, this is the story of Sonic, an animated alien hedgehog who's sent to Earth alone for his own safety. He's warned that if anyone sees him, they'll try to capture him for his special powers. So he settles in Green Hills, Montana, and watches those in the small town from the shadows with a wistfulness. Really, Sonic is like a little kid: He loves fart jokes, he can't keep quiet, he's (literally) bouncing off the walls, and he just wants a friend. It's a theme every kid can appreciate. Even if they don't relate to being alone, they can relate to being bored. As Tom, Marsden is a perfect companion to Sonic, popping off "dad jokes" and expressing his love for Olive Garden (the latter screams "product placement," but at least it's funny). The duo's evolving dynamic -- buddies, but really best friends, but really guardian and child, but really father and son -- make Sonic the Hedgehog a laugh-until-you-turn-blue fun film for the family to enjoy together.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about loneliness. Have you ever felt left out? Has anyone ever told you that you made them feel left out? Why is inclusion so important?

Dr. Robotnik says he was bullied as a child. Do you think he's now a bully ? What should you do if you're being bullied or see someone else being bullied?

Talk about how drinking is portrayed in the movie. Is it glamorized? Are there consequences? Why does that matter?

Did you recognize product placement in the movie? If so, did you find yourself thinking about that item or brand? What's the impact of advertising on kids?

Movie Details

• In theaters : February 14, 2020
• On DVD or streaming : May 19, 2020
• Cast : Jim Carrey , James Marsden , Adam Pally , Ben Schwartz
• Director : Jeff Fowler
• Studio : Paramount Pictures
• Genre : Family and Kids
• Topics : Adventures , Space and Aliens
• Run time : 100 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG
• MPAA explanation : action, some violence, rude humor and brief mild language.
• Last updated : July 16, 2023

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

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'Sonic The Hedgehog' Moves at a Safe, Family-Friendly Speed | Review

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Jim Carrey Descends Into Frightening Paranoia in This Ambitious Thriller

Roger ebert called this iconic actor the soul of the film noir genre, 'hit man' leaves out the darkest parts of the real-life story that inspired it.

If you're still looking for the first great film adaptation of a video game, I regret to inform you that Sonic the Hedgehog is not it. While the title character certainly looks far better than his horrifying first iteration, the overall film fits neatly into a safe buddy, road-trip comedy that kids can enjoy with a recognizable video game mascot being silly. While some video game properties have started to lean into their weirdness like Pokemon: Detective Pikachu and The Angry Birds Movie , Jeff Fowler 's adaptation works to be as palatable as possible, and on that level, it works. There's nothing offensively bad or outlandish about Sonic , but it's a movie that rarely takes any chances either, and you're left wondering what was so captivating about this character in the first place.

Sonic the Hedgehog (voiced by Ben Schwartz ) comes from a dimension that heavily resembles his popular 1991 video game, but when masked bad guys come after him because of his super speed ability, he uses his magic rings to jump to a new world. Ten years later, he's been hiding out on Earth, specifically in Green Hills, Montana. When Sonic accidentally causes an energy surge from his speed, he gets on the radar of the government and the nefarious Dr. Robotnik ( Jim Carrey ). Sonic goes to the home of a local cop, Tom ( James Marsden ), but accidentally opens a portal that causes his rings to land on top of a building in San Francisco. Sonic and Tom must make their way from Green Hills to San Francisco while avoiding Robotnik and his powerful drone technology.

The opening minutes of Sonic are the most promising when the Paramount logo is surrounded by rings, the music plays a variation on the Green Hill Zone from the games, and we're taken into the checker-box, loop-de-loop world of Sonic's home. And then less than five minutes in, the film abandons that world to take us to Small Town, USA. Understandably, there are budget limitations and the budget went into Sonic (and probably cost more when he had to be redesigned to be cuddly instead of grotesque). But moving the action to our world makes Sonic less interesting. The character becomes more mundane and trapped by our conveniences (He likes comic books! He has a beanbag chair!) rather than the weirdness of his video game where woodland creatures are trapped in robots and power-ups are stashed in computer monitors.

To be fair, translating a 90s platformer to a feature-length film is exceptionally tough, and no studio wants to repeat the mistakes of the Super Mario Bros. movie. But Sonic the Hedgehog swings too far in the other director so that it's major accomplishment is adequacy. Sonic is funny and cute. His arc is that being on the run has made him lonely, so his friendship with Tom is important. They're a mismatched pair who learn to care for each other. And as far as PG family films go, that's good enough. The kids at my screening were very much on board, and parents should feel comfortable watching this picture with their little ones.

For me, the biggest highlight of Sonic the Hedgehog comes not from the nostalgia I have for the Sonic games, but the nostalgia I have for Jim Carrey. When I was a pre-teen, Carrey was my hero. I loved the way he would throw his entire face and body into a delightfully immature performance. We eventually learned that Carrey had acting range, but he spent most of the 2010s eschewing his typically broad performance to varying levels of success. Carrey seemed to consciously desire credibility as an actor, which meant moving away from hamming it up. The thing is—Carrey's really good at hamming it up! I'm sure for him it's not much of a challenge, and perhaps he even finds it unrewarding, but my biggest laughs in this movie came from Carrey doing his thing. It may not have been particularly new or revolutionary for him, but it was oddly comforting, especially when he hadn't approached a character in this way since 2013's The Incredible Burt Wonderstone . I'm not saying I only want this Carrey performance from now on, but it works to chew the scenery as the villain in a movie where the hero is a cartoon.

Sadly, the rest of Sonic the Hedgehog doesn't share the manic energy that Sonic and Robotnik bring to the picture. They're off in something that's sillier and goofier, but the overall movie demands that they play by the beats of a standard buddy picture/road trip comedy. That formula is fine for what it is, and it gets the job done here, but I wish the filmmakers had taken a bigger, more imaginative swing than settling for just using the Sonic IP, stuffing him into a one-size-fits-all narrative, and calling it a day.

• Entertainment

Everything We Know About Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (So Far)

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• Keanu Reeves voices Shadow, Sonic's rival with immortality and Chaos Control, in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 .
• The third movie will focus on Shadow as a morally gray antagonist, inspired by the video game Sonic Adventures 2.
• The cast includes Idris Elba as Knuckles, Ben Schwartz as Sonic, and Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik.

After two successful installments and television shows, Sonic the Hedgehog is returning with a third film this year. The franchise, based on Sega's games, follows an anthropomorphic blue hedgehog with superhero powers. Inspired by Felix the Cat, Mickey Mouse, Michael Jackson and Santa Claus, the blue hedgehog is set on a world-saving mission while exploring themes like friendship, family and the complications of his superpowers.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has been in progress along with other side projects and spin-offs from the franchise due to demand and popularity. Despite some initial setbacks, the film has been on schedule for its production, preparing for the scheduled release in December of 2024. Here's everything we know about Sonic the Hedgehog 3 so far.

Keanu Reeves Will Voice Shadow the Hedgehog

How Knuckles Sets Up Sonic the Hedgehog 3

The Knuckles TV series lays down major threads that will influence how the heroes shape their alliance for the third Sonic the Hedgehog movie.

John Wick's leading man Keanu Reeves has been confirmed as a cast member in the upcoming movie . The news of his involvement came out on April 15, 2024. He plays Shadow, a black hedgehog, who's essentially a dark version of Sonic. Shadow is an antihero in the games and is often positioned as a rival to Sonic. He matches Sonic in speed and skill and possesses the abilities of immortality and Chaos Control. Executive producer Toby Ascher talked about the introduction of Shadow in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 :

"We got really excited about the idea of expanding our characters in our world into television, especially, because it gives us a platform to really do character studies... We knew that, with Shadow coming into Sonic 3 and some of the bigger things that we want to do, the Sonic franchise on the movie side is going to be these Avengers -level events."

Interestingly, many fans believe that the casting of Reeves had been planned all along based on the Sonic the Hedgehog 2 poster from 2021 that featured a Matrix-style image with a red quill and a blue quill, along with the text "the choice is yours." When the Sonic Movie account shared the poster on X , they teasingly captioned it, "Which one do you think Keanu would pick?" Though in retrospect the poster seems to have foretold the casting choice, it's more of a happy coincidence since the release of the poster coincided with The Matrix Resurrections release date. The poster was simply referring to the new film being released as part of their marketing plan. In reality, the franchise didn't have plans to involve Keanu Reeves until later.

What Is Sonic the Hedgehog 3 About?

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Set Photos Confirm Major Video Game Character's Debut

The upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will include a major character from the video games, set photos reveal.

The plot of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is currently under wraps. However, according to screenwriters Pat Casey and Josh Miller, the third Sonic movie has taken great inspiration from the video games Sonic Adventures 2 and Shadow the Hedgehog . This means the movie will heavily focus on Keanu Reeves' morally gray antagonist who is motivated by rage and revenge as he is positioned opposite Sonic and his friends.

Shortly after the announcement of Keanu Reeves' involvement in Sonic 3 , Knuckles' actor Idris Elba teased fans about what's coming despite saying that he can "tease nothing." "I can tell you that it's super exciting," he told Collider . "I can tell you that it really does get deeper into the universe of Sonic." Based on what he knew, the actor also thought that the third installment would really hit home for those who have been a long-time fan for Sonic games. "I think 3's probably the one for all the real die-hard Sonic fans," said the actor. According to Elba, there will be plenty of Easter eggs to uncover .

Though the plot of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is still a mystery, Sonic Adventure 2 offers some potential insights into the plot. In the game, Eggman revives his grandfather's creation and uses Shadow for his vicious plans and revenge on Sonic. Because of the similarities Shadow and Sonic share, Shadow initially frames Sonic for the crimes he commits. Unlike Sonic, Shadow doesn't do well with his "super" state. Despite their differences and being on opposite sides, Shadow eventually sides with Sonic.

Paramount Plans to Release Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Teaser Trailer "Very Soon"

Why Sonic Origins Fans Are Upset About Sonic the Hedgehog 3's Soundtrack

Sonic Origins has had its fair share of controversies, with the latest being the inferior quality of the music in Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

Aside from the logo reveal teaser in early February 2024, no official footage from the film has been released yet — in short, the trailers are not here yet. However, according to The Direct, Paramount might have accidentally leaked the release time for the trailers. Paramount Mexico's official TikTok account posted a comment reply (deleted shortly afterward), commenting that the trailer is coming "very soon," weeks after CinemaCon 2024.

During the event, Paramount also offered an extensive look into the upcoming film. According to The Direct, Dr. Robotnik is seen with his new alliance, Shadow. Sonic is also enjoying a blissful time with his friends. The film will see their friendship deepening. Paramount also teased a battle between the villain and Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles before a thrilling Sonic vs. Shadow fight in the New York City sky.

Who is Returning in Sonic the Hedgehog 3?

Will Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Finally Do the Games Justice?

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will likely take direct inspiration from Sonic Adventure 2. But can the movie do the game justice?

Director Jeff Fowler continues to helm the third installment in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. The fan-favorite Ben Schwartz will reprise his voice role as Sonic the Hedgehog . Colleen O'Shaughnessey returns as Miles "Tails" Prower, and Idras Elba returns as Knuckles the Enchidna , who is also getting a separate spin-off. Jim Carrey is back as Dr. Robotnik , despite the fact that there had been some uncertainty and doubts about his return. The actor has been vocal about his desire to retire from the franchise. However, with Carrey's Dr. Robotnik very present in the footage shown at CinemaCon, fans can rest assured that the doctor will return.

Additionally, James Marsden and Tika Sumpter will return as Tom and Maddie Wachowski. Lee Majdoub will also play Agent Stone again. Joining the cast is Jessica Jones ' actor Krysten Ritter, who is set to play a mystery role in the upcoming movie. Fans have suspected that Ritter will play Rouge the Bat . However, there has been no official announcement as to who she'll be in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 . Newcomers such as Sofia Pernas, Christopher Fernandez and Jorma Taccone will also be introduced in the upcoming movie.

Recent set photos shared by Alyla Browne on her social accounts confirmed that she'll be debuting as a major character in the movie. Though the actor has covered herself carefully not to reveal her appearance, the name on her chair on set revealed that she will be playing the cousin of Dr. Eggman, Maria Robotnik, who suffers from a terminal illness that pushed Robotnik into the direction of creating Shadow. In the games, Robotnik becomes friends with Shadow.

What Is the Release Date for Sonic the Hedgehog 3?

How Archie’s Sonic The Hedgehog Comic Gave A Classic Hero A Weird Problematic Characterization

Archie Comics' Sonic franchise is still beloved by fans but it made a huge misstep when it tried to 'fix' Charmy Bee's continuity with brain damage.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is scheduled to hit theaters on Dec. 20, 2024 . Based on recent production updates, it seems that the film will make it to its release date on time despite experiencing temporary setbacks and delays. The production was temporarily delayed due to the SAG-AFTRA strike last year. However, during that time, the studio went ahead to resume filming the scenes for the animated characters first, which helped the production move along more quickly. The film officially wrapped its production in March. Director Fowler posted the good news on X , along with a behind-the-scenes photo of Sonic 3 's clapperboard.

Where Did Sonic 2 Leave Off?

Sonic 2 ends with Sonic knocking Dr. Robotnik off of a giant robot head, leaving his whereabouts unknown. Sonic, after going Super Sonic, was able to find his way to his normal self again. The end of the film sees the forming of Team Sonic, unlikely outcasts finding friendship and a sense of belonging in each other while on a mission to protect Earth and the Master Emerald from evil people. Knuckles was able to restore the stone to its original form. As opposed to being alone in the world, Sonic finally accepts Tom and Maddie as his adopted parents. He and Tail became best friends and brothers and forge a friendship with Knuckles.

As for Dr. Robotnik, the mid-credits scene reveals that Eggman might still be alive, since his body was never found. The official Sonic the Hedgehog X account has also dropped hints about Dr. Robotnik's survival. They posted a video captioned, "You all thought I was gone, but I've just been underground. What you've seen from me is only a #shadow of things to come..." The villain is returning in Sonic 3 along with a helper , pumped to strike back again with an Avenger-level threat. However, how things will turn out is an entirely different story. The only thing fans can count on is that fights will be ugly, but goodness always prevails.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Double the Trouble: Sonic isn't the only speedy star this time around! His trusty sidekick, Tails, joins the action with thrilling tag-team maneuvers and adorable antics.

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Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (film)

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 [13] is an upcoming live action film based on the Sonic the Hedgehog series and the sequel to the 2022 film Sonic the Hedgehog 2 . It will be the third entry in the Sonic the Hedgehog film series produced by Paramount Pictures , and is set to be released in December 2024.

The film draws inspiration from the video game Sonic Adventure 2 , and follows Team Sonic as they face the return and latest plan of Dr. Robotnik , all while a mysterious adversary emerges. [14]

• 1.1 Voice cast
• 1.2 Live-action cast
• 1.3 Undisclosed roles
• 7 References

• Ben Schwartz as Sonic the Hedgehog [15]
• Colleen O'Shaughnessey as Miles "Tails" Prower [15]
• Idris Elba as Knuckles the Echidna [15]
• Keanu Reeves as Shadow the Hedgehog [16]

Live-action cast

• Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik [1]
• James Marsden as Tom Wachowski [15]
• Tika Sumpter as Maddie Wachowski [15]
• Lee Majdoub as Agent Stone [15]
• Tom Butler as Commander Walters [15]
• Alyla Browne as Maria Robotnik [15] [17]
• Richard Sutar as a police constable [18]
• Robert Clarkson as a 1970s US soldier [19]
• Guy Robbins as a police officer
• Tunde Salami as a G.U.N. soldier

Undisclosed roles

• Krysten Ritter [15]
• James Wolk [15]
• Sofia Pernas [15]
• Cristo Fernández [15]
• Jorma Taccone [15]
• Thomas Reed [20]
• Maggie Leung
• Bella Bayar
• Anastasios Michalis

Development

In an invite to Kellen's Petty Talk Show released on 5 April 2021, Patrick Casey and Josh Miller expressed interest in making a third Sonic movie already, going as far as to mention that there was an Eggman scene cut from Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for the sake of flow that they would want to re-add to the third movie. [21]

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 was announced on 15 February 2022 at the ViacomCBS Investors Connect day, two months before the release of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 . [13] [22]

On 13 May 2022, writers Pat Casey and Josh Miller made guest appearances at a Comic book convention hosted by Klamath Community College , where they answered questions from fans about the movies they had written for and been involved in. On the topic of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 , Casey and Miller were asked on what plotlines they were interested in adapting into it, and they expressed interest in potentially drawing inspiration from Sonic Adventure 2 and Shadow the Hedgehog . In response to a question on Shadow the Hedgehog 's planned voice actor for the film, Casey and Miller would state that they intended to have a big movie star voice Shadow, and had a specific person planned for the role, although they had not heard back from him in regards to his acceptance of the role. In response to whenever Amy would be in the film, Casey and Miller said that her inclusion "was in the works". Another question asked whether " Live and Learn " could potentially be used in the climax of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 , to which Casey and Miller replied that there was a "decent chance" of such a thing, adding that the producers were aware of fan support for Crush 40 to be featured in the film, and that the band's involvement had been discussed. In response to a question on Jim Carrey 's involvement in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 , Casey and Miller replied that the movie was currently still in its "blue sky" phase of development, where they were considering all the possible ways the movie could be, while trying to find how it should be, and that Carrey's involvement was currently unknown. Lastly, in response to a question on the release date of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 , they stated they were expecting for it to be released in roughly two years. [23]

On 8 August 2022, the film was officially slated for release on 20 December 2024. [2]

On 8 April 2023, Ben Schwartz revealed that his hope of all hopes was Jim Carrey to return as Dr. Eggman in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 . [24]

On 25 May 2023, Pat Casey confirmed that the writing for the film had been finished at some point prior to the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike , an event which started on May 2, 2023. [25]

On 8 August 2023, it was stated that several scenes from the movie which don't involve physical actors, due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike , would be filmed starting from September 2023. [26]

On 29 November 2023, a picture revealing Shadow the Hedgehog's legs and shoes were released to the internet, alongside with a clipboard that showed the new and then-current logo of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 .

On 2 February 2024, the logo of the movie was revealed by Paramount Pictures on YouTube. Additionally, it was revealed that Jim Carrey will reprise his role as Dr. Robotnik. [1] Furthermore, Krysten Ritter , Alyla Browne , James Wolk , Sofia Pernas , Cristo Fernández and Jorma Taccone were also revealed to appear in the film, along with a few reprising actors; Ben Schwartz , Colleen O'Shaughnessey , Idris Elba , James Marsden , Tika Sumpter , Lee Majdoub and Tom Butler . [15] Johnny Gioeli , lead singer of Crush 40 , has teased a bit about the band's involvement within the movie. [27] It was later revealed by him on 4 February that Paramount Pictures has secured the legal rights to use " Live and Learn " in the movie. [28]

On 16 February 2024, Alyla Browne revealed on her Instagram that she would be portraying Maria Robotnik , many fans had speculated this prior to the announcement. [17]

On 21 February 2024, Ben Schwartz posted a selfie of him with script on Twitter stating that he begun recording his lines. [29]

On 14 March 2024, James Marsden confirmed in an interview with The Playlist that the filming for the movie had been finished shortly prior. [30] On March 29, Jeff Fowler on Twitter officially confirmed that the filming for the movie had been finished. [31]

On 11 April 2024, a short trailer for the movie was shown behind closed doors at the annual CinemaCon presentation. [32]

On 15 April 2024, It was reported that Keanu Reeves would be voicing Shadow the Hedgehog in the movie, many fans had speculated this prior to the announcement. [33]

On 17 April 2024, Idris Elba revealed in an interview with the site Collider that he can tease nothing absolutely nothing and that the film would have Easter eggs "for all of the die-hard fans". [34] Additionally, he said that Jim Carrey's an incredible actor. [35] On 3 May 2024, it was reported that Ben Schwartz finished recording his lines. [36]

On 10 May 2024, Paramount Movies on YouTube uploaded a scene of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 , and replied to many fans comments about the trailer for Sonic 3 coming out. [37]

On 24 May 2024, a poster was shown with Sonic , Tails , Knuckles , and Shadow at a Toy Con . [38]

The first teaser for the film was given a short cinematic remix of " Live and Learn ", the main theme of Sonic Adventure 2 , by Crush 40 . [39]

• The announcement for the movie was likely a pun on Sonic 3 & Knuckles , as it was announced along with a spin-off series later titled Knuckles . The Paramount+ Facebook page even responded with a comment about this reference. [40]
• The US release date for this movie, 20 December, is also the same date that Sonic Adventure 2: Battle was released on in Japan, in 2001. It is unknown if this is simply a coincidence, or an intentional choice due to the movie drawing elements from said game.
• The movie's logo is based on the one from Sonic Adventure 2 .
• Dr. Robotnik 's chuckle from the title treatment reveal was taken from Sonic the Hedgehog 2 when he faces with Sonic in the Wachowskis' house.
• Title Treatment Reveal

• Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (disambiguation)
• ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Lang, Brent (2 February 2024). Jim Carrey Returning for 'Sonic the Hedgehog 3' (EXCLUSIVE) . Variety . Retrieved on 2 February 2024.
• ↑ 2.0 2.1 Sonic the Hedgehog (@SonicMovie) on Twitter . Twitter (8 August 2022). Retrieved on 8 August 2022. " Sonic the Hedgehog : Running faster, flying higher, and punching harder. #SonicMovie3 hits theatres on December 20, 2024."
• ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (Film 2024) (Italian) . Movieplayer.it. Retrieved on May 28, 2024.
• ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (French) . Cineman. Retrieved on May 28, 2024.
• ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (German) . kino.de. Retrieved on May 28, 2024.
• ↑ Paramount Pictures Spain (@paramount_spain) on Twitter . Twitter (29 November 2023). Retrieved on 27 January 2024.
• ↑ SONIC 3 - LA PELICULA (Spanish) . Paramount Pictures Mexico. Retrieved on May 28, 2024.
• ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog 3 . Hoyts Cinemas. Retrieved on May 28, 2024.
• ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog 3 . Golden Screen Cinemas . Retrieved on 14 May 2024.
• ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog 3 จัดเต็มเรื่องอีสเตอร์เอ้กแน่นอน ไอดริส เอลบา รับประกันเอง (Thai) . Major Cineplex (18 April 2024). Retrieved on 14 May 2024.
• ↑ Error on call to Template:cite web : Parameters url and title must be specified. . Chippu (15 April 2024). Retrieved on 22 May 2024.
• ↑ KİRPİ SONIC 3 (Turkish) . UIP Türkiye. Retrieved on June 10, 2024.
• ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Paramount+ (@paramountplus) on Twitter . Twitter (15 February 2022). Archived from the original on 15 February 2022. Retrieved on 15 February 2022. " Paramount+ : #SonicMovie3 is officially in development from @ParamountPics and @SEGA! Plus, next year a new original #Knuckles series with @IdrisElba is coming to #ParamountPlus. #SonicMovie2 hits theaters April 8!"
• ↑ WebVoyage Record View (20 May 2024). WebVoyage Record View: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 synopsis . Retrieved on 20 May 2024.
• ↑ 15.00 15.01 15.02 15.03 15.04 15.05 15.06 15.07 15.08 15.09 15.10 15.11 15.12 15.13 Bankhurst, Adamn (2 February 2024). Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Adds Krysten Ritter, Cristo Fernández, Alyla Browne, and More . IGN . Retrieved on 2 February 2024.
• ↑ Couch, Aaron (April 15, 2024). Keanu Reeves Joins ‘Sonic 3’ as Shadow . Retrieved on April 15, 2024.
• ↑ 17.0 17.1 Alyla Browne on Instagram (16 February 2024). Archived from the original on 16 February 2024. Retrieved on 16 February 2024.
• ↑ Richard Sutar . Casting Callback. Retrieved on May 14, 2024.
• ↑ Robert Clarkson . Casting Callback. Retrieved on May 14, 2024.
• ↑ Thomas Reed . Casting Callback. Retrieved on May 14, 2024.
• ↑ Episode 27 - Pat Casey and Josh Miller (Sonic the Hedgehog) . Kellen's Petty Talk Show (5 April 2021). Retrieved on 16 April 2021.
• ↑ Kroll, Justin (15 February 2022). 'Sonic The Hedgehog' Universe Continues To Grow As Sega And Paramount Sign Off On Third Film As Well As A 'Knuckles' Spin-Off Series In The Works At Paramount+ With Idris Elba Reprising Role . Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on 16 February 2022. Retrieved on 15 February 2022.
• ↑ KCC Comic Con 2022: Q&A with screenwriters Pat Casey & Josh Miller . YouTube (25 May 2022). Retrieved on 25 May 2022.
• ↑ Pat Casey on Twitter . Twitter (25 May 2023). Retrieved on 25 May 2023. " Pat Casey : We finished writing before the strike"
• ↑ Tabbara, Mona (August 8, 2023). UK crews in crisis as SAG-AFTRA strike thwarts production: "Is the UK industry really our own?" . Screen Daily. Retrieved on August 9, 2023.
• ↑ Johnny Gioeli (@Crush40Johnny) on Twitter . Twitter . Johnny Gioeli (@Crush40Johnny) (2 February 2024). Retrieved on 4 February 2024.
• ↑ Sonic City | Sonic News, Media, Community (@soniccitynet) on Twitter . Twitter . Sonic City | Sonic News, Media, Community (@soniccitynet) (4 February 2024). Retrieved on 4 February 2024. "BREAKING: We have confirmation from the Johnny himself that Crush 40 will be in third movie in some way!"
• ↑ Ben Schwartz (@rejectedjokes) on Twitter . Twitter. Ben Schwartz (@rejectedjokes) on Twitter (21 February 2024). Retrieved on 10 May 2024.
• ↑ Michael Keaton & James Marsden Discuss Knox Goes Away, Batman, Deadpool, Sonic & More . YouTube (14 March 2024). Retrieved on 14 March 2024.
• ↑ Jeff Fowler (@fowltown) on Twitter . Twitter . Jeff Fowler (@fowltown) (9 March 2024). Retrieved on 17 May 2024.
• ↑ First Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Footage at CinemaCon Revealed Shadow and a Down-on-His-Luck Robotnik .
• ↑ How Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Pulls From Iconic 2001 Game Teased By Ben Schwartz .
• ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog (@SonicMovie) on Twitter . Sonic the Hedgehog (@SonicMovie) (2 February 2024). Retrieved on 2 February 2024.
• ↑ Paramount+ on Facebook . Facebook (15 February 2022). Retrieved on 15 February 2022. "Sonic Movie 3 is officially in development from Paramount Pictures and SEGA! Plus, next year a new original Knuckles series with Idris Elba is coming to Paramount+. Sonic Movie 2 hits theaters April 8!"
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Movie Reviews

Tv/streaming, collections, great movies, chaz's journal, contributors, sonic the hedgehog.

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“Sonic the Hedgehog” is the worst kind of bad movie: it's too inoffensive to be hated and too wretched to be enjoyable. You might think that this movie’s sad limbo state has something to do with the extensive and well-publicized last-minute animation redesign that made titular woodland creature Sonic (voiced by Ben Schwartz ) look more like Sega’s famous video game character. You’d be wrong: “Sonic the Hedgehog” is rotten because it, like too many other modern blockbusters, was seemingly made by an imaginatively bankrupt creative committee with more ideas for jokes than actual jokes to tell, and more cookie-cutter, place-holder dialogue about the power of friendship than something (anything) to say about that boilerplate quality.

“Sonic the Hedgehog” is a bad action-adventure, video game adaptation, and buddy comedy. It feels almost completely impersonal, save for whenever James Marsden , playing Sonic’s human companion, tries to rescue the movie by being confident and graceful in the face of an otherwise dire send-the-magical-critter-back-home kiddy fantasy. I hope that everybody involved in the making of this movie got paid well and on time. Nobody else has an excuse to see “Sonic the Hedgehog,” especially now that easily defeated parents can park their kids in front of a computer or TV and let them watch some “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” gameplay videos on YouTube. Trust me: your kids’ happiness does not depend on them seeing this movie.

Still, if you must take your kids to see “Sonic the Hedgehog,” there are a few things you might want to know. For starters, this is a painfully bland “E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial” clone. Sonic, a magical critter who can run fast, teams up with nice guy/small-town cop Tom Wachowski (James Marsden) to regain the whatsit—in this case, a pouch of gold rings that open portals to any destination Sonic can think of—that will help him to escape goony mad scientist Dr. Robotnik ( Jim Carrey ), who wants to dissect Sonic. So Tom and Sonic go on a cross-country road trip from fictional Green Hills to San Francisco, because that happens to be the city on Tom’s shirt when he, in a panic, shoots Sonic with a bear tranquilizer, and then Sonic, now stunned on powerful wildlife drugs, accidentally throw his rings onto a Golden City rooftop. San Francisco also happens to be the city where Tom wants to move to, given his completely original dream of finding recognition and excitement beyond his quaint hometown.

But really, the set-up for “Sonic the Hedgehog” hinges on a bear tranq and some bad timing. The rest of the movie’s non-existent sense of urgency is provided by Dr. Robotnik, a hammy antagonist who likes to yell about how much smarter and more powerful he is compared to everyone else. Dr. Robotnik controls expensive-looking robot drones and has a flimsy waxed mustache that looks like one of those party favors you see every third wedding guest wearing in your Facebook friends’ wedding reception photos. Dr. Robotnik is not very interesting, but he’s in the “Sonic” video games, so he’s in this movie, too.

Also, there are some dull stranger-in-a-strange-land shenanigans involving Sonic’s bucket list, whose bullet points include “tame a wild animal,” “start a bar fight,” and “make a best friend.” Your kid could probably write a better scenario, given a little focus and the right motivation, two qualities that the makers of “Sonic the Hedgehog” seem to lack.

I don’t mean to be unnecessarily harsh, but based on the movie I saw, “Sonic the Hedgehog” doesn’t need to exist. Marsden does a lot of heavy lifting just by reacting to a computer-generated character whose only distinguishing feature is his resemblance to a beloved video game character that was never really interesting unto himself. But Marsden can’t save this movie from a deluge of uninspired chase scenes, dumb plot twists, and disposable pop culture references (wow, he’s doing the floss dance again, terrific). “Sonic the Hedgehog” is only as successful as the amount of time you want to spend watching its animated protagonist go on instantly forgettable adventures, and boy, is that unfortunate.

If you really want to know why you should skip “Sonic the Hedgehog,” try to watch the movie’s trailer, and see how much of Jim Carrey’s aggressively joyless performance you can take. Like Marsden, Carrey does a lot of acting, but unlike his co-star, Carrey is never as entertaining as he is energetic. Watching Carrey in “Sonic the Hedgehog” is like watching a drunk try to jumpstart a party that was well and truly dead upon his arrival. Unfortunately, Carrey’s laborious efforts only make things worse. I don’t know that “Sonic the Hedgehog” was ever salvageable, because ultimately, everything in it, including the good stuff, is depressing.

Simon Abrams

Simon Abrams is a native New Yorker and freelance film critic whose work has been featured in  The New York Times ,  Vanity Fair ,  The Village Voice,  and elsewhere.

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Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)

Rated PG for action, some violence, rude humor and brief mild language.

Ben Schwartz as Sonic (voice)

James Marsden as Tom Wachowski

Jim Carrey as Dr. Ivo Robotnik / Eggman

Tika Sumpter as Maddie Wachowski

Lee Majdoub as Stone

Frank C. Turner as Crazy Carl

Adam Pally as Billy Robb

• Jeff Fowler

Writer (characters)

• Naoto Ohshima
• Hirokazu Yasuhara
• Patrick Casey
• Josh Miller

Cinematographer

• Stephen F. Windon
• Debra Neil-Fisher
• Stacey Schroeder

Latest blog posts

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Screen Rant

Sonic the hedgehog 3's shadow must avoid starting a repetitive franchise trend.

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Knuckles' Final Boss Makes A Future Sonic The Hedgehog Villain Even More Exciting

Alien: romulus is doing something the alien movies should've done over 40 years ago, 20 thrillers that had perfect endings.

• Future Sonic movies must avoid introducing new Sonic clones quickly after Shadow's debut to prevent franchise monotony.
• Possibilities for future Sonic-like characters in films - either in species or personality - include Silver the Hedgehog, Jet the Hawk, and Blaze the Cat.
• While the movie universe has loads of potential for Sonic clones, their gradual introduction will prevent staleness.

Shadow the Hedgehog's debut in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is an exciting addition to the film series, but his introduction needs to avoid starting a repetitive franchise trend from the games. As revealed in the Sonic the Hedgehog 2 post-credits scene , Shadow will be the main focus of the next film in the franchise. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 's story is expected to center around the Ultimate Lifeform, whose awakening and expected team-up with Dr. Robotnik will result in Sonic and friends' toughest enemy so far.

There's plenty of potential for the new hedgehog, who will be voiced by Keanu Reeves when brought onto the big screen. The end of Knuckles also hinted at part of his story, wherein Shadow might be a mysterious bowling alley alien that appeared in Reno, Nevada in 1974. With plenty of ways Shadow's story can develop, his presence in the movie universe will add new layers of storytelling. However, his existence must also avoid setting a repetitive franchise trend that he became part of.

The final boss of Knuckles is the Buyer, but one of his key attributes makes a Sonic the Hedgehog villain from the games even more exciting.

Future Sonic Movies Can't Keep Introducing New Sonic Clones After Shadow

Too many sonic clones will be too monotonous.

Shadow isn't the only new hedgehog in the video games, with many of Sonic's memorable villains being clones of him in either look or personality . His first lookalike opponent was Metal Sonic in 1993's Sonic CD , an upgraded Badnik made by Dr. Robotnik to rival Sonic's speed and power in every way. Since then, there have been a multitude of other characters that share Sonic's looks who have contended with him over the years. Shadow is one of these characters, albeit one of the first and most popular of the various hedgehogs Sonic has faced.

Although a number of recognizable characters are Sonic clones, the movie universe should try to avoid introducing new ones too quickly after Shadow's debut. While the popularity of characters like Metal Sonic mean they're inevitably going to be in the movies, staggering their introductions can help the movies feel less repetitive every time a new rival or enemy shows up. Because the movie series has only just scratched the surface regarding Sonic the Hedgehog 's lore, there are still plenty of interesting, Sonic-like characters that can show up in the future.

Which Other Sonic Clones Future Movies Can Introduce

Sonic has plenty of similar friends & enemies.

Beyond Metal Sonic, there are a multitude of Sonic-like characters that can become part of the movie universe. One key possibility is Silver, a hedgehog from the future who wrongly believes Sonic is the Iblis Trigger, responsible for awakening the titular fire demon and causing the apocalypse. Iblis briefly appeared in Knuckles , making this a real possibility sometime down the road. He's also connected to Mephiles the Dark, a being that takes the form of Shadow's shadow and acts as a major antagonist for the Ultimate Lifeform.

Other Sonic-like characters are those who share his confidence or sense of justice. Jet the Hawk is often portrayed as having a similar headstrong personality as the Blue Blur, albeit with a more defined mean streak. Another character that could be considered a Sonic clone is Blaze the Cat. She acts as the core hero of her Sol Dimension, utilizing her realm's Sol Emeralds in much the same way Sonic uses Chaos Emeralds. Either of them could introduce new dynamics to any upcoming projects.

Despite how much potential Sonic clones have for future stories in the movies, their appearances can't risk repetition. While Shadow's debut in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is the perfect introduction to Sonic-like characters, it could start a worrying pattern that might make the movie universe stale. However, with decades of stories and types of media to pull from, the movie universe likely won't suffer from spacing out characters that are similar to its titular hero.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 arrives in theaters on December 20, 2024.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is the sequel to the 2022 comedy-adventure movie that featured the Blue Blur and his companions on an adventure to stop Dr. Robotnik from taking over the world. The new film sees the new antagonist Shadow the Hedgehog, arriving to cause trouble for the newly formed trio of heroes, Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles, as they adjust to their earthly lives.

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Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Where to watch.

Watch Sonic the Hedgehog 2 with a subscription on Paramount+, rent on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

What to Know

It isn't as much fun as the little blue guy's greatest games, but if you enjoyed the first film, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 serves as a generally acceptable sequel.

A fun, fast-paced improvement on the original, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is like a video game come to life -- and for once where a movie's concerned, that's actually a compliment.

Critics Reviews

Audience reviews, cast & crew.

Jeff Fowler

James Marsden

Dr. Ivo Robotnik

Ben Schwartz

Tika Sumpter

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Movie Clips

More like this, related movie news.

Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Release Date, Cast, Director, And More Details

As the trend of impressive video game adaptations continues, some thanks have to go to that smart-mouthed blue blur with a voice like Ben Schwartz. Sonic the Hedgehog has now starred in not one but two reasonably impressive big-screen entries, with an admirable box office haul to boot. After "Sonic the Hedgehog" earned $319 million at the box office, the SEGA icon's second run at theatres drew in $405 million worldwide. Somehow, two films about a character known for running around in circles and jumping on boxes have been enough to gather a crowd just as much as a plumber with a mushroom addiction . With this growing success and a tease that fans of the video game series will no doubt be keen to see followed up on, Paramount wasted no time to press "start" for "Sonic the Hedgehog 3."

But can the prickly protagonist deliver the goods a third time, particularly when a key ingredient to the franchise will be noticeably absent this time? The debut of Knuckles, voiced by Idris Elba of all people, wasn't just a welcome addition but pitch-perfect casting that elevated "Sonic the Hedgehog 2" to another level. Does the franchise have the mileage to up the ante a third time? If so, we won't have long to determine if the series is still on track.

When will Sonic the Hedgehog 3 be released?

Within days after "Sonic the Hedgehog 2" arrived in theaters, Paramount had already stuck in the cheat code to get ahead of the game by announcing that "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" was happening. A release date followed just a few months later, when it was confirmed by Paramount in August 2022 that Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles would be returning to theaters on December 20, 2024.

This marks the longest break between "Sonic" movies, after the first film debuted in February 2020, followed by "Sonic the Hedgehog 2" in April 2022. While it might seem like a sound idea to give the holiday box office a go, it'll have some tough competition in the form of "Mufasa: The Lion King," the prequel to the 2019 Disney film that grossed $1.6 billion. What could Sonic possibly have brought back from Green Hill Zone to compete with the likes of Mufasa and Scar? His name is Shadow, and he doesn't play nice with other hedgehogs.

What is the plot of Sonic the Hedgehog 3?

The only significant detail set in stone so far regarding "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" is the other iconic character confirmed to be appearing and causing even more trouble for Sonic and his pals. At the end of "Sonic the Hedgehog 2," a post-credit scene reveals GUN (Guardian Units of Nations) agents searching through the wreckage of Sonic's battle with Robotnik (Jim Carrey), only to uncover a large container storing a project labeled "Project Shadow" from 50 years ago. 

We see a flash of glowing red eyes get fired up before cutting to black, confirming the arrival of a gun-toting anti-hero of the Sonic universe, Shadow the Hedgehog. The official "Sonic" movie X account underlined the character's presence by posting an image of his legs beside a clapperboard in November 2023. Debuting in "Sonic Adventure 2" in 2001, Shadow had a similar look to Sonic but boasted edgier colors of black and red, and — after eventually getting his own spin-off game — packed actual firepower.

Just as sharp-witted as Sonic, Shadow has occasionally been at odds with our favorite hedgehog while also being a reluctant ally — the Ben Reilly to Sonic's Peter Parker, or perhaps the Vegeta to his Goku. Whatever pure-hearted hero and shady ally you can think of, that's how the relationship is handled, begging the question of how things will play out in "Sonic the Hedgehog 3." In the last installment, Knuckles was the proud adversary turned ally to Sonic by the film's end, whereas Shadow could be a tougher nut to crack, if at all.

Who is starring in Sonic the Hedgehog 3?

So who's voicing Shadow the Hedgehog? Well, it will be none other than Neo himself. Yep, Keanu Reeves will portray the fan-favorite character, meaning Shadow is going to sound a whole lot like John Wick when facing off against our blue-furred hero.

Speaking of big names, despite announcing that "Sonic the Hedgehog 2" would be his final role, Jim Carrey is indeed returning as Dr. Robotnik for the third installment in the series. IGN has also reported that we'll see the return of Ben Schwartz as Sonic, alongside James Marsden (Tom Wachowski), Tika Sumpter (Maddie Wachowski), Idris Elba (Knuckles), Colleen O'Shaughnessey (Tails), Lee Majdoub (Agent Stone), and Tom Butler (Commander Walter).

IGN has also said we should get ready for a whole host of newcomers. Krysten Ritter of Jessica Jones fame will reportedly star, alongside Alyla Browne ("Nine Perfect Strangers"), James Wolk ("Zoo"), Sofia Pernas ("The Brave"), Cristo Fernández ("Ted Lasso"), and Jorma Taccone of The Lonely Island.

Who is directing Sonic the Hedgehog 3?

Continuing his partnership with the pixelated speedster, director Jeff Fowler will be returning for a third film, having helmed the previous two. The confirmation took a while to come, though, as initially Fowler wasn't signed up for the threequel but was enthusiastic about Sonic's future and the work he'd done so far. Following the release of "Sonic the Hedgehog 2," the director told Collider , "Nothing would make me happier. I'm not officially involved with any of the additional films yet, but I'm so proud of this movie, I'm so proud of the first movie, so excited for fans to see it. They're really incredible movies to make." 

Thankfully, it was confirmed in June that filming would begin in August in Surrey, England, with Fowler listed to direct. Does that suggest that Sonic will be sprinting across the pond for his next adventure? It would make for another big location change in Sonic's story, given that the last one took the blue blur and his pals to Hawaii. 

Who is writing and producing Sonic the Hedgehog 3?

Seeing as Paramount is content with bringing Jeff Fowler back to the fold, the same tactic is being applied to its writers and producers. Coming back for another lap on writing duties are the film's other important trio, Pat Casey, Josh Miller, and John Whittington. While it's a safe bet that the film will involve Sonic making a variety of pop culture references and Knuckles punching things, the writers have kept quiet on specifics. Speaking to ScreenRant about "Sonic the Hedgehog 3," Casey assured, "'Sonic 3' is looking good. That's the one spoiler-iffic thing I'll say: It's gonna be great. Look forward to it." 

As for producers, Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher, and Tim Miller will produce the film. They'll be joined by Sega heads Hajimbe Satomi and Toru Nakahara, returning to keep an eye on their prized prickly poster boy. This won't be their first big-screen rodeo, having been on board with Sonic's cinematic stint since the beginning; however, it will be their first film following the franchise's daring move to play the likes of Marvel and DC at their own game. 

Is Sonic the Hedgehog 3 part of a cinematic universe?

By the time Sonic's third outing rolls around, it won't just be a trilogy but part of a new cinematic universe, courtesy of Sonic's fist-throwing ally. Prepped for release in 2024, "Knuckles" will get his own television spin-off series with Idris Elba returning to the role. Set between the events of "Sonic the Hedgehog 2" and "Sonic the Hedgehog 3," "Knuckles" will follow Elba's echidna bruiser of a hero as he partners up with Deputy Sheriff Wade Whipple (Adam Pally), who will be trained in the ways of the Echidna Warrior. 

Joining in on the action from the films will also be Tika Sumpter, along with the supporting talents of Cary Elwes of "The Princess Bride," rapper Kid Cudi, Edi Patterson of "The Righteous Gemstones," and comedians Ellie Taylor and Julian Barrett. Also appearing is legendary "Game of Thrones" star Rory McCann, who played The Hound. Here, he'll portray a villain who wants to get his hands on Knuckle's powers.

With the show working as the warm-up act to Sonic's third outing, there's no telling if whatever foe Knuckles might face or any other supporting characters that join him besides Wally will make an appearance in "Sonic 3." There's no doubt that world-building is underway at Green Hills, and that Paramount is hoping for another franchise to flourish. If "Knuckles" works, there might be space for the likes of Tails or even Shadow to get their own story to tell. 

What to watch before Sonic the Hedgehog 3

We're not ones to judge anyone on their knowledge of Sonic lore, but if you're going to watch anything prior to "Sonic the Hedgehog 3," starting at the beginning would be wise. Already available to see in all their blue brilliance are "Sonic the Hedgehog" and "Sonic the Hedgehog 2," and if release schedules stay intact, the "Knuckles" spin-off is set to arrive in late 2024 before the new film's release in December of the same year. By then, you'll be all clued in and able to tell your Miles "Tails" Prowers from your Dr. Robotniks. 

Also, if you really want a deep cut, watching the original trailer for "Sonic the Hedgehog" that led fandom to explode in outrage is worth a look as well. It might not hold any relevance to the "Sonic" franchise now, but is still a pivotal moment in the hedgehog's history that led to a design overhaul following its legendary fan backlash . 

Where to watch previous Sonic the Hedgehog movies

If you look hard enough between the slew of Taylor Sheridan shows and the massive amount of "Mission: Impossible" movies, you can actually give the "Sonic the Hedgehog" films a watch over on the streaming service Paramount+. Along with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles — who are also slowly taking over the streamer with their latest movie and upcoming TV show — "Sonic" has marked Paramount+ as the spot to get your dose of high-speed hijinks. It will also be the home of "Knuckles" whenever he drops in as well. 

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James Carrick

James Carrick is a passionate film enthusiast with a degree in theater and philosophy. James approaches dramatic criticism from a philosophic foundation grounded in aesthetics and ethics, offering insight and analysis that reveals layers of cinematic narrative with a touch of irreverence and a dash of snark.

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Sonic x Shadow Generations Does for Sonic Generations What Bowser’s Fury Did for Super Mario 3D World

Shadow steals the show in this updated release of one of sonic’s best games..

When Sonic Generations released over a decade ago, fans of the series around the world celebrated the blue blur’s most successful Sonic title in years – one that bridged the gap between classic Sonic and modern Sonic. Now, Sega is going back to one of their most critically acclaimed Sonic titles with a re-release of Sonic Generations that includes new content in the form of Shadow the Hedgehog levels. And much to my surprise, that new content is incredibly fun.

The Summer Games Fest demo for Sonic + Shadow Generations separates the two Sonic levels from Shadow’s newly-built content. For Sonic, the two courses available were Green Hill Zone as Classic Sonic and Green Hill Zone as Modern Sonic. To call these levels drastically different, or even slightly different, from the original release of Sonic Generations would probably be a stretch. Both Green Hill Zone stages are functionally the original release running at a higher resolution. This is not a remake of Sonic Generations in any way and it should not be expected to be one.

Sonic X Shadow Generation State of Play Trailer

That said, Sonic Generations is popular for a reason, and both these levels were still fun to play. In the Classic Sonic version, the shorter and apparently younger Sonic goes through a traditional version of Green Hill Zone that could have been pulled out of any of the older 2D titles. Modern Sonic, meanwhile, grinds on rails, stunts on enemies, and escapes from a giant robotic fish in the air while boosting through.

The Shadow side is where the Sonic + Shadow Generations gets interesting, providing brand new and more modern content in Shadow’s own revisiting of his past. The only platforming stage available for Shadow is Space Colony Ark paired with the boss fight for the Biolizard, both from his debut game of Sonic Adventure 2. The latter level was in the 3DS version of Sonic Generations, but this was made from the ground up for this release and is not ported from that 3DS version.

In Space Colony Ark, the level pingpongs Shadow along a massive space colony. It tutorializes Shadow's Chaos Control ability, which freezes time and all objects around him to attack or use as platforms. A missile barrage coming from an enemy cannon can be an option to get to a new path with proper use of Chaos Control, which is time-limited. If you fail, it’s just one more reason to replay the level and try to get better.

Through the Ark, Shadow will occasionally engage in cinematic moments, like using Chaos Control on a missile so large that he has to punch it numerous times to send it backwards into the space fortress it came from, blowing it up.

Halfway through the level, a familiar alien creature visits Shadow, transforming the world around him. He lands in a crimson city that looks similar to Westopolis from Shadow’s own game from 2005. As Shadow chases the alien nemesis through a world literally being built around them, the speedster hedgehog interrogates the villain through ambient dialogue and short cinematic scenes. For the Shadow fans in the audience, you need not worry that they dialed back the story for this iteration.

The other Shadow level, the boss fight with the Biolizard, is less ambitious but still fun. It is a standard Sonic series boss fight that largely involves dodging energy waves on the ground and then jumping up to the boss’ weak point for some punches and kicks the way Shadow loves to do. The ending once again has Shadow beating up a large blast of energy back to the opponent, but it does not cease to be cool even if it has been used before.

At the end of every phase, Shadow uses his homing attack to reach the top of the Biolizard’s back and deliver major damage. It’s a classic Sonic boss fight trope, but the act of making it up there still feels frantic and fun.

I cannot overstate how unnecessarily hard Sega goes on these Shadow levels. For what feels like a small addendum to an otherwise no-frills release, it is clear Sega is trying to make something decently memorable within the series for the Sonic Generations’ new content. It might be a trite comparison that makes veterans of the 16-bit console war bristle, but like Bowser’s Fury was the standout inclusion with Super Mario 3D World on Switch, I suspect that Shadow’s levels will steal the show for Sonic Generations.

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