Everyone’s favorite blue hedgehog may not always hit the mark in games, but when it comes to drawing crowds at the cinema, Sonic certainly knows how to deliver.
A few years back, when we first caught a glimpse of Sonic in that controversial trailer, it seemed like a surefire flop. However, Paramount made a savvy—albeit tough on the animators—choice to push back the release. With some redesign magic, the movie ultimately triumphed, capturing the hearts of fans with its winning portrayal of the beloved character. The film performed remarkably at the box office, raking in $320 million on an $85 million budget. Its sequel upped the ante, pulling in $405 million, which dispelled any doubts about the franchise’s potential. Now, just about a month after hitting theaters, the third installment has already amassed $285 million, a feat that a box office subreddit post notes has officially catapulted Sonic the Hedgehog into the billion-dollar franchise club.
While it’s too soon to predict the final earnings for the latest film—especially with the hurdle of overcoming a $120 million gap to surpass the second film—we do know it’s heading to streaming platforms soon, on January 21. Nonetheless, this third cinematic release is another victory for our speedy friend. In contrast, the Sonic games have been a mixed bag in terms of success. Sonic Superstars, one of the recent titles, reportedly fell short of expectations. Still, with the film doing exceptionally well, it’s clear that fans are eagerly lapping up any Sonic content they can get.
We also have exciting news on the horizon: a fourth Sonic film is confirmed to be in development, even before the third film wrapped up. There’s even buzz that Jim Carrey could reprise his role, and if we reach a fifth installment, the franchise’s worth might just double to two billion dollars. But who’s keeping track anyway?
