Sonic the Hedgehog is an action-adventure comedy film series created and developed by Paramount Pictures and Sega Sammy Group. It is part of Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog franchise and primarily consists of three films, with a fourth in production, and a spin-off TV series. Jeff Fowler directed all three films and the pilot of Knuckles. Since the first film's release in 2020, the series has grossed over $1 billion worldwide and received a generally positive critical reception.

Background Development for a Sonic the Hedgehog film dates back to 1993, when Michealene Risley, consumer products director of Sega of America, negotiated with several Hollywood producers. Risley had helped license Sonic for the animated series Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog. Sega of America CEO Tom Kalinske feared damaging the brand, citing the commercial and critical failures of previous video game film adaptations such as Super Mario Bros. (1993) and Street Fighter (1994). Despite Kalinske's concerns, Sega was enthusiastic. In August 1994, Sega struck a development deal with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Trilogy Entertainment Group, with Pen Densham as executive producer. The film was to be titled Sonic the Hedgehog: Wonders of the World, and would follow Sonic coming out of Sonic X-Treme (a canceled Sega Saturn video game the film was supposed to tie-in with) and into the real world, teaming up with a kid named Josh to stop Doctor Robotnik from stealing the wonders of the world. MGM later cancelled the film after a failed attempt to give the film to DreamWorks Pictures.

In 2002, Ben Hurst pitched an animated Sonic film to DIC Entertainment that would be a continuation of the Sonic the Hedgehog TV series, on which he worked as a writer. DiC put Hurst in contact with a Sega executive interested in the idea. Hurst was contacted by Ken Penders, writer of the Archie Comics' Sonic the Hedgehog comic book series, who had been alerted of Hurst's plans. Though Hurst told him his strategy and offered to include him in his effort, Penders told Sega that Hurst was trying to co-opt the franchise, leading Sega to dismiss Hurst and his proposal. In September 2003, Penders pitched his own concept for a Sonic film, Sonic Armageddon. In Penders' words, the film would have been an origin story and a series reset, resolving the plot threads which began in the animated Sonic show and continued in Archie's comic series. The project was dropped in 2007 due to a corporate upheaval and the death of Sega licensing manager Robert Leffler, who had supported Penders. Penders later confirmed that the film was not pitched to DreamWorks at all.

Development In 2013, Sony Pictures acquired the rights to produce and distribute a Sonic film. On June 10, 2014, a live-action animated film was announced as a joint venture between Sony Pictures and Marza Animation Planet, a Japan-based subsidiary of Sega Sammy Holdings which had produced CGI cutscenes for several Sonic games. It would be produced by Neal H. Moritz by his Original Film banner alongside Takeshi Ito, Mie Onishi, and Toru Nakahara, and written by Evan Susser and Van Robichaux. In February 2016, Sega CEO Hajime Satomi said the film was scheduled for 2018. Blur Studio's Tim Miller and Jeff Fowler were hired in 2016 to develop it, with the film being the latter's feature directorial debut and Miller serving as executive producer. Blur Studio previously produced cutscenes for the games Shadow the Hedgehog (2005), for which Fowler directed cutscenes, and Sonic the Hedgehog (2006). Patrick Casey, Josh Miller, and Oren Uziel were writing the screenplay, while Casey and Miller wrote the story.

On October 2, 2017, Paramount Pictures announced that they had acquired the rights after Sony put the film in turnaround. Filming began in September 2018. Following the release of the first trailer in April 2019, the film was delayed from its November 2019 release date to re-design Sonic after his original design was heavily criticized. The film was released in February 2020 to a mixed-to-positive reception. The film features a post-credits scene featuring Miles "Tails" Prower, with Fowler, Casey, Miller, and stars Ben Schwartz and James Marsden expressed interest in a sequel that further explored the video game's world.

A sequel was confirmed in May 2020, with most of the production team and cast returning from the first film.

Expansion into television During development on Sonic the Hedgehog 2, the producers became interested in developing television series set in the films' universe that served as character studies for the cast, with the films serving as "these Avengers-level events" while the shows explore the franchise's supporting characters and give them more depth.

Films Film U.S. release date Director Screenwriter(s) Story by Producer(s) Status Sonic the Hedgehog Jeff FowlerPat Casey and Josh MillerNeal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher, Toru Nakahara and Takeshi Ito Released Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Pat Casey, Josh Miller and John Whittington Pat Casey and Josh Miller Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher, Toru Nakahara and Hitoshi Okuno Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Sonic the Hedgehog 4 colspan="2" Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher and Toru Nakahara Post-production Untitled spinoff film colspan="4" In development

Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)

Having superhuman speed, Sonic is forced to abandon his home world of Mobius and ends up on Earth. After being discovered on Earth, he teams up with a human named Tom Wachowski to stop Doctor Robotnik, who wants to harness his powers. The first film in the series, it was released in theaters on February 14, 2020.

Originally intended for release on November 8, 2019, Sonic the Hedgehog was pushed back to February 14, 2020, due to the overwhelmingly negative response to Sonic's design in the first trailer. Upon its release, the film was met with mixed reviews from critics, but was a box-office success, becoming the sixth highest-grossing film of 2020.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022)

Sonic joins forces with Tails to stop Dr. Robotnik, who recruits Knuckles the Echidna to find a powerful emerald that has the power to build and destroy civilizations.

Following the success of the first film, Paramount had confirmed that a sequel was in development in May 2020, with Fowler set to return as director alongside writers Casey and Josh Miller. Neal H. Mortiz, Toby Ascher, and Toru Nakahara produced the sequel, having previously co-produced the first film alongside Takeshi Ito, while Tim Miller, Hajime Satomi, and Haruki Satomi returned from the first film as executive producers. Most of the first film's cast returned to reprise their roles, with Idris Elba joining the voice cast as Knuckles the Echidna. Filming began in March 2021, in Vancouver, Canada. The film premiered internationally on March 30, 2022, followed by a world premiere on April 5, 2022, and released in theaters in the United States on April 8.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024)

Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles take on a mysterious and powerful adversary, Shadow the Hedgehog, while Dr. Ivo Robotnik reunites with his lost grandfather, Prof. Gerald Robotnik, unaware that Gerald has a sinister agenda of his own.

In February 2022, Sega and Paramount confirmed that a third Sonic the Hedgehog film was in active development, with Schwartz reprising his role, who expressed interest in it being subtitled "The Next Level." In April 2022, after Carrey announced that he was considering retiring from acting, producers Moritz and Ascher confirmed that his role as Dr. Robotnik would not be recast in any sequels if he followed through with his retirement plans. However, they remained hopeful that they could develop a script good enough for him to continue the role. On August 8, 2022, it was announced that the film would released in theaters on December 20, 2024. The character Shadow the Hedgehog also appears following his cameo in the mid-credit scene of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, with Keanu Reeves revealed to be providing the voice for the character in April 2024. In June 2023, it was reported that filming would begin in late August 2023 in London. Due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, filming would start in September 2023 without actors. In February 2024, it was officially confirmed that Carrey would be reprising his role for the film, while Krysten Ritter, Alyla Browne, James Wolk, Sofia Pernas, Cristo Fernández, and Jorma Taccone were cast. The film is set after the events of Knuckles (2024), and its story draws inspiration from the video games Sonic Adventure 2 (2001) and Shadow the Hedgehog (2005).

Sonic the Hedgehog 4 (2027)

In September 2024, producer Toby Ascher stated intent for additional installments in the franchise following the release of Sonic the Hedgehog 3. In December 2024, the film was officially greenlit, slated for Spring 2027. In January 2025, it was announced that the film would be released on March 19, 2027.

It is confirmed that Amy Rose and Metal Sonic, who both appeared in the mid-credits scene of the previous film, will appear in this film. While nothing has yet been officially disclosed about the film's story, fans and journalists have widely speculated that it will take inspiration from Sonic CD (1993), which was the first appearance of both characters within the video game series. Fowler acknowledged the connection, saying that their simultaneous introduction was intended to "honor that chronology", but stated that the film's story would not be solely based on CD. In January 2025, Carrey expressed interest in returning as Robotnik if the film's premise interested him. In February 2026, Kristen Bell was announced to be voicing Amy. On March 2, Fowler announced that production on the film had begun. Filming wrapped in May.

Untitled spinoff film (2028) In April 2025, The Wrap reported that Paramount is planning a spinoff film. Marc Deschamps from ComicBook.com noted rumors of the film starring Shadow and following up on the third film's post-credits scene. In December 2025, it was announced that a new film in the franchise, announced as "Sonic Universe Event Film", would be released on December 22, 2028.

Short films Around the World in 80 Seconds (2020) The home media release of the first film includes a short film titled Around the World in 80 Seconds, which follows a drawing of Sonic traveling the world in 80 seconds before returning to Green Hills.

Sonic Drone Home (2022) On May 23, 2022, a digital release was announced with an animated short film called Sonic Drone Home following the events of the second film with Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles trying to deal with a badnik upgrading itself at the Green Hills Junkyard.

A Very Sonic Christmas (2024) A stop motion short titled A Very Sonic Christmas was released on December 11, 2024, with Schwartz, Elba, Colleen O'Shaughnessey, and Reeves reprising their roles and Wade Whipple actor Adam Pally voicing Santa Claus. Animated in a similar style to the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer television special, the short sees Sonic showing Tails and Knuckles how to celebrate their first Christmas, including holiday sweaters, tree decorating, and Santa. Sonic uses one of his rings to summon Santa, but he injures his ankle upon falling through the ring, seemingly canceling Christmas. Team Sonic volunteers to deliver the presents, including to the Robotniks (which is just coal). After finishing delivering the presents, the team drops Santa off back at the North Pole, where they find Shadow stealing Santa's sleigh with his motorcycle.

Television series

Knuckles (2024)

Knuckles the Echidna takes Green Hills deputy officer Wade Whipple as his apprentice, teaching him the ways of the Echidnas.