Warning: Contains spoilers for Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 has officially surpassed its predecessor in global box office grosses. Jeff Fowler’s sequel features a plethora of returning cast members from the first film, including Ben Schwartz voicing the eponymous blue mammal, Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik/ Eggman, James Marsden, Adam Pally, Natasha Rothwell, and Tika Sumpter. In the film, Sonic and Tails (Colleen O'Shaughnessey) team up to stop Knuckles (Idris Elba), who has been recruited by Robotnik to obtain a mystical emerald that has the power to destroy civilizations.
Thanks to SEGA’s blockbuster videogame franchise and 2020’s successful adaptation, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 has been able to build on some formidable momentum. Since releasing in theaters on April 8th (and March 31st internationally), the Sonic sequel grossed $72.1 million in the U.S in its first three days, which surpassed the original film’s record of $58.01 million. The film has earned $162.74 million at the domestic box office, overtaking both its predecessor and this year’s Uncharted to become the highest-grossing video game movie of all time in the U.S. Now, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 has taken the first film’s spot worldwide.
On Thursday, May 5, SEGA Corporation confirmed that Paramount Pictures’ Sonic the Hedgehog 2 has officially reached $331.64 million worldwide, surpassing its predecessor at $319.71 million. This makes the lightning-fast hedgehog’s second outing number seven on the “top-grossing” video games movies worldwide. As of now, it sits behind Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (336.36), The Angry Birds Movie (352.33), Uncharted (392.98), Rampage (428.02), Pokemon Detective Pikachu (433.47), and Warcraft (439.04) on that global list.
The Sonic sequel's strong numbers are impressive, especially considering the stigma attached to video game movies and the pandemic’s effect on theater attendance. Many other video game adaptations have typically been criticized for fumbling the spirit of the source material. Sonic the Hedgehog and its successor have managed to launch a fun, family-friendly franchise that does relatively well with critics and audiences alike. All of this bodes well for the series’ pending expansion through the Paramount+ streaming service, where a spin-off TV series following Elba's Knuckles is taking shape, and an inevitable Sonic the Hedgehog 3. The second film’s post-credit scene sets up fan-favorite character Shadow the Hedgehog and the GUN organization. Whether or not Carrey returns as Robotnik, the franchise will have an entertaining antagonist.
In the years since its widely panned redesign of SEGA's iconic character, Sonic the Hedgehog has become a standout franchise. Its box office numbers prove that audience interest remains strong, setting it apart from the shelf-life attached to other video game franchises. Sonic the Hedgehog may just lead the charge on a future filled with quality adaptations on screens big and small, including Sony’s Ghost of Tsushima, The Last of Us, and Nintendo’s Mario. It’s worth noting that Sonic the Hedgehog 2 doesn’t even open in Japan until August, when it will surely garner even more box office revenue and jump at least a few spots on the global gross list.