Sonic the Hedgehog 3 hits theaters tomorrow, and expectations are sky-high. Not only were the first two movies major financial successes, but they were critical and audience darlings, too.
Being released right as Christmas week kicks off, Sonic 3 is already showing signs it might be the biggest movie yet in the franchise. It’s not only predicted to claim the top box office spot this weekend with around $70 million, beating Mufasa: The Lion King, but it’s also soaring to new heights with its Rotten Tomatoes scores.
Sonic’s First Movie Set A Troubling Tone
Kicking the franchise off in 2020,Sonic The Hedgehogdidn’t get off to a promising start. An early teaser trailer for thevideo game adaptationshowed a Sonic that was… a little too photo-realistic for audiences. Missing were the oversized head and bulging eyes. Instead, Sonic looked like how you might draw him from memory after seeing him once and being handed a sheet of paper and colored pencils.
Fans were quick to decry the character design, and Paramount Pictures took note, delaying the film’s release to rethink Sonic’s look. At that point, however, the damage was already done. Expectations for Sonic the Hedgehog’s first theatrical outing were at an all-time low. And then the reviews came out, and they were shockingly good! Sonic the Hedgehog turned out to be asurprise successwith critics on Rotten Tomatoes, earning a score of 64% fresh. The audience score was even better, at 93% fresh.
Two years later, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 sped out to a 69% fresh score with critics and a 96% fresh score with audiences. Leading up to Sonic the Hedgehog3, expectations were through the roof.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Debuts at 89% on Rotten Tomatoes
Once reviews started coming in for Sonic the Hedgehog 3, it was clear that the creative team behind the franchise outdid themselves. After a troubling start to the Sonic movies, the third outing debuted with its best score yet with critics onRotten Tomatoeswith an 89% fresh rating. With 55 reviews as of this writing, the critics' consensus reads:
“With a double helping of Jim Carrey’s antics and a quicksilver pace befitting its hero,Sonic the Hedgehog 3is the best entry in this amiable series yet.”
Screen Rantpraised the portrayal of Keanu Reeve’s addition as Shadow the Hedgehog, as well as director Jeff Fowler’s fast-paced approach, “Shadow is the standout of the third movie. Fowler effectively introduces him and his backstory through engagingly-staged action sequences and heart-tugging flashbacks.” Advertised as the film’s antagonist, fans of the video game know Shadow has a tragic backstory, and it sounds like the movie doesn’t shy away from that.
Variety’s Owen Glieberman also praised Fowler, noting his growth as a filmmaker with the franchise, “Sonic 3 gives hyperactivity a good name. Jeff Fowler, who directed all three of these movies, is a quicker and wittier flimflam magician of energy than he was when he made the first Sonic in 2020.”
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 sees Sonic team up with Dr. Robotnik to take on a new foe. It hits theaters tomorrow, with early screenings beginning tonight if you can’t wait one more sleep!
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
