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Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024) backdrop
Franchise guide · by Tessa Marlowe

Sonic Movies: Every Film in the Sonic the Hedgehog Series

There are three Sonic movies so far, all directed by Jeff Fowler for Paramount: Sonic the Hedgehog (2020), Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022) and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024), with Sonic the Hedgehog 4 set for March 19, 2027. The six episode Paramount+ spin-off series Knuckles arrived in 2024, and the three films have earned more than $1.2 billion worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo.

Next: Sonic the Hedgehog 4 · March 19, 2027
Image: TMDB

Every Sonic the Hedgehog Movie

How many sonic movies are there

Sonic Movies: What the Series Is and How Many Films There Are

The Sonic movies are a trilogy so far, built around the blue hedgehog Sonic and the human family that takes him in, with a fourth film already finished shooting. Sonic the Hedgehog (2020), directed by Jeff Fowler, introduced Sonic as a young hedgehog who can run at supersonic speed. After an attack on his home world, his guardian Longclaw sends him to Earth with a bag of magic rings, and ten years later he is hiding in a cave near Green Hills, Montana. Ben Schwartz voices him, and the first film pairs him with the town sheriff Tom Wachowski (James Marsden), Tom's wife Maddie (Tika Sumpter) and the eccentric inventor Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey).

The first film had a bumpy road to the screen. Paramount moved it to February 14, 2020 and the character was redesigned before release, according to CNBC. It then earned about $320 million worldwide on an $85 million budget, according to Box Office Mojo. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022), also directed by Fowler, added Tails (voiced by Colleen O'Shaughnessey) and Knuckles (voiced by Idris Elba), and it grew the total to roughly $405 million on a $90 million budget. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024) brought in Shadow, voiced by Keanu Reeves, and reached about $492 million on a $122 million budget, according to Box Office Mojo and The Numbers.

It could be argued that the series follows the pattern of a good family sitcom: the cast stays put, the stakes get bigger, and each film adds one new face to the household. Tom Holkenborg composes all three scores, and every film carries a PG certification in the US, UK and Australia.

The series also reaches beyond theaters. Knuckles, a six episode live-action spin-off for Paramount+, premiered on April 26, 2024 and is set between the second and third films. The how many Sonic movies are there guide lists each film with its runtime and credits, and the Sonic box office guide breaks down every gross.

Still from Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)
Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)

Sonic Movies in Order: Where to Start

The Sonic movies in order are the same whether you count by release or by story: Sonic the Hedgehog (2020), Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022) and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024). Release order and chronological order match for all three films, so there is no reshuffling like some longer sagas need. The one extra piece is the Knuckles series, which fits between the second and third films if you want every story beat.

  1. Sonic the Hedgehog (2020), US release February 14, 2020, 99 minutes.
  2. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022), US release April 8, 2022, 123 minutes.
  3. Knuckles (series, 2024), optional, six episodes on Paramount+, set between films two and three.
  4. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024), US release December 20, 2024, 110 minutes.

The films build on each other quite directly. Sonic 2 opens eight months after the first film, with Robotnik escaping from the Mushroom Planet, and Tails and Knuckles join the story there, so starting in the middle will leave you a step behind. If you are choosing a starting point for a younger viewer, the first film is the natural one, since it centers on Sonic's loneliness and his friendship with Tom and Maddie.

The full guide to Sonic movies in order explains each step and how the series fits together, and the Sonic timeline maps where Knuckles sits.

Sonic 4: Release Date and What We Know

Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is not out yet: Paramount has set its US theatrical release for March 19, 2027, and the film is in post production. TheWrap reported the date on January 21, 2025, and Video Games Chronicle confirmed it the same day. Dexerto noted on March 3, 2026 that filming had begun on March 2 with the date unchanged. Filming is reported to have run until May 15, 2026 in Berkshire, UK, with voice recording after that. No source has reported UK or Australian release dates yet.

Paramount revealed the official title and cast on March 19, 2026, according to TheWrap. The confirmed names include Ben Schwartz as Sonic, Jim Carrey as Dr. Ivo Robotnik and Idris Elba as Knuckles the Echidna. Also on the list are Keanu Reeves, Colleen O'Shaughnessey, Lee Majdoub, James Marsden and Tika Sumpter, along with newcomers Ben Kingsley, Matt Berry, Nick Offerman and Richard Ayoade. Kristen Bell is reported to be voicing Amy Rose, and Schwartz confirmed that on Instagram in February 2026, but that casting is listed as reported rather than studio announced.

Jeff Fowler is reported to be directing again, with Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher and Toru Nakahara producing and Pat Casey and Josh Miller writing. Paramount also released a 30 second first teaser on March 19, 2026 showing Carrey as Robotnik. One rumor, from Digital Spy via AOL on March 22, 2026, says Carrey is also playing Robotnik's grandfather Gerald. It is reported, not confirmed.

For the full cast list and status, see Sonic 4, and for the teaser, see the Sonic 4 trailer guide.

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Sonic the Hedgehog 4

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Sonic 4: status, cast and rumors

Sonic Characters: Who Is in the Movies

Sonic characters

The main Sonic characters are Sonic himself, his friends Tails and Knuckles, the alien hedgehog Shadow, the villain Dr. Robotnik and the Wachowski family who give him a home. The series reads as a found family story with a hedgehog in the middle, and the cast is built to match.

Sonic is the blue hedgehog voiced by Ben Schwartz in every film; see the Sonic the Hedgehog character profile. Tails, voiced by Colleen O'Shaughnessey, arrives in the second film to help him; read more on Tails Sonic. Knuckles, voiced by Idris Elba, starts out in the second film as Robotnik's ally and later headlines his own series; the Knuckles Sonic movie page covers his path. Shadow, voiced by Keanu Reeves, debuts in the third film, and the Shadow the Hedgehog movie page explains who he is.

On the human side, Jim Carrey plays Dr. Robotnik in every film, and in the third film the cast list credits him as both Ivo Robotnik and Gerald Robotnik. Tom Wachowski (James Marsden) is the small town sheriff, and Tom Wachowski Sonic covers his role. Maddie Wachowski (Tika Sumpter) is his wife, and Maddie Wachowski Sonic covers hers. Agent Stone (Lee Majdoub) appears in all three films, and the Agent Stone Sonic page covers him. Wade Whipple (Adam Pally) is the deputy who also stars alongside Knuckles in the series.

For the full line up, see Sonic characters and the Sonic cast page. If you want the games behind the films, see Sonic games, and the Sonic villains page covers the rogues' gallery.

Facts

  • Still from Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)
    Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)
  • Still from Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022)
    Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022)
  • Still from Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024)
    Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024)

Where to Watch Sonic Movies: Streaming in the US, UK and Australia

All three Sonic movies stream somewhere in the US, UK and Australia, although the service depends on the film and the country. The details below come from JustWatch data on TMDB, checked on November 3, 2026, and availability changes often.

In the US, Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) is on Paramount Plus, Philo and Kanopy, and it is free with ads on YouTube. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is on Netflix and Paramount Plus. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM Plus and Paramount Plus. All three can also be rented or bought on Amazon Video, the Apple TV Store, Google Play and Fandango At Home.

In the UK, the first film is on Paramount Plus, and the second is listed as included through the Paramount+ Amazon Channel. The third film is on Netflix and Now TV Cinema. The rental and purchase options include the Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Sky Store and Rakuten TV. In Australia, the first film is on BINGE, Paramount Plus, Foxtel Now and Stan, and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is on Netflix. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is listed only to rent or buy there, through the Apple TV Store, Amazon Video and YouTube, among others.

If you are planning a family marathon, check the services above before you settle in, since a film can move between catalogs with little notice. The full country by country table is on the where to watch Sonic page.

Still from Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024)
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024)

Streaming availability data from JustWatch. Where to watch sonic by country.

Explore Sonic the Hedgehog

FAQs

How many Sonic movies were there?

There are three Sonic movies so far: Sonic the Hedgehog (2020), Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022) and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024). All three were directed by Jeff Fowler and released by Paramount. A fourth film, Sonic the Hedgehog 4, is scheduled for March 19, 2027, and the Knuckles series on Paramount+ is a television spin-off rather than a film.

Is Sonic 4 out in the movies?

No, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is not in theaters yet. Paramount has set the US release for March 19, 2027, and the film is in post production after filming that began on March 2, 2026. No UK or Australian dates have been published.

Will there be a Sonic 4 movie?

Yes, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is confirmed. Paramount revealed the title and cast on March 19, 2026, and Ben Schwartz, Jim Carrey and Idris Elba are among the confirmed names. Kristen Bell is reported to be voicing Amy Rose.

Where can I watch Sonic 1, 2 and 3?

In the US, Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) streams on Paramount Plus, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is on Netflix and Paramount Plus, and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is on Amazon Prime Video and Paramount Plus, among others. UK and Australian services differ, with Netflix carrying Sonic 3 in both countries. These listings were checked on November 3, 2026, and all three films can also be rented or bought digitally.

Is the Sonic 3 movie out yet?

Yes, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is out. It opened in the US on December 20, 2024, and in the UK and Australia on December 26, 2024. It runs 110 minutes and has earned about $492 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo.

What order should I watch the Sonic movies in?

Watch them in release order, which is also the story order: Sonic the Hedgehog (2020), Sonic the Hedgehog 2, then Sonic the Hedgehog 3. The Knuckles series fits between the second and third films if you want to include it.

Is there a Sonic TV series?

Yes, Knuckles is a six episode live-action spin-off on Paramount+ that premiered on April 26, 2024. Idris Elba voices Knuckles and Adam Pally returns as Wade Whipple. It is set between Sonic 2 and Sonic 3, and no renewal has been announced.

What is the age rating for the Sonic movies?

All three Sonic movies are certified PG in the US, UK and Australia.