Sonic Soundtrack: Composer and Songs for Every Sonic Movie

Tom Holkenborg composed the score for all three Sonic movies: Sonic the Hedgehog (2020), Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022) and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024). He is the only composer credited with the film scores in the series, and each movie has its own score album.

For Sonic the Hedgehog (2020), the album is "Sonic the Hedgehog: Music from the Motion Picture", released by Paramount Music on February 14, 2020, with 15 tracks. For Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022), the album is "Sonic the Hedgehog 2: Music from the Motion Picture", also from Paramount Music, released on April 8, 2022, with 22 tracks. For Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024), the album is "Sonic the Hedgehog 3: Music from the Motion Picture", released by Milan on December 20, 2024, with 33 tracks.

Every album came out on the same day as its film reached US theaters, so the score has been available from opening day each time. The track count climbs from 15 to 22 to 33, which means the third album carries more than double the tracks of the first. The label also changes: the first two albums carry the Paramount Music name, while the third moved to Milan.

Because one composer handled all three movies, the score keeps a single voice from the first film to the latest. If you plan to hear that for yourself, our guide to sonic movies in order sets out the sequence, and where to watch sonic shows which services carry each film. To listen to the music on its own, search for the three album titles by name.

The signature songs of the Sonic movies are "Boom" by X Ambassadors in the first film, "Stars in the Sky" by Kid Cudi in the second, and "Live & Learn" by Crush 40 in the third. Each film also carries a longer run of licensed tracks, and two songs were written for their films. Here they are film by film, with the scene wherever one is documented.

Sonic the Hedgehog (2020): The songs include "Boom" by X Ambassadors, "Friends" by Hyper Potions, "Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen, "All Fired Up" by The Lazys, "Where Evil Grows" by The Poppy Family and Terry Jacks, and "Catch Me I'm Falling" by Kelly Finnigan. Tom Holkenborg wrote the score around them.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022): "Stars in the Sky" by Kid Cudi was written for the film. It plays during one of the opening scenes and again over the end credits. The licensed list is the longest of the three films: "Up on the Green Hill (Masado and Miwasco Version)" by Dreams Come True, "Uptown Funk" by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars, "Here Comes the Hotstepper" by Ini Kamoze, "This Is How We Do It" by Montell Jordan, "Don't Know Why" by Norah Jones, "Barracuda" by Heart, "It's Tricky" by Run-DMC, "You Know How We Do It" by Ice Cube, "A Summer Place" by Andy Williams and "Walk" by Pantera.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024): "Run It" by Jelly Roll was written for the film. "Live & Learn" by Crush 40 is the song most fans were waiting for: a guitar riff of it plays in the opening scene, and the vocal version plays when Super Sonic and Super Shadow stop the Eclipse Cannon. The rest of the list is "Neon" by One Ok Rock, "Firestarter" by The Prodigy, "Galvanize" by The Chemical Brothers, "99 Red Balloons" by Goldfinger, "I Want You Back" by Folder 5, "Wouldn't It Be Nice" by The Beach Boys, "End of the Line" by Traveling Wilburys, "E.G.G.M.A.N." by Paul Shortino, "Lollipop" by Tempura Kidz and "London Town" by Mr Eazi.

So, what is the most famous song in the Sonic movies? In my opinion it is "Live & Learn", because a rock song tied to the games reaches the fans who grew up with them, and the third film saves its vocal version for the biggest moment of the climax. If you want the song most tied to the 2020 film, that is "Boom".

Our picks: the best songs in the Sonic the Hedgehog films (opinion)

• "Live & Learn" by Crush 40: the riff in the opening scene and the full vocal version at the Eclipse Cannon give the film a clear musical arc.
• "Stars in the Sky" by Kid Cudi: it opens the sequel and returns over the end credits, so it frames the whole story.
• "Boom" by X Ambassadors: it is the song most people connect with the film that introduced this version of Sonic.
• "Uptown Funk" by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars: a crowd pleaser that suits the sequel's lighter, funnier side.
• "Run It" by Jelly Roll: it is the song written for the third film, and it gives a darker movie a sound of its own.
• "Firestarter" by The Prodigy: a hard edged choice that matches the more serious tone of the third film.

The songs sit inside the films, so the best way to hear them in context is to watch the movie itself. Where to watch sonic covers services in the US, UK and Australia, and sonic merchandise covers physical collectibles. Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is set for March 19, 2027, and our sonic 4 page tracks its status.