Sonic Movies in Order: Release and Chronological Watch Guide
The Sonic movies in order are Sonic the Hedgehog (2020), Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022) and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024), all directed by Jeff Fowler, with Sonic the Hedgehog 4 due in US theaters on March 19, 2027. Release order and story order are the same, and the Knuckles series on Paramount+ fits between the second and third films if you want to include it.
Sonic Movies in Order of Release
Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)Directed by Jeff Fowler
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022)Directed by Jeff Fowler
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024)Directed by Jeff Fowler
Sonic Movies in Chronological Order, Including Knuckles
- Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)Directed by Jeff Fowler
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022)Directed by Jeff Fowler
- Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024)Directed by Jeff Fowler
Sonic the Hedgehog - Around the World in 80 Seconds ()Short film
Sonic Drone Home (2022)Short film
About the Release Order
The Sonic movies in order of release are Sonic the Hedgehog (2020), Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022) and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024), with Sonic the Hedgehog 4 set for 2027. Jeff Fowler directed all three finished films, so a straight run from one to the next is easy to follow.
Here is the full run, including the Knuckles series for anyone who wants every piece in one list (all dates are US):
| Step | Year | Title | Type | US release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2020 | Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) | Film | February 14, 2020 |
| 2 | 2022 | Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | Film | April 8, 2022 |
| 3 | 2024 | Knuckles | Paramount+ series, six episodes | April 26, 2024 |
| 4 | 2024 | Sonic the Hedgehog 3 | Film | December 20, 2024 |
| 5 | 2027 | Sonic 4 (Sonic the Hedgehog 4) | Film, upcoming | March 19, 2027 |
The three released films run 99, 123 and 110 minutes, and all three carry a PG certification in the US, the UK and Australia. Dates shift a little abroad, but not enough to change the order. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 reached UK theaters on April 1, 2022 and Australian theaters on March 31, 2022, according to TMDB, and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 opened in both countries on December 26, 2024, according to Box Office Mojo.
Paramount set Sonic the Hedgehog 4 for March 19, 2027 in the US, and no UK or Australian dates have been reported. Filming began on March 2, 2026, according to Dexerto, and the film is now in post production. If you want every film in one place, the Sonic movies hub lists them all, and the Sonic 4 trailer section covers the 30 second teaser that Paramount released on March 19, 2026, which shows Jim Carrey as Dr. Ivo Robotnik.
About the Chronological Order
The Sonic movies in chronological order match the release order: Sonic the Hedgehog (2020), Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and then Sonic the Hedgehog 4. If you add the Knuckles series, the story order becomes film one, film two, Knuckles, film three, because the show is set between Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
Why does the order not twist the way some franchises do? Each film picks up after the last one rather than jumping around. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 begins eight months after Sonic sent Dr. Robotnik away to the Mushroom Planet, so it follows the first film closely. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 includes a flashback to 1974, where the alien hedgehog Shadow is captured by the military agency G.U.N., but that scene sits inside a present day story, so it does not change where the film belongs in the sequence.
Knuckles is the one piece that needs a decision. The six episode series, created by John Whittington and Toby Ascher, finds Knuckles the echidna (voiced by Idris Elba) living in Montana after the events of the second film, where he teams up with the small town deputy Wade Whipple. Wade is played by Adam Pally, who also plays him in the films, and Jeff Fowler directed the pilot. That being said, Knuckles is a spin-off on Paramount+, so the three films work as a complete watch by themselves.
Two shorts also sit around the films, and they are extras rather than steps in the main run. Around the World in 80 Seconds is a two minute short told in doodle style hand drawn animation, with Ben Schwartz voicing Sonic as he races past famous landmarks, and it belongs after the first film. Sonic Drone Home is a six minute fully CGI short directed by David Nelson, released digitally on May 24, 2022, in which Sonic, Tails and Knuckles run into a downed Robotnik drone near Green Hills, and it belongs after Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Fred Tatasciore voices Knuckles and Alicyn Packard voices Tails in that short, in place of Idris Elba and Colleen O'Shaughnessey.
Where will Sonic the Hedgehog 4 land? It sits last by release date. Several returning actors have been confirmed, including Ben Schwartz as Sonic, Jim Carrey as Dr. Ivo Robotnik and Idris Elba as Knuckles. Kristen Bell has been reported as the voice of Amy Rose, though that casting is reported rather than confirmed. For the full story across films and series, the Sonic timeline goes into more detail, and the Sonic cast section lists who plays whom.
Where to Start: My Pick for Every Kind of Viewer
In my opinion, you should start with the first film no matter who is on the sofa, and then keep going in order. Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) is only 99 minutes, it introduces Sonic hiding in a cave near Green Hills, Montana, and it brings in Tom Wachowski, the friendly sheriff, and his wife Maddie, whom Sonic spies on from afar. Think of it like joining a long running sitcom: you could drop in at season two, but you would miss why everyone at the table already likes each other.
If you are choosing tonight's film for children, the official certification is PG for all three films in the US, the UK and Australia, which is a useful starting point. That being said, the right film depends on your child, and it could be argued that you should preview the third one if your youngest is sensitive, since it opens with Shadow's backstory. Perhaps watch it with them the first time.
If you grew up on the games and only care about Shadow, I would still begin at the start. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 leans on Tails and Knuckles, who arrive in the second film, so the third lands better with that background. Is a marathon realistic? The three films total 332 minutes, or 5 hours and 32 minutes, which is two relaxed evenings with snacks, not a punishing weekend.
My suggestion for Knuckles is to treat it as a bonus. Put it between films two and three if you have the time and an Idris Elba fan in the house, and skip it if you only want the main story. For streaming, the where to watch Sonic guide has the details; as of November 3, 2026, TMDB's JustWatch listings show all three films on Paramount+ in the US. When you are done, Sonic movies ranked shows how I would order them by enjoyment, and the Sonic characters guide is handy for anyone who needs a refresher on who Tails, Knuckles and Shadow are.
Facts
- Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) was released in US theaters on February 14, 2020. CNBC, checked 2026-11-03
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was released in US theaters on April 8, 2022. Box Office Mojo, checked 2026-11-03
- Sonic the Hedgehog 3 was released in US theaters on December 20, 2024. Variety, checked 2026-11-03
- Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is set for a US theatrical release on March 19, 2027. TheWrap, checked 2026-11-03
- The Knuckles series premiered on Paramount+ on April 26, 2024, with six episodes. TheWrap, checked 2026-11-03
- The Knuckles series is set between Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Sonic the Hedgehog 3. TheWrap, checked 2026-11-03
- Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) runs 99 minutes. TMDB, checked 2026-11-03
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2 runs 123 minutes. TMDB, checked 2026-11-03
- Sonic the Hedgehog 3 runs 110 minutes. TMDB, checked 2026-11-03
- Jeff Fowler directed Sonic the Hedgehog (2020). TMDB, checked 2026-11-03
- Jeff Fowler directed Sonic the Hedgehog 2. TMDB, checked 2026-11-03
- Jeff Fowler directed Sonic the Hedgehog 3. TMDB, checked 2026-11-03
FAQs
How do I watch Sonic in order?
Watch Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) first, then Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022), then Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024). If you want the Knuckles series, which is set between the second and third films, watch it after Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Sonic the Hedgehog 4 follows in 2027.
What is the order of the Sonic series?
The order is Sonic the Hedgehog (February 14, 2020), Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (April 8, 2022), the Knuckles series (April 26, 2024, optional) and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (December 20, 2024), all US dates. Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is scheduled for March 19, 2027. Release order and chronological order match.
Is Sonic Movie 4 coming?
Yes. Paramount revealed the title Sonic the Hedgehog 4 and its cast on March 19, 2026, with a US theatrical release date of March 19, 2027. Filming began on March 2, 2026, and the film is in post production. No UK or Australian dates have been reported.
Is there a fifth Sonic movie?
Not yet reported. The next film is Sonic the Hedgehog 4, the fourth in the series, due in US theaters on March 19, 2027, and it is the only upcoming film in the run.
Is Sonic Movie 4 the last one?
Paramount has not said that Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is the last film, and no studio statement about the end of the series has been reported. The film is the next release, and any later plans would need their own announcement.
Where does Knuckles fit in the Sonic movie order?
The Knuckles series on Paramount+ (2024) sits between Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Sonic the Hedgehog 3, so watch it after the second film if you want to include it.