Paramount’s live-actionSonic the Hedgehogfranchise has four installments now, and ranking the movies and TV show spinoffs from worst to best reveals which project is better than the rest. Although the series nearly got off to a horrible start with the “Ugly Sonic” design for Sega’s iconic video game character, the studio smartly redesigned the Blue Blur and saved the franchise. 2020’sSonic the Hedgehogwas a big enough hit that Paramount could justify continuing to explore this world and expand it by including moreSonic the Hedgehogvideo game characters in the movies.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2was the first sequel in the franchise, and the 2022 release became an even bigger hit than its predecessor. The introduction of Knuckles paved the way for his Paramount+ TV spinoff show,Knuckles, in 2024. The franchise then returned to the big screen with the release ofSonic the Hedgehog 3later that year. Between the completed movie trilogy and a TV show, each installment of theSonic the Hedgehogfranchise balanced heart, action, and humor. However, some are more successful in this goal than others, creating a hierarchy for the bestSonic the Hedgehogmovie.
$320 million
64%
93%
Sonic the Hedgehog 2(2022)
$405 million
69%
96%
75%
67%
Sonic the Hedgehog 3(2024)
88%
98%
Released on Paramount+ in April 2024,Knucklesis a six-episode spinoff TV show for Idris Elba’s red echidna character. The series follows Knuckles as he adjusts to life on Earth and soon finds himself working with Wade Whipple (Adam Pally) to defeat some rogue G.U.N. agents harnessing the echidna’s power.Knucklesattempts to bring an emotional depth to its lead character by fully exploring his backstory and motivations after being the anti-hero/villain ofSonic the Hedgehog 2.The show is most effective when it leans into Knuckles and the action, which does deliver.
The main issue forKnucklesis that it is not nearly as focused on its titular character as expected. Wade Whipple is effectively the show’s co-lead. He can feel like the main character at points due to his own arc and expansion of his personal life. This is likely partially due toKnucklesneeding tofocus more on a human character than a fully CGI creation to help keep costs down. While that might make the most fiscal sense for a show streaming on Paramount+, it is not the best decision for a show meant to focus on Knuckles.
There would be no live-actionSonic the Hedgehogfranchise if it was not for the first movie. Thank goodness everyone involved listened to the criticisms about the “Ugly Sonic” design and did what was needed to fix the design by making Sonic look less human and more like his video game counterpart. That decision alone savedSonic the Hedgehogfrom certain doom. The 2020 film directed by Jeff Fowler proved to have a strong mixture of heart and humor thanks tothe effectiveness of the relationship between Sonic (Ben Schwartz) and Tom Wachowski (James Marsden).
Sonic’s portrayal in the first film is excellent, as he’s naive, goofy, powerful, and strong-willed - making his younger personality perfectly come across. The road trip style adventure that Sonic and Tom go on allows for several comedic moments and action set pieces that help keep the mood light and audiences entertained. Of course, it’s Jim Carrey’s performance as Dr. Robotnik that stands out. While the character design is a far cry from Eggman’s video game appearance,Sonic the Hedgehogis a great opportunity to see Carrey back in a very comedic and silly rolethat he fully embraces.
After the tease ofTails' arrival inSonic the Hedgehog’s post-credits scene, it was clear thatSonic the Hedgehog 2would bring the movies closer to the games if it was made. Thanks to the first film’s $320 million box office, Paramount said yes to a sequel and gave audiences more than just Colleen O’Shaunessey’s Tails.Sonic the Hedgehog 2positioned Knuckles as a secondary antagonist working with Robotnik. WithTails providing more comedy and heart and Knuckles increasing the scope of the action, the sequel delivered a bigger and more entertaining film than the first.
Video game enthusiasts had to be pleased with Tails and Knuckles joining the party, as well as the film diving deeper into the lore and introducingChaos Emeralds and the Master Emerald. The sequel is not perfect - it’s too long, and the human characters are not always compelling - but it’s a wildly entertaining ride. Knuckles is a worthy foe for Sonic at the start with understandable motivations, butthe formation of Team Sonic at the end is earned. Add in seeing Sonic go Super Sonic for the first time, andSonic the Hedgehog 2is a satisfying adventure.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3is the best live-actionSonicmoviein the franchise. A big part of this is paying off the tease of Shadow’s introduction. Keanu Reeves joins the series to voice the black hedgehog, and he completely nails the portrayal.Reeves helps channel Shadow’s darknessdue to his heartbreaking backstory, which also means letting some of that pain and trauma come through with his performance. Shadow is not only a worthy foil to Sonic who is every bit his equal from a power perspective; he’s a brilliant example of how Sonic could have turned out differently.
In terms of whereSonic 3disappoints, Tails and Knuckles are relegated to more of supporting characters to make room for Sonic and Shadow’s storylines. While its unfortunate for them, the trauma-focused story for Sonic and Shadow really works. There are stillplenty of comedic beats with Carrey’s dual Robotnik roles, andSonic the Hedgehog 3’s endingtakes the action to the next level in several ways. It’s the biggest and best installment that the franchise has delivered to this point. WithSonic the Hedgehog 4confirmed, theSonic the Hedgehogfranchise has a high bar to clear now.
Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is confirmed for a 2027 release
