Mark your calendars, Sonic fans! The next thrilling installment in the Sonic the Hedgehog series, Sonic the Hedgehog 4, is slated to race into theaters on March 19, 2027. Paramount has officially announced this release date, giving us just two years to wait before we see the iconic blue blur back in action. While details about the plot and new characters remain under wraps, the anticipation is already building.
The decision to greenlight another film comes as no surprise following the phenomenal success of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, which raked in an impressive $218 million at the domestic box office and over $420 million worldwide. This makes it the highest-grossing film in the Sonic franchise, surpassing the first movie's $148 million haul. It's a testament to the series' resilience, especially considering the initial controversy over Sonic's design, which was significantly altered in post-production.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 also holds the distinction of being the second highest-grossing video game movie of all time in North America, trailing only behind the animated Super Mario Bros. Movie. This continues the storied rivalry between Nintendo and Sega, now playing out on the big screen.
The live-action Sonic franchise has grown impressively over the years, now encompassing three feature films and a Knuckles streaming TV show spinoff. Based on the beloved Sega video game series, the films follow Sonic, voiced by Ben Schwartz, as he battles his nemesis, Dr. Robotnik, portrayed by Jim Carrey. Each new film has expanded the Sonic universe, introducing fan-favorite characters like Tails (voiced by Colleen O'Shaughnessey) and Knuckles (voiced by Idris Elba), with the latest film bringing Shadow the Hedgehog, voiced by Keanu Reeves, into the fold.
Sonic 3 has already teased the introduction of another character to the franchise, but we'll keep that a surprise for now. For those eager to learn more, you can check out our new characters guide. And don't forget to read our Sonic 3 review for a deeper dive into the latest adventure of everyone's favorite hedgehog.
