Sonic the Hedgehog (2020): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending
Sonic the Hedgehog is a 2020 action comedy directed by Jeff Fowler, starring Ben Schwartz as Sonic, Jim Carrey and James Marsden. It runs 1 hour 39 minutes and earned $319.7 million worldwide on a $85 million budget. It earned 1 award nomination, including Best Fantasy Film Release at the Saturn Awards 2021. Critics gave it 85% on Rotten Tomatoes and 47 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.5/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 39m (99 min)
- Director
- Jeff Fowler
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Paramount Pictures
- Budget
- $85M
- After the credits
- Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
What Is Sonic the Hedgehog About?
The premise of Sonic the Hedgehog without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
A small-town police officer finds his life turned upside down when he partners with Sonic, a speedy blue hedgehog, to stop the schemes of the villainous Dr. Robotnik. Robotnik intends to capture Sonic and harness his incredible speed for his own selfish goals, leading to a thrilling, high-speed chase filled with action and humor.
Sonic the Hedgehog Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- based on video game
- small town
- hedgehog
- drone
- villain
- alien
- police
- dart
- live action cgi hybrid
- highway
- police car
- bar fight
+38 more Show fewer
- power ring
- sonic the hedgehog character
- speed
- live action adaptation
- live action and animation
- road trip
- talking animal
- hero
- veterinarian
- police officer
- running
- car
- friend
- violence
- super speed
- planet
- sheriff
- government
- red sneakers
- anthropomorphic hedgehog
- car chase
- portal
- cave
- part computer animation
- baseball
- sack
- blue electricity
- puma shoes
- new sneakers
- bomb
- new shoes
- interspecies friendship
- mad scientist
- treehouse
- san francisco california
- cgi animal in live action title
- cgi character in a live action movie
- explosion
Sonic the Hedgehog Cast & Characters
Ben Schwartz leads the cast as Sonic, with Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik and James Marsden as Tom. Directed by Jeff Fowler; 24 actors are credited in all.
- Director Jeff Fowler
-
Ben Schwartz as Sonic -
Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik -
James Marsden as Tom -
Tika Sumpter as Maddie
Also Starring in Sonic the Hedgehog
· 20 more- Neal McDonough Major Bennington
- Adam Pally Wade
- Natasha Rothwell Rachel
- Lee Majdoub Agent Stone
- Frank C. Turner Crazy Carl
- Tom Butler Vice Chairman Walters
- Michael Hogan Air Force Chief of Staff
- Elfina Luk Secretary of Homeland Security
- Debs Howard
- Leanne Lapp
- Emma Oliver Parisian Little Kid
- Lisa Chandler
- Jeanie Cloutier Businesswoman
- Shannon Chan-Kent Roadhouse Waitress
- Sandy Robson
- Bailey Skodje
Show all 24 cast members Show fewer cast members
More from Jeff Fowler
More films directed by Jeff Fowler, best-rated first: Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Gopher Broke.
Sonic the Hedgehog Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Sonic the Hedgehog 85% on Rotten Tomatoes and 47 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.5/10. Our Echo Score gives it 73/100, strongest in character & emotion (85) and weakest in story & flow (60).
Sonic the Hedgehog Echo Score Breakdown
In its overall execution, Sonic the Hedgehog excels in delivering lively performances and accessible family entertainment but lacks enduring narrative depth. The brisk pacing and vibrant design maintain consistent engagement, while Jim Carrey’s and Ben Schwartz’s portrayals provide notable energy and warmth. However, the plot’s reliance on familiar tropes and occasional logic gaps undermines long-term impact. Ultimately, the film offers a solid, entertaining experience suited to viewers seeking lighthearted fun rather than profound storytelling.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 75
In terms of art and craft, the film showcases vibrant production design and crisp visual effects. The redesign of Sonic’s CGI characters demonstrates responsiveness to feedback, and the direction maintains a lively pace through bright color palettes and dynamic editing. However, the visual flourishes rarely translate into memorable mise-en-scène. Overall, the art elements support a playful but fleeting spectacle.
- Character & Emotion 85
When it comes to character and emotion, Jim Carrey’s exuberant performance anchors the film with broad comedic energy, while Ben Schwartz and James Marsden offer engaging chemistry. The bond between Sonic and Tom yields genuine warmth, but secondary characters receive limited development. Despite these constraints, the central trio creates enough emotional resonance to sustain audience investment.
- Story & Flow 60
In terms of story and flow, the narrative follows a straightforward setup introducing Sonic’s origin and pairing him with a human ally. The pacing moves briskly through exposition and set-pieces, keeping younger viewers engaged, yet the plot relies on familiar tropes and occasional logic gaps. While engagement remains consistent, the lack of originality prevents deeper lasting impact.
- Sensory Experience 78
When considering the sensory experience, the soundtrack blends orchestral tones with electronic motifs, occasionally evoking classic game themes yet largely adhering to generic cues. Sound design emphasizes Sonic’s speed through kinetic effects, and the visual style integrates vibrant colors and fast edits. The cohesion of audio-visual elements produces an entertaining atmosphere, though it seldom achieves a lasting sensory impression.
- Rewatch Factor 68
Regarding rewatch factor, the film’s humor and character performances encourage repeated viewings, especially for fans of the franchise and younger audiences. The brisk pacing and bright visuals sustain initial interest, but limited narrative depth and predictable plot beats reduce the appeal of multiple viewings. Overall, the movie offers modest replay value, with enjoyment best realized in group or family settings.
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IMDb 6.5 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 85% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 95%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 47 Metascore
User score 8.0
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 73% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.9 /5
1.3K ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 4.6 /5
See on Movie Insider
Sonic the Hedgehog Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in Sonic the Hedgehog from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Sonic, the extraterrestrial blue hedgehog voiced by Ben Schwartz](/actor/ben-schwartz), possesses the remarkable ability to run at supersonic speeds. He is pursued by a tribe of Echidnas who covet his power. With a touch of wisdom, his guardian, Longclaw the Owl, bestows upon him a bag of rings capable of creating portals to other worlds. In a brave act to protect him, she sends Sonic to Earth while confronting the Echidnas, reminding him that world wants to harness his abilities and urging him to stay concealed for his safety.
Full summary
The whole story of Sonic the Hedgehog, scene by scene, with the ending explained
Sonic the Hedgehog Box Office & Budget
Sonic the Hedgehog grossed $319.7 million worldwide on a $85 million budget, 3.8 times what it cost. $149 million came from the US and Canada and $170.7 million (53%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$319.7M
3.8× its budget
- US & Canada
- $149M
- International
- $170.7M
- Budget
- $85M
Sonic the Hedgehog Awards & Nominations
Sonic the Hedgehog earned 1 award nomination, including Best Fantasy Film Release at the Saturn Awards 2021.
1 nomination1 ceremony
-
Saturn Awards 2021 1 nomination- Nominated Best Fantasy Film Release
Sonic the Hedgehog Trailers & Videos
10 videos: 1 trailer, 4 teasers, 4 clips and 1 featurette.
- Teaser Classic
- Teaser Big Game Spot
- Teaser Super
- Teaser Drive
How Well Do You Know Sonic the Hedgehog?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What color is Sonic the Hedgehog?
Cars in Sonic the Hedgehog
57 cars on screen, including the 2019 Toyota Tacoma and the unknown.
-
2019 Toyota Tacoma Main role -
unknown Important role -
2006 Chevrolet Malibu Minor role -
2015 Chevrolet Suburban Minor role
Sonic the Hedgehog Also Known As
37 alternative titles, including “Sonik kino” and “سونیک جوجه تیغی”.
- Also known as
-
- Sonik kino
- سونیک جوجه تیغی
- Tipratikan Sonik
- Sonic Le Hérisson
- Sonic. Szybki jak błyskawica
- Sonic: La película
- Соник: Филмът
- Sonic, le film
- Sonic: O Filme
- 수퍼 소닉
- Соник в Кино
- Їжак Сонік
+25 more Show fewer
- Sonic - Il film
- Sonic, a sündisznó
- Ježek Sonic
- סוניק: הסרט
- Ježko Sonic
- Sonic - O Filme
- โซนิค เดอะ เฮดจ์ฮ็อก
- 刺猬索尼克
- Sonic the Movie
- Sonic ariciul
- Sonic: Η Ταινία
- Kirpi Sonic
- 音速小子
- Kirpi Sonik
- سونيك القنفذ
- 超音鼠大電影
- Соников филм
- ソニック・ザ・ムービー
- Nhím Sonic
- सॉनिक द हेजहॉग
- Soniks: Filma
- Ežiukas Sonic
- سونیک خارپشت
- Sonic: Super jež, ზღარბი სონიკი
- Siil Sonic
Seen Sonic the Hedgehog?
Movies Like Sonic the Hedgehog
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic the Hedgehog 2.
Articles About Sonic the Hedgehog
Our article about Sonic the Hedgehog: “The Evolution of Film Censorship Through the Decades”.
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History
Sonic the Hedgehog FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Sonic the Hedgehog, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Sonic the Hedgehog?
Sonic the Hedgehog runs 1 hour 39 minutes (99 minutes).
When was Sonic the Hedgehog released?
Sonic the Hedgehog was released on February 14, 2020.
Who directed Sonic the Hedgehog?
Sonic the Hedgehog was directed by Jeff Fowler.
More films by Jeff Fowler Who is in the cast of Sonic the Hedgehog?
Sonic the Hedgehog stars Ben Schwartz as Sonic, Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik and James Marsden as Tom, among 24 credited actors.
How much did Sonic the Hedgehog make at the box office?
Sonic the Hedgehog grossed $319.7 million worldwide ($149 million domestic, $170.7 million international) on a budget of $85 million.
How is Sonic the Hedgehog rated?
Sonic the Hedgehog has 6.5/10 on IMDb, 85% on Rotten Tomatoes, 47 on Metacritic and 73% on TMDB.
Was Sonic the Hedgehog nominated for any awards?
Sonic the Hedgehog received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.
Does Sonic the Hedgehog have a post-credit scene?
Yes. Sonic the Hedgehog has an extra scene during or after the credits, so it is worth staying seated.
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