PARAMOUNT PICTURES ANNOUNCES SONIC THE HEDGEHOG FILM FRANCHISE ZOOMS PAST $1 BILLION IN WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE GROSS

Rhea-AI Summary

Paramount Pictures (PARA) announced its Sonic the Hedgehog film franchise has surpassed $1B in total box office receipts worldwide. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has earned over $312M globally, with $187M domestically and $100M+ internationally. The first two films earned a combined $725.2M globally and generated $181M in home entertainment revenue.

The third installment received an 'A' CinemaScore and holds an 86% Rotten Tomatoes critics' score, tying for the best-reviewed video game adaptation. The spinoff series 'Knuckles' became Paramount+'s #1 Kids & Family series with 11M global streaming hours in its first 28 days. The franchise's success has led to development of a fourth installment.

The latest film features returning cast including Jim Carrey, and introduces Shadow as a new antagonist. The movie's international opening performed 83% better than its predecessor on a like-for-like basis.

Positive

• Franchise surpassed $1B in total box office receipts
• Sonic 3 earned $312M globally, with strong domestic ($187M) and international ($100M+) performance
• Previous films generated $725.2M box office and $181M home entertainment revenue
• Strong critical reception with 86% Rotten Tomatoes score
• Knuckles spinoff series success on Paramount+
• Fourth installment in development indicating franchise sustainability

Negative

• None.

Insights

Box Office Analyst

The Sonic franchise hitting $1B in global box office marks a significant milestone, with Sonic 3 demonstrating exceptional performance metrics. The film's $312M global haul, combined with an 83% improvement over Sonic 2 in comparable markets, indicates robust audience demand and franchise growth. The $181M in home entertainment revenue adds substantial ancillary value.

The franchise's success is particularly noteworthy given the historically challenging video game adaptation market. The 86% Rotten Tomatoes score, tied for best-reviewed video game film, suggests strong quality that typically correlates with extended box office legs. For PARA, this represents a valuable IP with proven theatrical viability and streaming potential, evidenced by Knuckles' streaming success on Paramount+.

The accelerated international box office pace reaching $100M faster than predecessors, despite only 84% market coverage, signals strong global market penetration and potential for further expansion. This performance strengthens Paramount's position in family entertainment, a important segment for steady box office returns.

Media Industry Analyst

The multi-platform success of the Sonic franchise demonstrates PARA's effective IP monetization strategy. Beyond theatrical success, the franchise's expansion into streaming with Knuckles becoming Paramount+'s #1 Kids & Family series showcases successful cross-platform synergy. This dual-revenue model combining theatrical and streaming helps maximize IP value while building subscriber engagement.

The greenlight of a fourth installment indicates strong franchise sustainability, important for PARA's content portfolio. The series maintains production continuity with consistent creative teams, which historically correlates with franchise longevity. The combination of critical acclaim and commercial success positions Sonic as a tentpole franchise, potentially offsetting risks in other areas of PARA's content strategy.

The third film in the series, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, recently surpassed $100M at the international box office, and has earned over $187M domestically for a cumulative worldwide gross to-date of over $312M

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Jan. 5, 2025  /PRNewswire/ -- Paramount Pictures today announced that its Sonic the Hedgehog film franchise, based on the SEGA video game, has surpassed $1B in total box office receipts worldwide, as Sonic the Hedgehog 3 continues to draw audiences to theatres across the globe.

Released in February 2020 and April 2022, respectively, Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 earned a combined $725.2M globally and generated $181M in consumer spending from home entertainment rentals and purchases. Last April, the spinoff series "Knuckles" debuted on Paramount +, earning over 11M total global hours in its first 28 days streaming, making it the #1 Kids & Family series ever in terms of hours on the platform.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 released theatrically last month to an "A" CinemaScore and boasts a franchise-best Certified Fresh 86% Rotten Tomatoes critics' score (tying it for #1 as the best-reviewed video game film adaptation of all time), and a franchise-best 96% Verified Hot Popcornmeter score, earning over $312M globally to-date. The film opened to #1 at the domestic box office, followed by the franchise's biggest international opening, with just 84% of the international footprint the following week. On a like-for-like basis, including previews, for the same group of markets this result was 83% ahead of Sonic the Hedgehog 2. The movie also reached $100M in international box office gross more quickly than its predecessors.

The latest film in the series features the return of the original cast, including Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik. The film stars Carrey, Ben Schwartz, Krysten Ritter, Lee Majdoub, Natasha Rothwell, Adam Pally, Shemar Moore, Colleen O'Shaughnessey, Alyla Browne, James Wolk with James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Idris Elba and Keanu Reeves.  It is directed by Jeff Fowler, who has directed all three films in the series, with a screenplay by Pat Casey & Josh Miller and John Whittington, story by Pat Casey & Josh Miller, and produced by Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher, Toru Nakahara, and Hitoshi Okuno.

In the film, Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails reunite against a powerful new adversary, Shadow, a mysterious villain with powers unlike anything they have faced before. With their abilities outmatched in every way, Team Sonic must seek out an unlikely alliance in hopes of stopping Shadow and protecting the planet.

Recently, the studio announced that development is underway for a fourth installment of the Sonic the Hedgehog film series.  

Said Moritz and Ascher, "We are so overjoyed with the amazing response to the Sonic the Hedgehog films from audiences and fans around the world and are proud to be part of the incredible, world-class filmmaking team that has come together to build this franchise. We make these movies for the fans; and their passion, support and love for these characters is what drives us every day to continue creating the fast, funny, and action-packed stories that make up the ever-expanding Sonic Universe."

Said Paramount Pictures President & CEO Brian Robbins, "The Sonic the Hedgehog franchise has become an unstoppable cultural force with limitless potential. Congratulations to our partners at SEGA, our filmmaking team, including Neal, Toby, and Jeff, who have revolutionized the heights that Sonic can reach, and the legions of loyal and devoted fans who have helped guide us every step of the way. As each chapter of Sonic's adventures continues to raise the bar, we're incredibly proud and excited to continue delivering stories and characters that resonate with audiences around the world."

About Paramount Pictures

Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Paramount Global (NASDAQ: PARA, PARAA), a leading global media and entertainment company that creates premium content and experiences for audiences worldwide. Paramount Pictures has some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, and Paramount Players. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.

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SOURCE Paramount Pictures

FAQ

How much has Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (PARA) earned at the box office globally?

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has earned over $312M globally, with $187M domestically and over $100M internationally.

What is the total box office revenue for the entire Sonic franchise (PARA)?

The Sonic the Hedgehog franchise has surpassed $1B in total box office receipts worldwide.

How did Sonic 3 perform compared to Sonic 2 in international markets?

Sonic 3's international opening performed 83% better than Sonic 2 on a like-for-like basis, despite only having 84% of the international footprint.

What was the home entertainment revenue for the first two Sonic movies (PARA)?

The first two Sonic films generated $181M in consumer spending from home entertainment rentals and purchases.

How successful was the Knuckles spinoff series on Paramount+?

The Knuckles series became the #1 Kids & Family series on Paramount+ with over 11M total global streaming hours in its first 28 days.

What is the Rotten Tomatoes score for Sonic 3 (PARA)?

Sonic 3 received an 86% Certified Fresh Rotten Tomatoes critics' score, tying for the best-reviewed video game film adaptation of all time.