Summary
- Sonic 3 is now the second-highest-grossing video game of all time in the US.
- The threequel is up to $204 million which puts it above the previous second-placed adaptation, Sonic 2.
- It’s still a long way behind Mario in first place and is currently seventh in the worldwide rankings.
Five years ago, Sonic fans were preparing for its first movie. A movie we were all pretty skeptical about after it was delayed so that the terrible OG design for the hedgehog could be rectified. Three movies later, the combined box office total for the trilogy has surpassed $1 billion and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has become the second highest-grossing video game movie of all time at the US box office.
With this past weekend’s numbers accounted for, Sonic 3 has now made $204 million domestically. Not only does that mean it has made more in the US than the prior two Sonic movies, which finished their runs on $146 million and $190 million respectively, but it has surpassed every other big-screen video game adaptation so far, and there have a lot of them, particularly in the last few years.
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The $190 million generated by Sonic 2 was previously enough for it to be the silver medal holder, while the first Sonic movie has been knocked off the podium since Uncharted, which ended its run with $148 million in the US, finished its run slightly ahead of the OG Sonic movie and currently occupies the bronze medal spot. Detective Pikachu rounds out the top five with $144 million.
Sonic 3 Is Now The Second Highest-Grossing Video Game Movie In The US
Sonic Movies Now Occupy Three Of The Top Five Spots Domestically
In case you haven’t already figured it out, The Super Mario Bros. Movie is far and away the biggest earner when it comes to video game movies and it’s unlikely Sonic 3 will ever catch it, no matter how fast the Blue Blur runs. The world’s most famous plumber ended his own box office run in 2023 just shy of $575 million domestically. Not only is that more than any other video game movie has made in the US, but its US numbers alone would rank first worldwide when compared to all other adaptations.
Speaking of worldwide box office numbers, Sonic 3 hasn’t quite hit the lofty goals it’s achieving back home, at least not yet. $384 million so far when its US numbers are combined with international ones which means it sits in seventh overall. That’s behind Mario, Uncharted, and Sonic 2 which ended its run on $402 million. It’s even behind Warcraft which remains the second most successful video game movie ever in terms of worldwide box office numbers. Even though it only made $47 million in the US, the $391 million at the international box office meant it comfortably raked in more than $400 million in total.
Despite Disney’s claims, Sonic 3 also continues to outpace Mufasa: The Lion King at the US box office. $204 million for the Blue Blur versus $188 million for Mufasa. More like The Lying King, am I right?
Sonic has made more with each passing movie in the US, and with just $18 million to go and more markets to release in, it seems almost certain that will end up being true at the worldwide box office too very soon. With Sonic 4 already confirmed to be coming our way in 2027, we’ll have to see if Paramount and Sega can keep that momentum going.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 continues the adventures of Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles, and teases the introduction of Shadow the Hedgehog.
- Release Date
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December 20, 2024
- Cast
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James Marsden
, Ben Schwartz
, Colleen O’Shaughnessey
, Idris Elba
, Tika Sumpter
, Lee Majdoub - Director
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Jeff Fowler
- Writers
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Pat Casey
, Josh Miller
, John Whittington