Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Sonic, Knuckles and Tails reunite to battle Shadow, a mysterious new enemy with powers unlike anything they've faced before. With their abilities outmatched in every way, they seek out an unlikely alliance to stop Shadow and protect the planet.

Release date: December 20, 2024 (USA)

Director: Jeff Fowler

Adapted from: Sonic the Hedgehog

Distributed by: Paramount Pictures

Box office: $62 million

Music by: Tom Holkenborg

Sonic shares more in common with Fast & Furious' Dominic Toretto than you might think. Sure, on the surface, one's a blue hedgehog and the other's a bulky Vin Diesel who's welded to a Dodge Charger, but let me explain.

Both love going fast; both have an obsession with family; both are essentially superheroes; both are great at convincing their defeated rivals to join their gang; and both are leading franchises overloaded with too many characters.

That last point is the most pressing when it comes to Sonic 3 – there are too many humans and CGI animals vying for screen time. Not only has everyone and their literal grandfather shown up for this third outing, but we're also introduced to a handful of new faces, including Keanu Reeves as Shadow, Krysten Ritter's military leader Director Rockwell, and the rest of the villainous Robotnik family. There's a lot to juggle...

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 picks up directly after the second movie's post-credit scene in which Shadow – the dark version of Sonic best known in the games for being the ultimate bad-ass anti-hero – wakes up after 50 years of being kept on ice. He quickly dismisses some guards, escapes, and battles 'Team Sonic' – that's the Blue Blur, his foxy friend Tails, and the red echidna Knuckles – in Tokyo.