Movie · 2020 · Action, Science Fiction, Comedy, Family · 1h 39m · PG · English
Curator score: 1.6/10 (806K ratings)
A whole new speed of hero.
Overview
Powered with incredible speed, Sonic The Hedgehog embraces his new home on Earth. That is, until Sonic sparks the attention of super-uncool evil genius Dr. Robotnik. Now it’s super-villain vs. super-sonic in an all-out race across the globe to stop Robotnik from using Sonic’s unique power for world domination.
Ratings
Curator score: 1.6/10
IMDb: 6.5/10
Letterboxd: 2.92/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 64%
Metacritic: 47
TMDB: 7.3/10
Director
Jeff Fowler
Production
Original Film, Blur Studio, Marza Animation Planet, Paramount Pictures, SEGA, SEGA of America
Cast
Ben Schwartz, James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Jim Carrey, Natasha Rothwell, Adam Pally, Neal McDonough, Lee Majdoub, Tom Butler, Frank C. Turner, Melody Nosipho Niemann, Shannon Chan-Kent, Brad Kelly, Elfina Luk, Garry Chalk, Michael Hogan, Peter Bryant, Jeremy Arnold, Jeanie Cloutier, Emma Oliver
Where to watch
Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Philo
Curator Review
Verdict
A bright, kid-friendly video-game adaptation with enough speed, slapstick, and Jim Carrey villainy to work as a family crowd-pleaser. It’s uneven and often generic, but the movie knows its audience and delivers a simple, energetic adventure with genuine charm.
Best for
families with younger kids
viewers who want lightweight action-comedy
fans of broad physical comedy and cartoonish villains
audiences nostalgic for the Sonic brand
Skip if
you want sharp writing or inventive plotting
you dislike obvious product-tested family movies
you prefer game adaptations with deeper lore or world-building
you’re allergic to manic, live-wire performances
Overview
Sonic the Hedgehog is exactly the kind of movie that survives on momentum, color, and personality more than on originality. It takes a familiar fish-out-of-water setup and keeps it moving fast enough that the weak spots rarely linger for long. The result is a serviceable family adventure that’s more pleasant than memorable, but often more fun than its reputation suggests.
Worth noting
The movie’s biggest asset is its tone: it’s playful, self-aware, and willing to lean into cartoon logic without pretending to be anything grander. Jim Carrey goes big in a way that gives the film its clearest comic identity, while the central buddy dynamic keeps things approachable for younger viewers. When the movie is working, it feels like a Saturday-morning property stretched into a road movie.
Bottom line
Still, it’s hard to ignore how formulaic it is. The story is thin, the emotional beats are standard, and the whole thing feels designed to be inoffensive first and inspired second. If you’re looking for a polished, easy watch for kids, it does the job. If you want a standout blockbuster, this is more competent than essential.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Sabrina 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ (2★) · 4357 likes
tarantino during the scene where jim carrey analyzes sonic’s footprint be like “this is my black panther”
James (Schaffrillas) (3★) · 3906 likes
Crazy Carl's drawing SENT ME
Lucy (2.5★) · 3136 likes
he went so fast and that’s all that matters
bryn hale davis (5★) · 2888 likes
sonic fortnite dances not once.... but twice
luke? (2★) · 2284 likes
Here’s a list of things that happen in the Sonic the Hedgehog movie:
- “Yep, this is me. Your probably wondering how I got here” opening framing device - A throw away line about how Robotnik was involved in the Afghanistan war- Sonic and the main guy being mistaken for domestic terrorists- A “we don’t like your kind in these parts” gag followed by a bar fight-Some of the most baffling editing choices I’ve seen all year- A brief Sonic related meme cameo- Mild homoeroticism- A Southland Tales reference