In its seventh week at the box office,Sonic the Hedgehog 3just crossed another major milestone. The latest movie intheSonicfranchisedebuted in a rapidly expanding movie slate. It faced competition fromMufasa: The Lion King, which was released on the same day,Wicked,Gladiator 2,Moana 2, and nowDog Man. Despite the stiff competition, it has maintained a strong placement, enjoying a multi-million dollar gain every weekend.
According to data provided byThe Numbers, that consistency has paid off.Sonic 3is now the second highest-grossing video game movie of all time. With $462.5 million at the box office, it now stands ahead ofDetective Pikachu(2019)’s $450 million total. It is behind onlyThe Super Mario Bros. Movie(2023), which earned $1.36 billion at the box office. Considering that it is behindSuper Mariosby nearly $1 billion,Sonic 3should end its run in the second-place spot.
What Sonic’s Milestone Means For Video Game Movies
Recent Years Have Proven Their Worth
This milestone is another massivestep forward for video game movies. Three movies crossing $450 million worldwide is incredible aftera generation of poorly received adaptations.Super Mario,Sonic 3, andDetective Pikachustood far above previous releases. Even TV shows, includingThe Last of UsandFallout,proved that faithful and successful adaptations are possible. On the big screen, however, they are becoming dominant. The chart below showcases the five top video game movies, including their domestic and international splits. Unsurprisingly, they are all recent releases:
$575 million
$786 million
$1.36 billion
$144 million
$306 million
$450 million
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024)
$230.5million
$232 million
$462.5million
$47 million
$392 million
$439 million
$101 million
$237 million
$428 million
Every single one of these movies is from the last 10 years. That comes in sharp contrast with thetop box office movies of all time, which is led byAvatar(2009) at $2.9 billion. It also includes 1997’sTitanic(1997), which earned $2.3 billion. This change is partly driven by better responses from critics and audiences.Sonic3, for instance, has aTomatometer score of 86% and a Popcornmeter score of 95%on Rotten Tomatoes. This is a dramatic improvement over previous years and even over recent releases.Detective Pikachu, for instance, had 68% and 79% scores, respectively.
Our Take On Sonic 3’s Success
More Video Game Adaptations Could Be Coming
At the box office, 2024 was the year of adaptations, sequels, and prequels. Of the top 10 box office performers, not a single one was wholly original. With that in mind, Hollywood will likely continue to lean into established properties. Video games offer a wide world of stories to adapt. The success ofSonic the Hedgehog 3will only continue to prove that audiences are willing to engage with these beloved characters. In the coming years, more video game adaptations will likely be on the way. If their quality continues to increase, audiences should remain equally receptive.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Cast
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 reunites Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails as they face a formidable new adversary, Shadow. With Shadow’s unprecedented powers posing a significant threat, Team Sonic seeks an unexpected alliance to thwart his plans and safeguard the planet.
