'Sonic the Hedgehog 2' is proving to be the most successful video game movie to date, and the box office numbers don't lie.
sonic the hedgehog 2 screencap
WCCFTech reports that the sequel to 2020's controversial but well-received Sonic the Hedgehog movie has earned $71 million during its opening weekend in the United States. It is now the highest-grossing of all video game movies in the U.S. during its first weekend, and it achieved the feat by beating its predecessor out of everything else.
The first Sonic the Hedgehog movie grossed $58 million during the first three days of its release. That one is now in second place, followed by Detective Pikachu at $54 million, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (the first Angelina Jolie movie) at $47 million, and the recently released one Uncharted with $44 million.
Film industry analysts, including Franchise Entertainment Research's David Gross, predict that the Sonic IP will have "a strong run" in Hollywood, as it is now Paramount's fourth 2022 movie to premiere at first place at the Box Office. It follows the likes of Scream, The Lost City, and Jackass Forever.
As for the US' second-highest grossing opening weekend for a movie, that distinction goes to Morbius, with a relatively paltry $10.2 million gross for its second week.
Will This Strong Streak Continue?
Noticing the great audience and even critical reviews, Paramount has now decided that it will make its very own Sonic Cinematic Universe-which could be to video games what the MCU is to comic books.
According to CBR, the aforementioned franchise plans to add even more of Sega's iconic characters like Tails, Knuckles, and others in upcoming feature films. This has already been confirmed via Idris Elba reprising his role as the grumpy echidna in a TV series, alongside the third Sonic movie, which Paramount has confirmed is already in active development:
#SonicMovie3 is officially in development from @ParamountPics and @SEGA! Plus, next year a new original #Knuckles series with @IdrisElba is coming to #ParamountPlus. #SonicMovie2 hits theaters April 8! pic.twitter.com/M0EM3NNd2p
— Paramount+ (@paramountplus) February 15, 2022
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Does This Mean Video Game Movies Are Good Now?
Video game movies have had a reputation for being bad. Like, really bad. But the recent box office success of the likes of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Detective Pikachu are now making people wonder whether current-gen video game films are, in fact, getting better.
That matter is almost always reliant on people's opinions. But maybe take a look at the most recent game-to-silver screen adaptations, and you'll definitely see a trend. In the past, Hollywood's desire to make game movies was soiled by its biggest names' near-complete detachment from the gaming community as a whole. A-list actors and directors did not understand video games, which led to sub-par films that bombed at the box office.
But according to Tech Times, a quick look around the industry will give you proof that things are changing. Hollywood seems to "understand" games better now, and high-caliber actors like Henry Cavill (a self-professed gamer and nerd) and Tom Holland are getting major roles in the IPs that they absolutely love and adore.
Video game movies like Sonic the Hedgehog 2 are not winning Oscars or Emmys anytime soon. But it looks like the curse is finally being lifted.
Story posted on GameNGuide
Written by RJ Pierce
