Kid’s movies are always a goldmine for solid opening weekends, but the debut for Sonic The Hedgehog 2 has stunned almost everyone. The sequel to the 2020 outing has landed a massive opening weekend and put itself in the record books.
Sonic The Hedgehog 2 is looking at a booming $71 million domestic opening, more than the 2020 original’s opening of $58,018,348. This $71 million opening places Sonic 2 as the best opening weekend for a video game adaptation, a record previously held by the first film. We also see the continued hot streak for Paramount Pictures since this marks the studio’s fourth movie in 2022 to open in the first place.
This opener isn’t just impressive for the Sonic franchise, but it’s also a win for one of its leading men. For Jim Carrey, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is his biggest domestic bow, beating the $68 million start of 2003’s Bruce Almighty. With a star-studded legacy like Carrey has, this opening is quite the feat. Although he recently teased retiring after this film, the money could bring him back for a potential third instalment.
Looking at other films this weekend, Sonic 2 raced past them all. Michael Bay’s Ambulance is looking at around $8.5 million for its opening, which falls way under expectations and will make it harder for the film to claw back its $50 million production budget. Morbius fell to second place in its second weekend, and Paramount’s The Lost City sits happily in third place. Also, A24’s trippy new film Everything Everywhere All at Once landed in 6th place with $6 million, impressive for its budget, and it will slowly expand to more cinemas in the coming weeks.
SEE ALSO: Read our Sonic the Hedgehog 2 review here
With Sonic The Hedgehog 2 dominating in its opening weekend, look for Paramount and Sega’s new blockbuster darling to get a third entry very soon. Will more classic Sonic characters join the fold, and will Dr. Robotnik return? Let’s see if the money can have them racing back.
The world’s favorite blue hedgehog is back for a next-level adventure in SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2. After settling in Green Hills, Sonic is eager to prove he has what it takes to be a true hero. His test comes when Dr. Robotnik returns, this time with a new partner, Knuckles, in search for an emerald that has the power to destroy civilizations. Sonic teams up with his own sidekick, Tails, and together they embark on a globe-trotting journey to find the emerald before it falls into the wrong hands.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is directed by Jeff Fowler and sees Ben Schwartz returning to voice Sonic alongside Jim Carrey (Dr. Robotnik), James Marsden (Tom Wachowski), Tika Sumpter (Maddie Wachowski), Idris Elba (Knuckles), Lee Majdoub (Agent Stone), Colleen O’Shaughnessey (Tails), Natasha Rothwell (Rachel), Shemar Moore (Randall) and Adam Pally (Wade).
