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Sonic the Hedgehog (film)

Sonic the Hedgehog is a 2020 action-adventure comedy film based on Sega’s Sonic video game franchise.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Sonic the Hedgehog is a 2020 action-adventure comedy film based on Sega’s Sonic video game franchise. Directed by Jeff Fowler in his feature directorial debut, it stars Ben Schwartz as Sonic, with James Marsden and Jim Carrey in leading roles. The film was released theatrically in the United States on February 14, 2020.

Premise

The film follows Sonic, an alien hedgehog with super speed, after he arrives on Earth and is pursued by Dr. Robotnik. He teams up with a small-town sheriff, Tom Wachowski, to protect himself and stop Robotnik’s plans.

Production and release

Jeff Fowler directed the film in his feature directorial debut, with a screenplay by Pat Casey and Josh Miller. It premiered in January 2020 and was released in U.S. theatres on February 14, 2020.

Cast and characters

Ben Schwartz voices Sonic, James Marsden plays Tom Wachowski, and Jim Carrey plays Dr. Robotnik. The supporting cast includes Tika Sumpter, Natasha Rothwell, Adam Pally, and Neal McDonough.

Franchise context

The film launched the Sonic the Hedgehog film series and expanded Sega’s long-running video game property into live-action cinema. Later entries in the series followed after its release.

Key facts

  • It is the first film in the Sonic the Hedgehog film series.
  • The film combines live-action and animation.
  • Ben Schwartz voices Sonic, while Jim Carrey portrays Dr. Robotnik.
  • The story follows Sonic as he teams up with Tom Wachowski to stop Robotnik.
  • The film was released theatrically in the United States on February 14, 2020.
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Canadian context

The film was distributed internationally by Paramount Pictures and is part of a globally popular franchise with significant audience reach in Canada, where the Sonic games and films have broad mainstream recognition.

Frequently asked questions

What is Sonic the Hedgehog (film)?
It is a 2020 action-adventure comedy film based on Sega’s Sonic video game series.
Who directed Sonic the Hedgehog?
Jeff Fowler directed the film, which was his feature film directorial debut.
Who plays Sonic in the film?
Ben Schwartz provides the voice of Sonic.
Who plays Dr. Robotnik?
Jim Carrey plays Dr. Robotnik.
When was the film released?
It was released in the United States on February 14, 2020.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_(film)
    Supports: Release year, genre, director, writers, cast, and status as the first film in the series
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3794354/
    Supports: Plot description, release year, and principal cast
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/sonic_the_hedgehog_2020
    Supports: Genre, U.S. theatrical release date, and film classification
  4. Apple TV — https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/sonic-the-hedgehog/umc.cmc.6gkyrgaoool7s2u24tratknbi
    Supports: Runtime, cast, director, and plot synopsis