Who knew Sonic The Hedgehog could work as a movie once, let alone twice now? Today, the industry trades report that the sequel is looking at an opening weekend of around $50 or even $60 million.
Sonic The Hedgehog 2 will open in 4,232 theaters around the United States, with a few fan screenings starting on Wednesday and preview screenings beginning as early as 3 pm on Thursday. With a Rotten Tomatoes score sitting at 68% (slightly higher than the 2020 entry), the buzz is relatively positive for the Sonic sequel.
Throw in the fan-favorites Tails & Knuckles entering the fold and a returning Jim Carrey, and there’s a lot of room for success here. 2020’s Sonic The Hedgehog opened in fewer theaters (4,167) and brought home an opening weekend of $58 million. It went on to gross over $319 million worldwide.
You also have to consider that family films have done well during the pandemic-era box office, with films like Sing 2, Encanto, and Space Jam: A New Legacy bringing in serious dollars in the last year. This film also marks the first kids-geared release, so parents could be eager to get their young ones out to the cinemas as well.
SEE ALSO: Read our review of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 here
This week’s competition is not a massive threat either, as Universal looks to counter-program with Michael Bay’s Ambulance, and Morbius enters its second week. Ambulance is looking at around $10 million for its opener, and estimates see Morbius dropping down to 65% to about $13 million in week two. Sonic The Hedgehog 2 might have an easy race to its first-place win.
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).
