Sonic Meets a New Enemy: Shadow the Hedgehog
In this Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Christian Movie Review & Parent Guide, I give you the information you need before taking your children to see this film. I pay for 99% of the movies I review to give you a truly unbiased perspective, and I do this as a ministry to parents. It is a horrible feeling to leave a movie theater after traumatizing your child with a film that was not appropriate for them. That is why I detail below any content that has the potential to 1) violate your beliefs or 2) cause trauma.
With that said, if you or your child is a Sonic fan, you probably already have played some version of the Sonic video games originally made for the Sega Genesis. Additionally, you are probably familiar with the previous films, Sonic the Hedgehog (2020), or Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022). If you have seen the first movie or the second film, I believe you will be prepared for the content of the third film. However, there are a few things in this film that might be unsettling for children. In this installment, we see the tragic backstory of Shadow and the reason why he becomes a murdering lunatic.

Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Christian Movie Review
Studio Synopsis:
Sonic the Hedgehog returns to the big screen this holiday season in his most thrilling adventure yet. Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails reunite against a powerful new adversary, Shadow, a mysterious villain with powers unlike anything they have faced before. With their abilities outmatched in every way, Team Sonic must seek out an unlikely alliance in hopes of stopping Shadow and protecting the planet.
Director Jeff Fowler returns along with our all-star cast including Jim Carrey, Ben Schwartz, James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Idris Elba, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, Natasha Rothwell, Shemar Moore, Adam Pally, Lee Majdoub, newcomers Alyla Browne and Krysten Ritter, with Keanu Reeves joining the franchise as Shadow the Hedgehog.
My Synopsis:
Sonic the Hedgehog is back in a new video game movie. He is still living with Tom and Maddie, along with Knuckles and Tails, but his quiet life is about to come to a screeching halt. In a secret G.U.N. prison, Shadow the Hedgehog is held in suspended animation, but he proves to be too much to handle when he escapes. Commander Walters calls on Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles to help save the world. Can they stop Shadow, Dr. Robotnik, and Gerald Robotnik from destroying the entire world?

Christian Movie Review of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 – What Parents Want to Know
Language:
There is a little bit of mild language in this film, including two uses of the word d-mn, “bad a-s,” and “holy crap.” Furthermore, there is the use of potty humor and insulting language used for laughs, such as man boobs and terra byte me. There are several butt references, including Robutt Stink. Dr. Robotnik talks about his “egg sac” when discussing his flying drones.
Finally, a reference to “a woman in the military” is made.
Violence:
Similar violence level as the first two films. However, be aware that a child is shown dead after an explosion. Shadow is a dark version of Sonic and becomes “evil” due to this death.
Furthermore, there are several intense action sequences with explosions, shooting, and fighting. Guards of G.U.N. (Guardian Units of Nations) are killed and their bodies are shown laying on the ground. Two major human characters are shown laying on the ground, both believed to be dead. However, one is still alive, but it is said that he is “fighting for his life.”
Two characters use a quill to electrocute themselves for “fun.”
Dr. Robotnik is “spanked” by his long-lost grandfather with a huge robotic hand.
Sonic uses the Emerald which is a collection of chaos gems that can cause ultimate destruction. The end goal of this is the destruction of the entire earth.
Spiritual Content:
The show “Casper the Friendly Ghost” is shown, and someone yells at the tv, “There is no such thing as a friendly ghost.”
A scene on a foreign language television show has the subtitle “Go with God.”
Tom is called Donut Lord, and even wears a sweater with Donut Lord stitched on it surrounded by donuts.
One character says, “We swore a secret oath.”
Adult Content:
Someone makes a reference to “all possible genders.” Another person asks, “Why are you all tied up? Do that on your own time.”
Dr. Ivo Robotnik watches a show on the television with a woman showing cleavage. He also exposes his “fat stomach” and plays the drums on it. There is a bare-chest man in another scene.

Sonic The Hedgehog 3 – My Viewing Recommendation:
First, if you see this movie, make sure to stay to the very end. This is a mid-credit scene and an end-credit scene.
Overall, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is an entertaining and fun film. Rarely does a third film in a series hold my attention. However, this third installment is a good film overall. Fans of Sonic are sure to love it. While Sonic 3 is rated PG, due to the fighting, explosions, and overall violence, I would not recommend this film to children under the age of 8. This is consistent with my recommendations for the last two films.
I also want parents to be aware of the fact that there is a young girl shown after she is killed in an explosion, and a couple of other characters appear to be dead. One turns out to be okay.

About the Movie:
Rating: PG for some violence, action, rude humor, thematic elements and mild language
Release Date: December 20, 2024
Runtime: 1 hour, 49 minutes
Genre: Action/Adventure
Studio: Paramount Pictures, Sega Sammy Group, Original Film, Marza Animation Planet, Blur Studio
Directed by: Jeff Fowler
Screenplay by: Pat Casey, Josh Miller, John Whittington
Based on: Sonic the Hedgehog by Sega
Produced by: Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher, Toru Nakahara, Hitoshi Okuno
Edited by: Al LeVine
Music by: Tom Holkenborg
Distributed by: Paramount Pictures
The Cast of Sonic the Hedgehog 3:
Voice Cast:
Ben Schwartz as Sonic the Hedgehog
Colleen O’Shaughnessey as Miles “Tails” Prower
Idris Elba as Knuckles the Echidna
Keanu Reeves as Shadow the Hedgehog
Live Action Cast:
Jim Carrey as Dr. Ivo Robotnik and Professor Gerald Robotnik
James Marsden as Tom Wachowski
Tika Sumpter as Maddie Wachowski
Krysten Ritter as Director Rockwell
Natasha Rothwell as Rachel
Shemar Moore as Randall Handel
Lee Majdoub as Agent Stone
Tom Butler as Commander Walters
James Wolk as a young Commander Walters
Adam Pally as Wade Whipple
Alyla Browne as Maria Robotnik
Other Non-Speaking Characters:
Metal Sonic
Amy Rose


Reviewing movies for parents from a Christian perspective since 2005. Know Before You Go!
Christian Homeschooling mom – 30 years and counting
Autism Mom & Disney enthusiast