One of the pains of watching movies in the past was that the delay between theatrical releases and at-home debuts could measure from months to nearly a year. Now, though, things have changed.
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 was in theaters less than a month ago, and it's currently digitally streaming. Such a quick turnaround isn't unheard of, though the switch is definitely better than having to wait six-plus months for a movie to hit home video.
The third Sonic movie debuted earlier today, offering fans who missed the flick in theaters an opportunity to watch it within the comfort of their own homes. Sources to purchase or rent include Apple TV, Fandango At Home, and Prime Video. There's been no word on when Sonic 3 will begin streaming on Paramount Plus, but seeing as how Paramount has distributed the first two installments, it makes sense that the movie becomes available there, too.
Sonic 3 Plot
The third chapter revolves around Sonic and his pals fighting the new threat, Shadow. They also have an elderly Doctor Robotnik with more scientific knowledge than his predecessor to fend off. It's an uphill battle all the way around. Of course, the payoff is worth it in the end.
Without spoiling the movie's events, Sonic 3 gives fans of the games everything they could've asked for from a movie adaptation and then some. On top of that, the climax debuted a spectacle that audiences were not prepared to take in. The audible gasps in cinemas across North America are evidence of this claim.
Franchise Future
Oddly enough, Paramount Pictures already has a fourth installment in the Sonic franchise raring to go. It'll go into production soon with an expected release date of around 2027. No specific date was given, although a Christmas premiere sounds feasible. The writers/producers need about two years to create another chapter, which means a similar Holiday release window. Said hiatus could be longer or shorter. Keep in mind that depending on how big the movie gets in scale, could determine how long it'll take Paramount to complete it.
Additionally, Sonic 4 might not be the only franchise project in development. Paramount released a Knuckles series starring Idris Elba and Adam Pally, both of which returned for the third film; that gives plenty of reason to believe the studio will expand on ancillary character's stories. Knuckles was compelling enough by simply following the red echidna around, making it possible for Paramount to share Sonic's spotlight with another character. Perhaps the studio will take into consideration a Shadow standalone feature. Paramount knows Keanu Reeves' projects are typically successful, and Sonic 3 proved that fans Shadow is entertaining to the masses.
Sonic 3 is currently streaming on digital platforms.