Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is a 2022 action-adventure comedy film based on the video game series published by Sega, and the sequel to Sonic the Hedgehog (2020). Directed by Jeff Fowler and written by Pat Casey, Josh Miller, and John Whittington, the film stars Ben Schwartz, Jim Carrey, James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Natasha Rothwell, Adam Pally, Lee Majdoub, and Colleen O'Shaughnessey reprising their roles, with Idris Elba and Shemar Moore joining the cast. In the film, after settling in Green Hills, Sonic tries to prove himself as a hero, but his big test comes when the dastardly Dr. Robotnik returns, alongside his new rival, Knuckles the Echidna, in search of the Master Emerald. Sonic teams up with his own sidekick Tails to embark on a journey to find the Emerald before Dr. Robotnik does.
Following the success of the first film, Paramount Pictures announced the sequel in May 2020, with Fowler returning as director, Casey and Josh Miller returning as writers, and Schwartz, Carrey, and the rest of the cast reprised their roles. Filming took place from March to June 2021 in Vancouver and Hawaii. The film draws inspiration from the video games Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992), Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (1994), and Sonic & Knuckles (1994).
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was theatrically released in several markets on March 30, 2022, and in the United States on April 8, by Paramount Pictures and Sega Sammy Group. Like its predecessor, the film set several box office records and received generally positive reviews for its action sequences, humor, and performances, but criticized its screenplay, runtime and pacing. Many critics considered the film an improvement over the original. It grossed $405.4 million worldwide, surpassing its predecessor and becoming the highest-grossing video game film in the United States until the following year's The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is scheduled for 2024, while Knuckles, a spin-off series starring Elba, is scheduled to premiere on Paramount+ in early 2024.
Plot
Sonic lives with the Wachowskis after defeating Dr. Robotnik, and attempts to help the public as a vigilante hero with little success due to his recklessness. Tom advises Sonic to remain patient for the day his powers will be needed before he and Maddie depart for Rachel's wedding in Hawaii.
While staying at home, Sonic is attacked by Robotnik, who has escaped from the mushroom planet with the help of a powerful anthropomorphic echidna, Knuckles. Knuckles demands the location of the legendary Master Emerald, an ancient relic that grants its user ultimate power and the ability to change reality to their will so he can bring honor to his ancestors.
Sonic is rescued by Miles "Tails" Prower, an anthropomorphic two-tailed fox who idolizes him and comes to warn him about Knuckles. Sonic convinces Tails to help him find the Master Emerald while Robotnik reunites with his assistant, Agent Stone, and, scheming to steal the emerald, offers to help Knuckles. Meanwhile, Sonic and Tails follow clues to a Siberian cave on a map that Sonic's guardian, Longclaw, gave to him before sending him to Earth, where they find a compass within a temple. Knuckles and Robotnik track them and chase Sonic and Tails down a mountain. Knuckles reveals that he lost his father and his whole tribe the same day Sonic lost Longclaw. Despite this brief moment of sympathy, Knuckles and Robotnik steal the compass, though Knuckles begins to question Robotnik's sense of loyalty and honor when he mocks Sonic for choosing to save an injured and unconscious Tails instead of the compass before causing an avalanche upon them.
Tom saves Sonic and Tails by using a ring to teleport them to the wedding. Rachel's fiancé Randall and his wedding guests reveal themselves as undercover agents of the Guardian Units of Nations (G.U.N.) and arrest Sonic, Tails, and Tom, who are then saved by Maddie and a vengeful Rachel, who reconciles with Randall after he reveals that he still has feelings for her. Meanwhile, Knuckles and Robotnik find an underwater temple containing the Master Emerald.
Blaming himself for Tails's injuries, Sonic decides to face Knuckles and Robotnik alone and goes to the temple, where he fights with Knuckles to keep him from taking the Master Emerald. Seeing this as an opportunity, Robotnik uses the distraction to seize and fuse himself with the emerald, which explodes and sinks the temple into the water. With no use left for Knuckles, Robotnik betrays him and leaves him, along with Sonic, behind. Working together, Sonic and Knuckles are able to escape just as Tails, who has regained consciousness and recovered from his injuries, rescues them in a biplane.