This is Niche Culture. In this column, we regularly cover anime, geek culture, and things related to video games. Please leave feedback and let us know if there’s something you want us to cover!
The Sonic the Hedgehog movie premiered February 14th, making $111 million USD globally, and $68 million USD in the United States. This means the film has achieved the highest opening for a video game movie.
Box Office Mojo states the film had a budget of $85 million USD, making $111 million USD globally since its premiere. Out of the $68 million USD from the United States, Box Office Mojo also estimates the film made $57 million USD across the weekend (February 14th to 17th), with $21 million USD on its first day.
Deadline and Variety both estimate the film to have earned $70 million USD by February 17th. Deadline also reports that the film has beaten Pokemon: Detective Pikachu for the best opening for a video game movie (at over $54 million USD).
However, Deadline claim Pokemon Detective Pikachu made $157.3 million USD globally on it opening. GamesIndsutry.biz reports the film made $161 million USD on its opening weekend.
Deadline cite (without sources) that audiences for Sonic the Hedgehog were made of 51% general audiences, and 49% families. They also claim that “44% of the audience felt that Sonic exceeded their expectations.” On Rotten Tomatoes, the film currently has a score of 95% from audiences, and 63% from critics.
The Sonic the Hedgehog movie seems to have gone through a Cinderella story. It’s debut trailer was marred by an ugly photo-realistic Sonic. Reactions were so poor, Paramount announced they would redesign the character’s appearance entirely- subsequently delaying the film.
While the extra time and good will seems to have won over audiences, its not all good news. Moving Picture Company (MPC), the visual effects studio behind the Sonic the Hedgehog movie was shut down on December 11th, 2019. The closure is said to have occurred due to “increasing external market pressures in Vancouver and more attractive opportunities in other locations.”
Will this lead to more confidence in video game movie adaptions? How far will the Sonic movie go?
What do you think? Sound off in the comments below!
Image: Paramount Pictures (via Rotten Tomatoes)
