Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2019 film)

''This article is about the 2004 film. For the 2022 film, see Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022 film).'' Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (also known as Sonic 2) is a 2004 CGI-animated action adventure film directed by Andrew Adamson, Conrad Vernon and Jeff Fowler, produced and written by Patrick Casey and Josh Miller, and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It is a standalone sequel to Sonic the Hedgehog (2001). Following the events of the first film, Sonic (voiced by Ryan Drummond), and his new mother and father Tom Wachowski (voiced by Tom Kenny) and Maddie Wachowski (Jill Talley), witness the return of Dr. Robotnik (voiced by Jim Carrey), with his new BFFAE (Bestest Friend Forever and Ever) Knuckles the Echidna (voiced by Scott Dreier). An orange double-tailed fox named Miles Prower, known commonly as Tails (voiced by Amy Palant), arrives to help save Sonic and Tom, who eventually forms a bond with Sonic.

The film was conceived in 2002 after the success of the first film, and film directors Andrew Adamson, Conrad Vernon and Jeff Fowler agreed to direct the sequel. Producers and writers Patrick Casey and Josh Miller wrote the script for the sequel. The film's animation was provided by Paramount Feature Animation/Pacific Data Images, Play Tone and Games Animation Inc./Nickelodeon Animation, the same companies for the first film. The film was co-produced with Nickelodeon Movies and Sega of America, Inc., and was distributed by Paramount Pictures.

The film was released theatrically on May 19, 2004 in the United States and Canada in 2D, Dolby Digital, Dolby Surround-Ex, Sony Dynamic Digital Sound (SDDS) and Digital Theater Systems (DTS) Surround Sound film formats in 4,291 theaters. The film was regarded as one of the greatest video game movies of all time, but lost to Nintendo's The Super Mario Movie. The film was a critical success, grossing over $919.8 million against a $150 million budget. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a 100% approval rating, as response to critical acclaim. The film was nominated at the 2005 Kids Choice Awards for Favorite Movie, but lost to The Super Mario Movie. But, the film received an Academy Award at the 77th Academy Awards, for Best Actor and an Academy Award for Best Picture.

Development
The development of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was conceived in February 2002. Producer-writer duo Patrick Casey and Josh Miller stated in an interview that "there will be a Sonic the Hedgehog sequel. We just need to focus on the script and storyboard. Directors Andrew Adamson, Conrad Vernon and Jeff Fowler stated in a March 2002 interview that the film was in production.

In June 2002, Ryan Drummond said he would reprise his role as Sonic for the second film. Amy Palant, who appeared as Miles "Tails" Prower in the first "Sonic the Hedgehog" film, said she would also reprise her role. Scott Dreier said in an October 2002 interview that he "would appear in the film as Knuckles the Echidna, which (I'm) super excited about."

Box office
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 opened theatrically next to Shrek 2 on May 19, 2004 in 4,029 theaters. The film was projected to gross $20-25 million in its first weekend. In the opening weekend of the film, it grossed $82.9 million ($76.2 million with an additional $6.7 million in Thursday night previews), hitting no. 2 at the US box office. In international markets, the film opened on June 2, and the film grossed $113.6 million ($102.5 with an additional $11.1 million in Thursday night previews). Throughout the week following in the United States, it grossed over $154.3 million, while internationally, it grossed $293.2 million.

In the following weeks, its projection was estimated to $70-100 million. The film grossed $72.8 in the United States and $280.4 internationally in its 2nd weekend. The films projections ended on March 7, 2005, for a total of $378.7 million in the United States and Canada, and $541.1 internationally, for a worldwide total of $919.8 million, making it the 3nd highest grossing film of 2004 (behind Shrek 2) and the 15th highest grossing animated film of all time, dethroning Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs.

Critical response
The film was opened to critical acclaim. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 129 critics' reviews were positive, with an average rating of 8.3 out of 10. Its critical consensus reads "The adventures of the blue blur continues in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, which entertains audiences, young and old, with the supersonic pace." On Metacritic, the film has an assigned score of 91 out of 100, indicating "universal acclaim". Audiences polled by CinemaScore assigned the film a rare grade of "A+" on its A+ to F scale.