--- title: "Sonic the Hedgehog 3: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/sonic-the-hedgehog-3/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/sonic-the-hedgehog-3" critics_score: 60 critics_reviews: 17 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024): what the critics said Critics' score 60 from 17 reviews: 9 positive, 4 mixed, 4 negative. Most critics find this third Sonic better than they expected, and nearly all of them credit the same man. Jim Carrey’s two Robotniks are the thing the reviews return to: the performance that keeps the film watchable even for those who dislike the rest of it. Keanu Reeves’s Shadow draws warm notices too, with a minority feeling he is given too little to do. The reservations are consistent. The film is loud and fast and never stops, which some enjoy and others find exhausting; the human characters are described as hit and miss; a few think it a little too long or too safe, and The Playlist finds the grim third act at odds with the series’ easy charm. The spread is wide. IndieWire calls it a miserable end to the trilogy, and The Times goes further, judging it poor even by the standards of game adaptations, but these are outliers against a broadly cheerful consensus. ## The AV Club — Matt Donato Rating B+. 18 December 2024. The threequel refreshes what worked and improves what hadn’t, becoming the best film in the franchise yet with passionate lore callbacks and strong family appeal. It delivers an action-packed blast thanks to Reeves and double the Carrey. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/sonic-the-hedgehog-3-review) ## RogerEbert.com — Christy Lemire Rating 3/4. 20 December 2024. The film is way better than expected as a video game adaptation and threequel, with Jim Carrey delivering two gleefully deranged performances as the Robotniks that steal the show. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/sonic-the-hedgehog-3-jim-carrey-film-review) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 18 December 2024. Carrey’s Dr Robotnik is the best thing in elaborate third-instalment shenanigans that are pretty good fan-service fun. The film delivers delirious energy and momentum despite convoluted plotting and hit-and-miss human elements. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/dec/18/sonic-the-hedgehog-3-review-jim-carrey-supplies-laughs-and-energy-for-hedgehog-threequel) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 19 December 2024. Keanu Reeves steps in as Shadow while Jim Carrey doubles his fun as Robotnik in this action-adventure comedy that moves at a fast pace. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/19/movies/sonic-the-hedgehog-3-review.html) ## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 20 December 2024. Jim Carrey elevates the film by playing two Robotniks in a high-concept buddy comedy that brings heart and unpredictable energy. The movie succeeds by focusing on human interactions and Carrey’s self-aware comedic shtick. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/review-jim-carrey-elevates-sonic-the-hedgehog-3.html) ## Radio Times — Jayne Nelson Rating 3/5. 20 December 2024. This third instalment knows exactly what it's doing as Sonic and friends team up against Shadow voiced by Keanu Reeves. The CG action never stops, Carrey is a law unto himself and the quips are more hit than miss, though it is a smidge too long. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-anhvej/sonic-the-hedgehog-3/) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 18 December 2024. A bigger, more rambunctious adventure than its predecessors that throws so much action, comedy, drama and pathos at the viewer it never slows down. It is an entertaining but exhausting affair and a frantic spectacle borrowing from decades of bygone blockbusters. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/sonic-the-hedgehog-3-review/5200227.article) ## Slant Magazine — Justin Clark Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 18 December 2024. The hedgehogs remain the stars in a hyperkinetic kid-friendly action film that keeps its ridiculous elements under control thanks to committed performances. It mildly lets down the human characters but delivers breezy good times overall. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/sonic-the-hedgehog-3-review-keanu-reeves-jim-carrey/) ## Empire — Ian Freer Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 18 December 2024. The critic finds the film slightly better than its predecessors with more narrative focus and urgency, plus some genuinely funny moments and strong work from Jim Carrey. Overall it lacks surprise, freshness or anything memorable, feeling like a scattershot Saturday-morning cartoon. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/sonic-the-hedgehog-3/) ## IndieWire — Christian Zilko Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 18 December 2024. The trilogy ends on a low note as a miserable capper that doubles the Carreys and hedgehogs without increasing the fun. It fails to deliver engaging performances or humor from the expanded cast. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/sonic-the-hedgehog-3-review-1235078147/) ## The Times Fi1m's normalised score 10/100 (inferred from the text). 27 December 2024. This third Sonic is staggeringly poor even by the low standards of game adaptations. The noisy, repetitive story and unlikeable characters make it an eye-gouging, spirit-killing abomination. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/sonic-the-hedgehog-3-film-review-w9fpf8ln7) ## Los Angeles Times — Katie Walsh 20 December 2024. The film keeps the franchise spinning at a frenetic pace with loud, chaotic energy and self-referential humor, anchored by Jim Carrey's bravura clownery as double the Robotnik. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2024-12-20/sonic-the-hedgehog-3-review-jim-carrey) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Frank Scheck 18 December 2024. The film gets the job done as an entertaining family diversion with frenetic action and silly jokes. It benefits from strong voice work by Keanu Reeves as Shadow and Jim Carrey in dual roles. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/sonic-the-hedgehog-3-review-keanu-reeves-jim-carrey-1236089195/) ## Total Film — Jack Shepherd 18 December 2024. Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted while Jim Carrey steals the show in this family adventure. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/family-movies/sonic-the-hedgehog-3-review/) ## Variety — Owen Gleiberman 18 December 2024. The movie is a vivaciously staged throwaway that gives hyperactivity a good name and serves as a cracked parody of superhero movies, with Jeff Fowler's deft filmmaking and Jim Carrey's epic dual performance as the highlights. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2024/film/reviews/sonic-the-hedgehog-3-review-jim-carrey-1236250284/) ## Collider — Aidan Kelley Rating 8/10. 18 December 2024. The film is a solid capper to the trilogy, carried by Keanu Reeves' Shadow. It features the series' best action sequences and strong music choices, with only minor technical issues. [Read the review](https://collider.com/sonic-the-hedgehog-3-review/) ## Eye for Film — Andrew Robertson Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 4 January 2025. The film is enjoyable despite repetition and fan service, with bright entertainment value and propulsive plotting that prioritizes fun over being overly serious or pixel-perfect. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/sonic-the-hedgehog-3-2024-film-review-by-andrew-robertson) ## /Film — BJ Colangelo Rating 7.5/10. 18 December 2024. The film is bigger, bolder, and better than ever, with Shadow the Hedgehog as a standout and Jim Carrey excelling in dual roles while embracing chaotic fun and found family themes. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1741398/sonic-the-hedgehog-3-review/) ## Film Stories — Maria Lattila Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 18 December 2024. The film keeps the franchise family-friendly but plays things a little too safe despite trying to introduce heavier themes. The voice cast, especially Keanu Reeves as Shadow and Jim Carrey, is a highlight. [Read the review](https://filmstories.co.uk/reviews/sonic-the-hedgehog-3-review-more-hedgehogs-more-jim-carrey-more-everything/) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 18 December 2024. The critic finds the sequel overly frenetic and a showcase for Jim Carrey's manic dual performance as the Robotniks, wishing the filmmakers had slowed the pace and retained more nuance. They single out the loss of the charm and engagement from the prior entry while noting the press screening audience enjoyed the CGI-heavy action. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2024/12/sonic-the-hedgehog-3-review-jim-carrey-times-two-overly-frenetic-sequel-to-video-game-turned-hit-movie-franchise-1236209424/) ## The Playlist Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 18 December 2024. Heart and humor are drained by an overly serious and grim third act that becomes overwrought melodrama, making the film feel exhausting and clashing with the franchise's easygoing charm. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/sonic-the-hedgehog-3-review-heart-humor-keanu-reeves-are-drained-by-angsty-serious-world-saving-exhaustion-20241218/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/sonic-the-hedgehog-3.md