Sonic movie gets early home video release

Paramount Pictures has announced it will release the Sonic the Hedgehog movie digitally and on Blu-Ray earlier than expected.

With virtually all US theatres closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the studio said on Friday it would release Sonic digitally on March 31, little more than 40 days after it debuted in cinemas.

The movie will be released on Blu-Ray and 4K Ultra HD on May 19.

Usually theatrical releases are not available at home until at least three months after they premiered in cinemas. However, the COVID-19 crisis has drastically altered how studios are handling home video releases over the past weeks.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, studios including Disney, Sony and Universal have all announced plans to release films early on VOD, including Onward, Bloodshot, Birds of Prey and The Invisible Man.

The Sonic movie has performed above expectations and amassed $146 million domestically and $306 million worldwide.

In its first weekend the Paramount film debuted with a three-day opening of $57 million in the US, which represents a new domestic record for a video game adaptation.

In addition, the Sonic movie’s four-day gross of $70 million is among the best showings ever for the long holiday weekend, which this year coincided with Valentine’s Day.

With a Rotten Tomatoes score of 63% and an audience score in the 90s, Sonic seems to have fared far better with moviegoers than with critics.