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Sonic the Hedgehog poster

Sonic the Hedgehog

Movie 2020 99 min Action, Science Fiction, Comedy, Family Reviewed by Dan S · Checked 23 Mar 2020
Official Rating PG ClearAge 8+

Why our age differs

Official is PG. We land at 8 because the action and Robotnik's menace get loud, and the film opens with a sad loss that can land hard on little ones

What we flagged

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Violence
Mild
Frightening
Mild
Language
Mild

Our take

Sonic the Hedgehog is a lively road-trip adventure with cartoon speed, chases, drones, and bloodless explosions. A sad early loss sends Sonic out on his own, but friendship and belonging give the story its warmth. Language is very mild, and there is a little drinking in a bar. Most school-age children should be comfortable with it.

Uplifting themes

Friendship, belonging, and finding your people run right through it, and Sonic slowly learns to trust and be trusted. There is a warm heart under all the speed and noise Tom is a decent, patient small-town cop who does the right thing by a lost outsider, and Sonic grows from reckless loner into a loyal friend. There are good examples of kindness to talk about

Story (may spoil tone)

Powered with incredible speed, Sonic The Hedgehog embraces his new home on Earth. That is, until Sonic sparks the attention of super-uncool evil genius Dr. Robotnik. Now it’s super-villain vs. super-sonic in an all-out race across the globe to stop Robotnik from using Sonic’s unique power for world domination.

What we flagged

View all categories

Violence
Mild
Frightening
Mild
Language
Mild

Details

Violence Mild The action is big and cartoonish, with Robotnik firing drones and missi…

The action is big and cartoonish, with Robotnik firing drones and missiles, car chases, a bar brawl, and lots of explosions. Sonic takes some knocks and gets darted, but the film keeps everything bloodless and bouncy

Language Mild Language stays light, with the odd mild word like crap and some comic n…

Language stays light, with the odd mild word like crap and some comic name-calling when tempers flare. Nothing stronger appears, and there is no sexual talk

Drugs / alcohol Mild There is a scene in a roadhouse bar where adults are drinking, and it s…

There is a scene in a roadhouse bar where adults are drinking, and it spills into a comic brawl. Alcohol is background colour here, and the film does not dwell on it

Frightening Mild Robotnik's gadgets and a couple of close-call chases bring real noise a…

Robotnik's gadgets and a couple of close-call chases bring real noise and tension, and the hero spends a stretch sad and alone. Younger viewers may feel the menace, though it never tips into horror

Grief / bereavement Mild Sonic loses his guardian early, when she sends him away for safety. His…

Sonic loses his guardian early, when she sends him away for safety. His loneliness lasts through much of the film, though it is handled gently

Flashing lights We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.

We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.

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Talk after watching

  • Sonic hides his powers because he is scared of being rejected. Why do people hide the things that make them different?
  • Robotnik will do anything to get what he wants. What is the difference between being clever and being a bully?

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