Paramount’s video game sequel and family film is projected for an opening above $50 million
“Sonic the Hedgehog 2,” Paramount’s family-friendly sequel based on the speedy blue video game character, brought in a strong $6.25 million from the box office in its preview screenings that began at 3 p.m. Thursday. The movie opens in 4,232 domestic locations this weekend. That total is also inclusive of fan sneak preview screenings from Wednesday night in 700 theaters as “Sonic 2” looks like it will get off to a Sonic-fast start. By comparison, this is more than double the $3 million that the first “Sonic” earned from Thursday previews in February 2020. The studio is projecting “Sonic 2” an opening above $50 million this weekend, or between $51-54 million, against a $110 million budget, though tracking is imprecise given the lack of family films in theaters in the past four months. Also opening in preview screenings this weekend is Universal’s “Ambulance,” the new thriller from Michael Bay that stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.
