Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2025)

Description

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 – 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review (Paramount, 2025)
Format: 4K Ultra HD
Release Date: April 15, 2025
️ Runtime: 109 minutes
️ Genres: Animation | Family | Fantasy | Comedy | Adventure
Rating: PG

️ Video – 4.5/5

• Codec: HEVC / H.265 (51.40 Mbps)
• Resolution: Native 4K (2160p)
• HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10
• Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1

Paramount delivers a polished, cinematic experience with this native 4K transfer. The digital animation blends impressively with live-action, boasting immersive texture without artificial sharpness. Color grading leans natural, yet Dolby Vision brings out a bold palette — particularly during Sonic’s energy surges and battle sequences. Highlights shimmer, contrast remains refined, and detail in fur, faces, and landscapes is consistently sharp. Minor softness in a few darker scenes, but otherwise this is peak modern digital animation on disc.

Audio – 4.5/5

• Tracks:
  • English Dolby Atmos
  • English Dolby TrueHD 7.1
  • French & Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1
• Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish

Sonic’s Atmos mix races with energetic finesse. Overhead and surround channels light up during action scenes, while ambient layers — wind rushes, tech effects, jungle sounds — fill the room without overshadowing dialogue. The finale, featuring Team Sonic vs. Shadow, is a masterclass in LFE and spatial design. Balanced, punchy, and fun, this is demo-worthy for family-friendly home theater nights.

Bonus Features – 3.5/5

Included on 4K Disc & Blu-ray:

• ️ Audio Commentary – Director Jeff Fowler & Ben Schwartz dive into story decisions and performance nuances.
• Sonic Family Fun (5:38) – Cast & crew reflect on the saga’s heart.
• Enter Shadow (5:57) – Keanu Reeves’ brooding antihero gets the spotlight.
• Robotnik Family Reunion (8:42) – Jim Carrey x2 — enough said.
• Deleted Scenes (5:13) – Fun fluff, a few solid moments.
• Gag Reel (3:05) – Goofs galore.
• A Very Sonic Christmas (2:09) – Seasonal fun with the trio.
• Team Sonic vs. Shadow, For the Love of Sonic, Live-Action Lunacy, and more behind-the-scenes content.

It’s a packed extras slate, though most featurettes are short and playful rather than deep dives. Still, they round out the experience well.

Overall – 4.0/5

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is a fast, funny, and heartfelt entry in the ever-growing Sonic universe. While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it polishes it to a near-perfect shine. The 4K disc delivers stunning visuals, a wildly engaging Atmos mix, and a generous extras package. A must-own for fans of the franchise and a highlight among video game-to-film adaptations.
✅ RECOMMENDED.