"Sonic the Hedgehog 3," the latest installment in the action-adventure comedy film franchise based on the popular video games, is set to release in China on Jan. 10 after its successful debut in North America.

Team Sonic poses with the audience at the China premiere of "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" in Beijing, Jan. 5, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures]

Directed by Jeff Fowler, the film stars Jim Carrey, Ben Schwartz, Colleen O'Shaughnessey, James Marsden, Tika Sumpter and Idris Elba, all reprising their roles. Keanu Reeves joins the cast as Shadow the Hedgehog, who teams up with the mad scientists Ivo and Gerald Robotnik to seek revenge against humanity.

Sonic the Hedgehog is a beloved anthropomorphic blue hedgehog who can run at supersonic speeds and serves as the leader of Team Sonic. The new installment of the popular series again mixes animation with a live-action cast to capture the charm of the original SEGA video games that have attracted players for generations. Highlights include the supervillain duo, Ivo and Gerald Robotnik, both portrayed by comedic icon Jim Carrey, bringing double the hilarious fun to viewers.

The film has received widespread acclaim for the performances of Carrey and Reeves. On Rotten Tomatoes, 86% of 124 critics' reviews are positive. The website's consensus states: "With a double helping of Jim Carrey's antics and a quicksilver pace befitting its hero, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is the best entry in this amiable series yet." As a result, it currently holds the title of the highest-rated film based on a video game on the platform.

The film arrives in China as family entertainment for the winter holiday season, having topped North American theatres for two consecutive weekends. It has earned $187 million in America and $336 million worldwide by Sunday, according to Box Office Mojo. After its debut in China, it is likely to become the best-performing hit in the franchise. "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" is also the second foreign release and the first from the United States in China this new year.