Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)

Related: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022)

Sonic is a cute, cuddly "hero" who is saddened by loneliness and armed with a noble desire only to make friends and protect them with his "special power" (known as Chaos Energy in Sonic lore). Such a character leads viewers to sympathize with him and root him on—all the while forgetting or ignoring the fact that this little "Blue Devil" (as he's called throughout the film) is depicted as a profane hedonist in a movie that takes God's name in vain over 10 times. Children will look up to such an otherwise lovable and funny character; they will want to be like him and talk like him. Adults, too, will similarly be charmed, especially those who grew up playing Sonic games on Sega and other consoles. Suddenly profanity and blasphemy are no longer serious offenses, because that's the way "heroes" like Sonic and his allies talk and act.

For the Christian who professes to stand upon the Word of God, this cannot be. This film involves profanity (at least 4 instances), it takes God's name in vain at least 12 times, and promotes immodesty, sexual immorality, violence, and theft. Holy Scripture does not allow us to entertain the kinds of thoughts this film aims to fashion in our minds. Blasphemy and irreverence are wicked violations of God's good and holy commandments, and those who commit them are worthy not of praise, admiration, or emulation, but of death. In order to redeem his people from death, the Lord Jesus had to spill his blood on account of such violations. This movie, however, would have us to enjoy and laugh at them. Since its heroes practice sin, this movie conditions viewers to substitute evil for good and good for evil (Isa. 5:20) by praising evildoers who ought to be despised (Ps. 15:4; Pro. 28:4).

Violations of God's Law

Blasphemy and Profanity

This movie violates the Third Commandment. God has warned that he will not hold guiltless those who take his name in vain (Ex. 20:7).

• Sonic takes God's name in vain at least 3 times (including a minced oath)
• Tom takes God's name in vain at least 4 times (including a minced oath)
• Maddie takes God's name in vain at least 3 times
• Rachel egregiously takes the name of "Jesus" in vain at least once
• Wade takes God's name in vain at least once
• Profane references: hell (2), among others

Abuse, Violence, and Murder

This movie promotes violations of the Sixth Commandment. God hates those who love violence (Ps. 11:5). The Bible says those who hate are murderers, and no murderer has eternal life (1Jo. 3:15).

• Sonic crosses off "Start a bar fight" from his bucket list, after a bar fight scene which is meant to provoke laughter

Immodesty and Sexual Immorality

This movie violates and promotes violations of the Seventh Commandment. The Bible warns that those who do not repent of sexual immorality will not inherit the kingdom of God (1Co. 6:9-10), but will be judged by God (Heb. 13:4). We are commanded to "flee fornication" (1Co. 6:18).

• Tom (James Marsden, divorced) and Maddie (Tika Sumpter, unmarried) are shown kissing and embracing one another
• Maddie is repeatedly shown immodestly dressed, showing cleavage
• Many immodestly dressed women are shown in a party/bar scene
• Rachel repeatedly encourages Maddie to divorce Tom. This is intended to provoke laughter, but God hates divorce (Mal. 2:16), and those who divorce sinfully become guilty of adultery (Mt. 5:32).
• Even though he's married to Maddie, Tom jokes about wishing he was in Barbados with Rihanna

Theft

This movie promotes violations of the Eighth Commandment. The Bible warns that unrepentant thieves will not inherit the kingdom of God (1Co. 6:9-10).

• Tom boasts about stealing his neighbor's Wi-Fi

Sinful Content in Sonic the Hedgehog

Warning! The following table contains direct quotations from the film, which include instances of blasphemy, profanity, and other vices.