Sonic the Hedgehog was nearly cancelled by Sega executives during the franchise's low points, according to Sonic Creative Officer Takashi Iizuka. The 2020 Sonic the Hedgehog movie proved to be a pivotal turnaround, with its unexpected box-office success convincing the company to keep the franchise alive and invest in its future.

The film faced an inauspicious beginning when its initial character design provoked such intense backlash that developers completely redesigned Sonic before release. Despite this rocky start, the movie was embraced by audiences and has introduced characters including Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Shadow to viewers who may never have played the games, whilst also attracting fans who now expect stronger storytelling in subsequent Sonic games and media.