Jim Carrey’s latest film, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, has taken the box office by storm, opening with record-breaking numbers and outperforming Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King, which debuted on the same day. Fans and critics alike have speculated about the film’s potential to secure an Academy Award nomination, raising hopes for recognition in Hollywood’s most prestigious awards ceremony.
The beloved actor, known for his iconic roles in The Mask and Ace Ventura, has long believed in the merit of the Sonic franchise. Speaking at the 2019 Golden Globes, Carrey expressed his hope that the series would one day receive nominations in major award categories. Despite the franchise’s commercial success and widespread popularity, none of the previous films have ever been nominated for major awards, and it seems Sonic 3 may follow the same trajectory.
Reports from The Wrap suggest that Sonic 3 is ineligible for the Best Picture category at the 97th Academy Awards due to its failure to meet certain criteria set by the Academy. These rules require that a film must be released in at least one of six U.S. metropolitan areas between January 1 and December 31, 2024, and have a runtime exceeding 40 minutes. While Sonic 3 undoubtedly meets the runtime requirement, it remains unclear which specific eligibility criteria it failed to satisfy.
Although Sonic 3 may not compete for the coveted Best Picture title, the film could still vie for recognition in other categories. With Carrey’s captivating performance and Keanu Reeves also joining the cast, industry insiders speculate that Sonic 3 could receive nominations for technical categories such as visual effects, sound design, or even animated feature components.
While Carrey’s hope for an Oscar nod for the franchise remains unfulfilled, the overwhelming box office success of Sonic 3 reinforces its cultural significance and fan appeal. As audiences continue to celebrate the high-energy action and humor of the Sonic series, it’s clear the franchise has already earned its place in cinematic history—even without a golden statuette.