The Sonic vs. Birds of Prey meme emerged in early 2020 during the theatrical releases of Sonic the Hedgehog and Birds of Prey. The meme highlights the unexpected box office success of the Sonic movie compared to the underperformance of the DC film, often fueled by the controversy surrounding Sonic's character redesign. Fans of both franchises engaged in a digital tug-of-war, using the template to mock critics, compare fan service, or simply track the revenue gap. It is primarily used as a comparison format to illustrate one underdog's triumph over a major studio competitor, symbolizing the power of community feedback and brand loyalty.