Video games and Hollywood movies are two titans of pop culture. In recent years, the two Goliaths have crossed paths dozens of times, giving birth to cinematic adaptions of some beloved video game franchises. While not every video game adaptation has hit the spot and been well received, some have managed to bridge the gap between the cinema and gaming worlds. The following five video games captured the gamers’ hearts and successfully transitioned to the silver screen. Grab some popcorn, and let’s take a look at some great video game movies.
Tomb Raider (2018)
The Tomb Raider franchise has been part of the video game industry for over two decades and has seen multiple versions of its iconic heroine, Lara Croft. Fans of the games have long said that Tomb Raider could be an epic television series, like The Last of Us, a favorite with online Florida sports betting sites to win multiple awards this year. Still, while a serialization never happened, a Hollywood movie did.
The 2018 Tomb Raider’s plot revolves around Lara Croft’s quest to uncover the mystery of her father’s disappearance. Critics praised Alicia Vikander’s portrayal of Lara Croft, as Vikander added a layer of grit and determination to the iconic character, making her a worthy successor to the character Angelina Jolie played in the two Tomb Raider movies in 2001 and 2003.
Packed with high-octane action sequences and breathtaking cinematography, the 2018 Tomb Raider was enjoyed by moviegoers and gamers alike. Fans embraced the change from the supernatural elements of the earlier games to a more grounded approach.
Resident Evil (2002)
The Resident Evil franchise is a juggernaut in the world of survival-horror games. Indeed, it is one of the biggest-grossing video game franchises of all time. First released in 1996, there have been several video game releases. All revolve around a similar plot of a viral outbreak from a colossal conglomerate called the Umbrella Corporation. Intense action, memorable characters, and spine-tingling zombies and mutants lend themselves perfectly to the silver screen.
Milla Jovovich took on the role of Alice, a character created specifically for the movies, in the first Resident Evil film in 2002. Fans of the video game franchise were taken aback by how director Paul W.S. Anderson blended elements of the game with original storylines.
Although the Resident Evil movies were not hits with film critics, the films have been commercially successful. Seven Resident Evil films have been produced to date, and the box office takings stand at almost $1.3 billion.
Detective Pikachu (2019)
Pokemon fans are incredibly protective of their favorite characters, so they were full of skepticism when they first heard that a live-action movie featuring a talking Pikachu was in the works. However, when the movie hit theatres in 2019, it won over loyal fans and charmed moviegoers who had not previously ventured into the Pokemon universe.
The film is based on the 2016 video game of the same title and centers around the adventures of Tim Goodman and his wisecracking partner, Detective Pikachu. Giving Pikachu the ability to speak English was risky, but casting Ryan Reynolds as the voice actor was a masterstroke. The gamble paid off tremendously, with Reynolds adding humor and personality to one of the most loved Pokemon characters.
Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)
Sonic the Hedgehog is a veteran of the video game world, with the first game launching in 1991, over three decades ago. Over the years, the speedy blue-haired Hedgehog has become a beloved figure, but his journey to Hollywood was not plain sailing.
Fans of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise could not believe their eyes when they saw the initial design of Sonic in the movie’s trailers. Widespread criticism and a significant backlash ensued, leading the film’s team to take the unprecedented step of redesigning the character.
The result was a Sonic truer to the video game character’s appearance, which delighted fans. James Marsden and Jim Carrey played their roles to perfection, with Carrey’s portrayal of the villainous Dr. Robotnik coming in for more than its fair share of praise.
Warcraft (2016)
Warcraft is one of the best-selling video game, novel, and tabletop game franchises in entertainment. Millions of people enjoy Blizzard Entertainment‘s Warcraft products daily, so it was only a matter of time before the game made it to Hollywood. On June 10, 2016, Warcraft fans finally got to see their favorite game on the silver screen, and it is fair to say director Duncan Jones rose to the challenge of bringing the world to life.
While the film received mixed reviews from critics, the CGI was highly praised, thanks to the various orcs’ lifelike appearance and emotional expressions, even in close-up scenes and shots.
Warcraft (2016) generated $439.1 million at the box office from a budget of $160 million, which was surprisingly low despite showing a healthy profit. The World of Warcraft video game has over 130 million players and has grossed over $9 billion, so many believed the film bearing its name should have made more money.
Conclusion
Video game adaptions in Hollywood have come a long way since their rocky beginnings. While not every attempt at creating a blockbuster movie has succeeded, the five films mentioned here demonstrate that it is possible to get things right and produce an entertaining and visually captivating experience for film buffs.
We can expect many more video games to make their way to cinema in the future. Modern-day gamers demand titles that are not only crammed full of action but have emotive stories that keep them hooked from the first start-up screen until the credits roll.
Several best-selling games are on the radar of Hollywood studios, including Minecraft: The Movie, Borderlands, BioShock, Death Stranding, Days Gone, and Metal Gear Solid. All the games mentioned there are renowned for their incredible storytelling, rivaling some of the greatest films ever produced.
