Popular Films and TV Shows Based on Video Games

In the vast realm of movies and television, adaptations from popular novels and biographical works have often taken center stage. However, it’s worth noting that there is another genre of entertainment that has been gaining momentum—adaptations from video games. These adaptations have resulted in some remarkable films and TV shows, though they have often not received the attention they deserve. Recently, HBO’s acclaimed series, “The Last of Us,” based on the action-adventure game franchise of the same name developed by Sony, shattered viewership records and became the most-watched show in the history of the streaming platform in Europe and Latin America, as reported by The Associated Press.

Not only have TV series found success in video game adaptations, but movies, too, have seen a surge in popularity. The star-studded “The Super Mario Bros.” movie, adapted from the beloved game franchise by Nintendo, stands as the highest-grossing film of 2023 so far, according to Forbes. Featuring voice acting from renowned stars like Chris Pratt, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Seth Rogen, and Anya Taylor-Joy, the movie follows the iconic characters Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Toad as they unite to thwart the evil Bowser’s diabolical plans of world domination.

Movies Based on Video Games

“Resident Evil”

Upon its release in 1996, the Japanese survival horror game “Resident Evil” garnered an immediate fanbase and earned praise from critics for its gameplay and eerie atmosphere. The game not only evolved into a franchise consisting of 10 core games and 30+ spinoffs/remakes but also inspired a film series comprising six movies. The overarching storyline of the franchise revolves around Alice (Milla Jovovich), who navigates a world plagued by a viral outbreak that turns people into zombies.

“Uncharted”

Originally launched for the PlayStation 3 in 2007, “Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune” follows the adventures of protagonist Nathan Drake and treasure hunter Victor Sullivan as they set out to find the hidden treasures of El Dorado. The 2022 film, starring Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg, follows a similar storyline and primarily revolves around the pair’s race against villain Santiago Moncada to prevent him from stealing the secret riches left behind from the Magellean expedition.

“Lara Croft: Tomb Raider”

The “Tomb Raider” game made its debut on the Sega Saturn in 1996 and gained popularity after being released on PlayStation and MS-DOS systems the same year. The franchise, centered around the escapades of archaeologist Lara Croft as she seeks ancient artifacts, inspired numerous films, including a 2001 version (and a 2003 sequel) starring Angelina Jolie and a 2018 remake featuring Alicia Vikander.

“Doom”

Hailed as one of the greatest video games of all time, “Doom” is credited by some for popularizing the first-person shooter genre. The 1993 game spawned four core games and several spin-offs throughout the 1990s and 2010s, inspiring the 2005 film starring Karl Urban as the franchise’s main character, “Doomguy,” a marine tasked with hunting down demons.

“Sonic the Hedgehog”

The “Sonic the Hedgehog” game series holds a distinguished status as one of the most influential franchises of all time, alongside other beloved series like the “Super Mario” games. The franchise’s origins date back to the release of “Sonic the Hedgehog” on the Sega Genesis in 1991, and it has since encompassed platform-style and racing games. The 2020 film stars Ben Schwartz as the speedy blue hedgehog, who joins forces with a local sheriff (James Marsden) to stop the mad scientist Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) from wielding his powers for evil.

“Max Payne”

In “Max Payne,” first released for Microsoft Windows in 2001, the protagonist, Max Payne, is a former NYPD officer turned vigilante after his wife and child are murdered, and he is framed for the death of his police partner. Two more games followed the original, and these later inspired the 2008 film starring Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis.

“Mortal Kombat”

Initially released as an arcade game in 1992, “Mortal Kombat” has since become one of the most beloved fighting games of all time. The franchise allows players to use different characters and moves to defeat their opponents, making it enjoyable and addictive for everyone. The game’s popularity led to the creation of the 1995 film, “Mortal Kombat,” directed by “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” filmmaker Paul Anderson.

“Rampage”

In 1986, “Rampage” hit arcades worldwide, allowing players to control giant monsters trying to survive while being attacked by military forces. The 2018 film adaptation stars Dwayne Johnson as Davis Okoye, a primatologist who teams up with George, a giant gorilla, to stop monsters from wreaking havoc on Chicago.

“Street Fighter”

“Street Fighter,” like “Mortal Kombat,” dominated the late 1980s and 1990s as another iconic fighting game. The game’s main character, Ryu, is a martial artist who must defeat opponents in a series of tournaments around the world using various special moves and jumps. The 1994 film of the same name is loosely inspired by the game and revolves around Colonel William F. Guile (Jean-Claude Van Damme) as he seeks to take down General M. Bison with the help of two street fighters.

“Detective Pikachu”

A spinoff of the “Pokemon” franchise, “Detective Pikachu” was released on the Nintendo 3DS system in Japan in 2016, with a worldwide release following in 2018. The game features Pikachu as a detective solving mysteries, and this premise became the basis for the 2019 film of the same name, starring Ryan Reynolds as the lovable yellow character.

“Assassin’s Creed”

“Assassin’s Creed,” released in 2007 on various platforms, immediately garnered a large fanbase. The third-person, open-world game inspired a franchise that now includes 12 core games and a 2016 live-action film starring Michael Fassbender as Callum “Cal” Lynch/Aguilar de Nerha, an original character created for the movie. The storyline of both the game franchise and the film centers around the struggle between the Order of Assassins and the Knights Templar, who are unable to coexist due to their conflicting belief systems.

“Warcraft”

First released in 1994, “Warcraft: Orcs & Humans” quickly evolved into a multimedia franchise with a dedicated fanbase. The real-time strategy game (RTS) features adventures and magic and allows users to undertake various missions with online players. The 2016 film adaptation shares the same name as the successful franchise and stars Paula Patton and Ben Foster in a story about the war between conflicting clans.

TV Shows Based on Video Games

“The Last of Us”

First released in 2013, the survival horror game “The Last of Us” centers around Joel and Ellie, two survivors living in a post-apocalyptic world devastated by a mutated fungus that turns humans into cannibalistic creatures. The 2022 HBO Max series of the same name follows the same storyline and features Pedro Pascal as Joel and Bella Ramsey as Ellie.

“Castlevania”

Released in 1986, the platform-style game “Castlevania” centers around descendants of the Belmont clan of vampire hunters who strive to defeat Count Dracula using the specialized Vampire Killer weapon. In 2017, the game was adapted into an animated series by Netflix, which spanned a total of four seasons until its conclusion in 2021.

“Halo”

“Halo: Combat Evolved,” first released in 2001, later grew into a franchise with six core games. The Hulu series follows protagonist Master Chief, a supersoldier in the midst of a 26-century battle with the Covenant, an alien force seeking to annihilate humans.

The world of video games has provided fertile ground for creative storytelling, leading to a multitude of adaptations in the realms of both film and television. These adaptations have enabled fans to explore their favorite game worlds from a different perspective while also introducing new audiences to the captivating universes of video games. As technology advances and the storytelling potential in video games continues to grow, we can look forward to more exciting adaptations that bridge the gap between gaming and mainstream entertainment.