There’s a well-known belief about films based on video games – they’ve been a disaster right from the start. And not just a small disaster, but the kind that makes people say, “Bro, keep this on DVD, why drag it to the theater!”
It’s true that most of these movies haven’t been very good. But the real problem lies in the constant “creative clashes.” Old games may not have had the depth of a novel (although today’s games often feel like complete novels), and yes, stories of titles like Super Mario or Street Fighter were pretty light-hearted in the beginning. Still, adapting a game into a film shouldn’t be any harder than adapting a comic book—if the project lands in the hands of the right director.
That said, it’s also true that movies like Super Mario Bros (1993) and early 2000s flops like BloodRayne, Hitman, and Max Payne cemented the belief that turning a game into a film was just asking for embarrassment. But there have also been exceptions that proved a game-based movie can actually be fun.
Today’s entertainment industry is running completely on “IP infusion.” With Marvel’s golden era slowing down, the spotlight is now shifting to video games. A new generation of directors and writers who grew up playing games themselves now find it much easier to understand what makes a good story tick. Superhero fever has cooled a bit, while game-inspired movies and series are booming—every season brings a fresh wave of new films and streaming shows.
And it’s not always about massive budgets either. The real magic happens when filmmakers either understand and honor what fans love, or embrace the quirky, imaginative world of the game with complete honesty. There isn’t just one “right” way to make a video game movie—sometimes it calls for seriousness, and other times you just need to dive into the pure fun of the game.
So, where “video game adaptation” once sounded like a dirty word, now we have this list of 25 movies and shows that prove one thing: sometimes, simply putting the controller down and watching the story unfold can be an equally fun—and even great—experience.
25. Five Nights at Freddy’s
As popular as this game is, its concept is equally simple. Think – a sold-out security guard on night duty, and the place is a chuck-e-cheese-like pizzeria… But here’s not the animatronics that entertain the kids, but the dangerous robots that will rip you apart as soon as you get the chance.
The style of the game is like puzzle – player has to keep an eye on CCTV, operate the lights by saving electricity, sometimes close the doors… meaning doing one thing puts another thing in danger. And if a mistake is made then a heart-wrenching jump-scare comes to the fore!
The film has tried to capture the same horror vibe of the game, but the problem here is – third-person view and the “sitting look” naturals make the fear seem a little lighter.
Still, it works great as a cheesy PG-13 horror movie. It is not easy to give fear and thrill even without bloodshed, but the film has created a good re-creation of the game.
24. A Minecraft Movie
Most of the entries in this list work because the makers changed the story of the game to a movie-friendly narrative. But Minecraft Movie took up the other side of the game – Community Experience!
Director Jared Hayes made it into a children’s comedy tone, with the same odd-eyed energy that made his Napoleon Dynamite (2004) a cult classic. But to be honest, the film became a hit not because its jokes were good – but because it is the first movie which adopted the “very-online” thinking of Internet culture and Minecraft community.
The film is full of references – not just limited to the characters or blocks of the game, but shows the entire culture of playing, streaming and watching the game. Theatres had a different scene – Gen Alpha were shouting in the audience hall “chicken jockey!” And they were making videos and making them viral.
23. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
90s mentioned and Lara Croft not named, it can’t be. When the first Tomb Raider arrived in 1996 Lara became a direct gaming icon – action hero as well as virtual poster girl.
Then came the idea – it should make a movie! Adventure, Puzzle, Shooting… Full package. All I needed was the right star. And Angelina Jolie entered here.
Jolie gave such a charismatic treatment to a one-dimensional character that people still consider her the real Lara Croft. His style in the film – solving puzzles, beating enemies, and that iconic wink with double pistol – all took the movie to a different level.
Yeah, it’s true that the 2003 sequel Cradel of Life played the franchise, but think if it wasn’t a flop we’d probably have five-six Tomb Raider movies today that were fun to binge-watch on the weekend.
22. Resident Evil: Afterlife
Let’s assume – Resident Evil movies are overcounted. The games wisely pulled the story by bringing different heroes into focus, but the movies simply caught up with Alice (Mila Jovovich) and kept running the same.
Now, Jovovich’s charm is no less. Those watching The Fifth Element know that they can make even stupid plots entertaining. But sidelining the game’s fan-favorite characters and forgetting the horror elements – was the biggest weakness of the movie series.
However, the fourth film Afterlife provides some relief. It begins with a Matrix-style scene, where tons of Alice Clones are disposed of. Then come the characters people were waiting for – Chris and Claire Redfield (Wentworth Miller, Ali Larter), and Villain Wesker (Shawn Roberts).
On top of that, it used 3 D correctly, which had become a wasteful gimmick in more films. Result – These entries turned out to be the most stylish and action-packed visually.
21. Silent Hill
Except for Resident Evil, there is no other powerhouse like Silent Hill in the world of horror games. The first two games are still considered the best horror games. fear, suspense and dark atmosphere – everything is present.
So when the film came out in 2006, the expectations were big. Although critics dusted it off upon release, the movie became an underrated classic with Time.
The story follows Rose da Silva (Radha Mitchell), who takes her daughter Sharon to the mysterious Silent Hill Town – to find a cure, but ends up straight in the Nightmare World. Fog, disgusting monsters and supernatural atmosphere –, this town can be the last destination of any human being.
There is a lot of ghost and body horror in the film, as well as a touch of psychological fear. This balance connects it to the tone of the games. Fallout – Today this movie holds cult status in midnight horror movies of 2000s. Now just hope that the upcoming sequel Return to Silent Hill builds on this foundation.
20. Yakuza: Like a Dragon
Hearing the name, it seems –, this will be a serious crime drama. But Yakuza Games fans know the real fun is in its over-the-top soap-opera tone.
This is what the 2007 Japanese film understood. Director Takashi Mike thought that if you want to adapt – yakuza, you will have to be strange. And brother, he is a master in this.
The story follows Kazuma Kiryu (Kazuki Kitamura), who is retired Yakuza but is drawn into the underworld again in a night of chaos. Goro Majima’s caricature-style villain performance makes the film even more crazy.
The movie doesn’t reach the craziness of high-quality Audition (1999) or Ichi the Killer (2001), but manages to capture the energy and the strange tone of the games.
19. Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children
Someone thought it right – “if to make an adaptation of the game, why not call the same people who made the game?” And that’s the greatest strength of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children.
It is not a direct adaptation but a sequel to 1997’s RPG. And when it came in 2005, everyone’s mouth was left wide open with the top-level CGI of its time.
The story begins two years after the game – Cloud Life, Tifa and Barret again get caught up in a new intrigue, the motive of which is to bring back the infamous Sephiroth.
Yeah, it might even be called a long 101-minute cutscene, but the difference is that these films expand the game world, not just repeat it. And that’s what makes it different from the rest – it makes its source material more rich.
18. Sonic the Hedgehog 2
When Sonic the Hedgehog was released in 2020, everyone thought it would be just another “cartoon-to-meet” movie. But what a joke – the film created a box office uproar and became the last theater experience for people, because just a few days later Covid imprisoned everyone in the house. Story? A man and his spicy CGI hedgehog – and became big comedy.
Now let’s talk about 2022’s Sonic the Hedgehog 2. This time the makers thought, “let’s play hands open now.” And added Bhaisaab, Sonic’s dear friend Tails (a cute two-tailed fox) and Red Hot Rival Knuckles (in Idris Elba’s voice). This time there is less drama among humans and more action and comedy that pleases children. In fact, the same tone should have been from the first film – if the makers had not played so much “safe” from the beginning.
17. Pokemon Detective Pikachu
The one who made way before Sonic was 2019’s Pokemon Detective Pikachu. Nintendo came to Hollywood again almost 20 years later, and this time bet on Pikachu. The story follows Tim Goodman, whose dad disappears and helps him solve the case… Drumroll…Pikachu! And Pikachu also speaks – and that too in the voice of Ryan Reynolds.
Now think, how will this work? But the surprising thing is that Ryan controlled his deadpool attitude a bit and made Pikachu funny as well as very cute. There is mystery as well as heart in the story, due to which it becomes worth watching both children and adults happily. And yes, if you are one of those people who takes out Pokédex after seeing every new Pokémon, then this movie is a bonus pack for you.
16. Warcraft
The Warcraft film received a lot of bad reviews upon release, but frankly it was not that bad either. It was launched like epic series like Lord of the Rings. The problem was that there was too much backstory and information crammed into it for non-gamers, causing many people to take naps from time to time.
But looking back now, the film’s VFX, Orak and human confrontation and characters were good. Travis Fimmel (human hero) and Toby Kebbell (orak leader) brought life to their respective roles. The only problem was that the film could not bear the burden of the story. Still, it looked much better than many of today’s CGI-filled films. If it were edited a little more tightly these “Lord of the Rings could become a light”-like hit.
15. Cyberpunk: Edge Runners
Game Cyberpunk 2077 as hyped as it was trolled as soon as it was released. But Netflix’s Cyberpunk: Edgerunners makes that mess a complete washout.
The story is about David Martínez, who goes through unfortunate circumstances and becomes a black-market mercenary. Here’s everything – nion lights filled dystopian city, shootout, emotional backstory and cool music. Gamers get the same underworld gritty feel in it, but this time there is no need to take the controller in hand.
14. Uncharted
Uncharted game series was always said to be the biggest Hollywood movie made as “game”. Meaning, it has Indiana Jones tadka – treasure hunting, stunts, and powerful action.
So when its film adaptation was made, people’s expectations were sky high. But… The movie got a little messy. Tom Holland was cast as Young Nathan Drake (while he appears mostly in flashbacks in the game). Tried to fit Mark Wahlberg into the role of his mentor Sully (which is the classic case of miscasting).
Still, the film was not a complete flop. It had powerful set-pieces and also the fun of adventure. Yes, it is not of the level of the game, but it definitely looks time-passing and entertaining.
13. Street Fighter
1994 Street Fighter is what people call a movie with “so bad that fun”. It starred Jean-Claud van Dam as Gyle, Ming-na Wen as Chun-Li, and…Kylie Minogue Cami? (Yes, you read it right).
The fighting scene was strange, set cheap, and the story paper-thin, but the film was made memorable by Raul Julia, the villain M. Became a bison. His dialogues – “for me, that day was just Tuesday” – are still alive in memes and quotes.
Nobody would call it “good film”, but fun? Absolutely.
12. Resident Evil
The first Resident Evil film came out in 2002 and tried to capture the vibe of the game. The story follows Alice (Milla Jovovich), who loses her memory and gets trapped in a mansion where viruses and monsters have gone mad in the Umbrella Corporation lab below.
It contained horror, gore and that laser-room scene, which has scared many people till date. Later the series gradually deviated towards action, but the first film had caught the feel right with at least the game “ghostly mansion”.
11. Twisted Metal
When Peacock announced Twisted Metal’s show, everyone held their heads – “brother, the last part of this game was long ago.” But the show surprised everyone.
Here is the story of a courier (Anthony McKee) who delivers resources to the post-apocalypse world. Crazy characters, strange cars and a lot of action get along the way. The show is all comedy-tone, with a bit of a deadpool vibe.
If you don’t like reference-heavy jokes, this may not be for you. But fun? Yes. And in season 2 maybe even get to see a tournament with real “death-race”.
10. The Super Mario Bros. Movie
When Nintendo thought Mario should be brought back to the cinema, there was only one way – animation. The 1993 live-action film had even replaced the Mushroom Kingdom with an atmosphere similar to that of a strange Sci-Fi movie. That’s why it was important to play safe this time. And who better than Illumination (Despicable Me, those with Minions) to play safe? They have a tested formula for making children’s blockbusters.
Nintendo itself was deeply involved and the result was that we saw not mind-boggling noises like Minions, but references full of games and a smart hero-journey. Yes, people laughed and rolled their eyes when Chris Pratt was given Mario’s voice, but Charlie Day’s Luigi and above all Jack Black’s Bouzer – just added flavor to the film. box office bang too – about $1.3 billion. Clear, from now on the world is Mario World, we’re all just living in it! 🍄
9. Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Sonic 2 was a hit because he embraced all the fun and madness of the game. And the third part took this level even higher. Sensibly, the movie almost made human characters disappear and gave screen time to – Sonic and his friends who want to watch kids: pranks, fun and explosive action.
Just as Idris Elba’s strong-voiced Knuckles was a superhit in the second part, this time it’s a masterstroke for Kianu Reeves to become Shadow the Hedgehog. Shadow’s character seemed a bit strange in the game, but here his tragic backstory and dark personality have solidified. And yes, guns have also come along!
The biggest fun is of Jim Carrey. He just Dr. Not only Robotnik, but also his grandfather has played the role. Sonic films have become a new era of revival for him. His changing-face comedy style was so perfect that he is the only human character in the franchise who finds it fun to watch. It was even because of him that he played his retirement again and again.
8. Werewolves Within
Maybe you don’t even know that this movie is based on a game. Actually it was a VR game from 2016, in which social deduction game like Mafia/Among Us was – who is werewolf, who is human, it had to be caught. And this setup is just like the ready-made murder mystery movie.
Josh Ruben (the CollegeHumor guy) turned it into a movie and turned it into a fun comedy-style mystery capper. Cast is also great – TV/sitcom faces like Sam Richardson, Milana Wyantrub, Harvey Guillen. All brought life to the role of quirky concepts and posible victims. Yes, it doesn’t have big stars or franchise value, but funny comedy makes the film easy. Even if you’ve never played the game, fun is guaranteed. 🐺
7. Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie
In 1994 when the live-action street fighter movie made everyone confuse, this animated version came out the same year – and it was full of real DNA. These basicalli bring out the backstory of the game in a proper way, which was missed by fans playing in arcades.
The movie has everything – Kazuma Kiryu and Sagat clash, Chun-Li and Gyle’s mission, and M. Fight against bison. Visuals proper gritty 90s are anime style. Fight scenes are so tight that you can’t take your eyes off – especially Chun-Li and Vega’s fight scene, which is also brutal and disturbing. Old-fashioned Raw Anime Vibe + Masala of Fighting Game = Perfect Combo.
6. Gangs of London
Not many people know that this show is also based on the game Spin-off of a PlayStation game named – The Getaway. The game featured British Mafia style GTA vibes, and the show caught the same sensation.
In fact, it’s a creative frame drama like Snatch and Peaky Blinders, but it makes its mark because of violent action sequences. The show’s co-creator is Gareth Evans (the Raid ones), and his trademark bone-crunching fight choreography is fully visible here as well.
The story is full of twists, where suddenly someone puts knife on the throat between the family drama and gang wars. If you like a little raw violence in crime shows, this series is made for you.
5. Mortal Kombat
The real grandfather of video game movies! People call it bad, but the truth is that whenever it comes on TV, everyone sits quietly and watches it. Paul W.S. Anderson turned the game into a film for the first time and turned a narrative-light game into pure martial arts fantasy.
The film shows the iconic tournament where Earthrealm and Outlookld’s fighters fight to the death. First scene is legendary – Shang Tsung’s “Your soul is min!” Staring straight into the camera and saying goosebumps.
The movie sometimes sounds cheesy, sometimes thrilling, but the lights satisfy the fans perfectly. Moments like Liu Kang vs Sub-Zero are ones that gamers have played in the game over and over again and here in live-action sounds epic. Also its theme Song is still in playlist of every fan.
4. Castlevania & Castlevania: Nocturne
Netflix has done a good job at game adaptations in recent years, but Castlevania and its sequel Nocturne are at the top.
Produced by Adi Shankar, this animated series is a great example of adult animation. Dracula’s story of revenge against – humans, as they killed his wife starting from – shows the journey of the Belmont family (Trevor and later Richter).
These shows are a tremendous combination of fantasy, violence, romance and comedy. Art style and pacing is so engaging that there is no escape from binge-watching. The game series may have been out of date, but these shows made Castlevania immortal again.
3. Fallout
It is not easy to adapt to open-world games because they contain infinite posibilities. But Prime Video did wonders. He said – everything can be canon, or nothing.
The series is set in the same radiation-filled wasteland of the Fallout Universe, but brings new space and new stories. Three heroes – Vault Dweller Lucci (Ella Purnell), Botherhood’s Maximus (Aaron Moten), and Walton Goggins’ iconic Ghoul – all three have a parallele story play, as do games that have different quests.
Every detail in the series is automatic – props, references, knowledge, everything looks like the games have really come alive. This is why it is being called the most authentic game adaptation ever.
2. Arcane
Think, someting like League of Legends would make a cros-cultural hit from a multiplayer battle game? Hardly anion would have thought. But Netflix’s Arcane cam and stocked everyone.
The series brings out the tragic storey involving Vi and Jinx’s sister. In the game, these were just two of the many charactors who played, but here their backstory, emotions and concepts we explored in an epic manner.
Animation is also of a different level – neither completely anime, nor pure CGI. Rather, it seems as if the oil painting has been controlled into a mutation. Visuals are breathtaking and the store is both heartbreaking and inspiring.
Arcane proved that good styletelling can make any game complex phenomenon. It wouldn’t be wrong to consider this as the best game adaptation till date.
1. ‘The Last of Us’
When the Last of Us game case out in 2013, it changed the game of the game industry itself. Till that time People belived that games are just for “play” – a little shooting, a little jumping and that’s it. But this musterpiece from naugthy dog showed that video games can do the game thing that big hollywood mobies and TV shows do – heartwarming, powerful and cinematic styletelling.
Now that HBO made its show, the makers did not have the scope to make much changes. Why? Becausse the game itself was written so perfect that everything from dialogue to cinematography was already present in it. This is the name case where the game iself was the entry script and storeboard.
Show is almost like a 1:1 game – game dialogues, game emotions, game visuals. Yes, in som places HBO has also panned as per its own, like giving more depth to the side characters. One episode turned out to be so emotional that even today people count it among the best episodes of TV history.
The heart of the store is Joel and Ellie’s Journey – in a world wheree humansare rrined by “zombie-like infections”. mision of both is – seeking treatment. As painful and dangerous as this journey in the game was, it became equally effective in the show too.
Now the truth is that when season 2 of the Last of Us comes, there will be a lot of debate among the fans – because part 2 of the game was similar dividing. But still, no one can deny that there is life in this store.
In fact, if you think – then HBO’s show is nothing but the game’s “cut-scene collection”. The only difference is the that here you don’t have to press the butons, otherwise every frame, every moment is the name. playing games and watching shows – a both unforgetable at their relevant levels.
