It looks like Hollywood is still not tapping into the full implicit videotape games have to offer. These 8 videotape games look like they would make great movies.
One of the reasons why Hollywood hasn’t tapped into this is because history speaks movies based on video games receive poor response. It’s possible that Hollywood is unable to get it done the right way. Say, for instance, the schlocky 90s beat ’em ups (Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat), shoot ’em up misfires (Doom), or poorly paced racing flicks (Need for Speed), none of them worked.
Another blockbuster movie, world’s most loved Italian plumbing siblings, The Super Mario Bros., failed to impress the audience. Some other attempts were made at generating horror (Silent Hill, Resident Evil) and action genre (Prince of Persia – Sands of Time, Assassin’s Creed) but failed to impress. Video game adaptations were a definite fail.
Update January 18th, 2023: With the upcoming release of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, this list has been updated with more video games that would make for incredible films, as well as updates of previously mentioned projects that might be making their way to the screen soon.
There have been games that were loved, told great stories but now the focus remains on storytelling alone and fully developed characters. Games like Detective Pikachu and both Sonic the Hedgehog movies all receiving generally favorable reviews, Hollywood still didn’t step out of their comfort zone to explore more. Here is a compilation of eight video games that would make great movies, as we think so.
The Legend of Zelda
It’s hard to believe that The Legend of Zelda still doesn’t have a movie based on its story. One of the most successful stories in gaming era, millions have loved and enjoyed this game globally. The characters of iconic hero Link and Princess Zelda protect Hyrule, the setup of medieval Western Europe-inspired fantasy world portrayed deep history and geography.
Another TV series based on The Legend of Zelda was previously being developed at Netflix but was cancelled later due to leaks. Nintendo cancelled this midway. Right now, Nintendo is all set to make their grand return to the big screen with The Super Mario Bros.
Similarly, while The Legend of Zelda has a well-established fan base, the relative unknown nature of Bloodborne can work in its favor for attracting non-gamers. It offers a fresh start, allowing non-gamers to discover the captivating and one-of-a-kind narrative for the first time without any preconceptions.
Similarly, Bloodborne would challenge the typical conventions of horror games. As the player character journeys through a dark, gothic world filled with frightening beasts and otherworldly creatures, it becomes not only a pulse-pounding survival experience, but also a journey of self-discovery and personal growth. Rumors have circulated that a Bloodborne series is in the works, but no official announcement has been made.
Mirror’s Edge
Mirror’s Edge was released in 2008 which was actually a first person view action game with high standards. The game took place in a futuristic city and follows carrier Faith Connors who navigates through the city using parkour. An action packed movie, it was inspired by other action genre movies like Akira and Ghost in the Shell, Mirror’s Edge feels perfect for a film adaptation.
Having an action movie told in the first-person view, 2016’s Hardcore Henry can be said as beaten Mirror’s Edge. There is possibly no room for improvement on that film, because Mirror’s Edge has a distinct style that would always make it stand out in the crowd of films.
God of War
The God of War franchise has been highly sought after for a film adaptation since the release of its 2018 reboot. Considered one of the greatest video game storylines of all time, God of War would translate beautifully to the cinema. At its core, it’s an epic action-adventure tale set in the world of Norse mythology, featuring larger-than-life battles and an impressive array of weapons.
There’s much more to this story as it focusses on a father-son relationship and how a widowed father deals with his wife’s final ashes along with his estranged son. There is a much deeper meaning to life here. The widowed father happens to be Kratos: God of War. Amazon is seemingly working on a television series project – God of War.
A point-and-click adventure game from the late 90s, Grim Fandango is set in the land of the dead. It spans four years as it follows afterlife ‘travel agent’ Manny Calavera as he attempts to save a lost soul on her journey through death. Directed by Tim Schafer and developed and published by LucasArts for Microsoft Windows, this game has many puzzles. Players much converse with other players, collect objects to solve different puzzles. Alongisde, goes a storyline which is ofcourse, super interesting.
The game follows a combination of Aztec afterlife with film noir style with influences including The Maltese Falcon, On the Waterfront, and Casablanca. The game has a perfect combination of humor, excitement, and emotion. People would go sleepless playing this game because it was that good. The puzzles would scratch the hell out of their heads. This project would make for a good Disney+ original film and a way for Lucasfilm to expand beyond the Star Wars franchise only if it’s carried out.
Spyro
One of the most popular video games ever, Spyro trilogy is highly loved by its fan base. They call it “one of the best video game trilogies of all time.” There were flying rumors that a Spyro film would come out but nothing really happened.
With the recent success of the Sonic the Hedgehog movies and the excitement around The Super Mario Bros. Movie, it looks like something needs to be brought to screen. The purple dragon is known to the audience and would be a great option to bring to the big screen for its cross-generation aesthetic.
