Video games have come a long way since 1958, when William Higinbotham, a physicist, created what is widely considered to be the first known video game. From simple arcade games to complex, multi-faceted worlds, the gaming industry has grown exponentially over the past few decades. And as the industry has grown, so too has the interest in turning popular video games into movies.
Many movies based on video games have been met with mixed reactions from both critics and audiences, and some have even been outright failures. However, there have also been a few successful adaptations that have managed to capture the spirit of the original game while also appealing to a wider audience.
The most popular games up for adaptation tend to be great PC games that fall into the action or adventure category. These tend to be fast-paced, excitement-filled games with rich storylines, which makes them appealing choices for movie adaptations.
One of the most successful video game-to-movie adaptations is the 1995 movie “Mortal Kombat.” Based on the popular fighting game of the same name, the movie was a box-office success and is still considered a cult classic today. The movie successfully translated the game’s over-the-top fighting and characters to the big screen and even spawned a sequel, released in 1997. In 2021, another Mortal Kombat feature was released, starring Lewis Tan as the lead.
Another successful adaptation is the 2001 movie “Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within.” While the movie was not a box office success, it was praised for its groundbreaking animation and the way it captured the spirit of the game. The movie’s use of cutting-edge technology to create photo-realistic characters set a new standard for animation in cinema today.
While these franchises have gained critical acclaim on the big screen, there have been many other video game-to-movie adaptations that have not fared as well. One of the most notable examples is the 1993 movie “Super Mario Bros.” Based on the popular Nintendo game, this release was a critical and commercial failure and is often cited as one of the worst video game adaptations of all time. It received negative reviews from critics, with one stating that “the movie is the trailer, shown over and over and over again”.
Despite the mixed track record of video game-to-movie adaptations, there is still a lot of interest in this genre. In fact, another adaptation of Super Mario Bros will be released in the first half of 2023, demonstrating the continuing appeal of the genre.
As history has revealed, turning a video game into a successful movie is no mean feat. While some adaptations have been successful, many have been met with mixed reactions from both critics and audiences. Despite this, the interest in video game-to-movie adaptations continues to grow as the popularity of both the gaming industry and the movie industry continues to rise. However, if there’s a lesson to be learned from the mistakes of past adaptations, it is important for filmmakers to stay true to the source material while also making the story and characters appealing to a wider audience. With the right approach, a video game-to-film adaptation can be a resounding success.