Video game movies have been around since Super Mario Bros. in 1993, and they have had very mixed success over the years. These are the best video game movies.
For as long as video games have existed, film producers have adapted them for the big screen. The rationale behind these decisions is clear, as big-name video game properties have the potential to bring a lot of fans into the theater. But they have seen limited success over the years.
Some video game movie adaptations have managed to capture the spirit of their source material and deliver an exciting take on the franchise. Others, however, have treated the video games as a vague reference point, resulting in underwhelming films that disappointed the average moviegoer, as well as longtime players.
The pendulum has started to shift, however, as more adaptations are falling on the good-to-great side of the spectrum. It has never been a better time to be a video game movie fan. These are the best video game movies.1. The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Spoiler alert: the best and worst video game movies are both based on the Mario franchise. Even though this version thankfully took the animated direction over live-action, there was still a bit of concern over how it would turn out. While most of the casting was considered spot-on, having Chris Pratt voice Mario drew some concern. Having Mario speak would be difficult enough to pull off, but replacing his only voice actor for a movie star felt like a bridge too far. Despite all that, the end result is a fantastic and whimsical adventure through the Mushroom Kingdom that feels like it does the entire franchise justice.2. Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Sorry Sonic, but you’re coming in second to Mario one more time. This sequel fixes a lot of the mistakes of the original, which was quite good in its own right and helped kick off the trend of game adaptations being high quality. The sequel smartly shifts more focus to Sonic and his story than the human characters, though there is still some slow moments devoted to them. The additions of Tails and Knuckles are excellent, and Jim Carrey’s Eggman is always a delight to see on -screen.3. Pokémon Detective Pikachu
The Pokémon anime series never fully translated to the big screen despite countless attempts, but Pikachu couldn’t be kept from box office glory forever. The first live-action Pokémon movie, Pokémon Detective Pikachu, uses brilliantly detailed CG Pokémon alongside humans to create a vibrant world that fans have dreamed of since playing Red and Blue on the original Game Boy. Its noir-mystery story is predictable and just scratches the surface of the universe, but it feels like it was created by longtime fans who grew up as the franchise evolved.
The element that puts it over the top is Ryan Reynolds, who delivers his famous sarcasm and wit at a rapid-fire pace as the titular character. Such an adorable creature having the voice of a grown man never loses its novelty, especially when he has to interrogate another Pokémon during his missing-person investigation.4. Uncharted
Naughty Dog games are often compared to movies, so it makes sense to try and turn them into films. While The Last of Us got the amazing HBO series, Uncharted was squeezed into a feature film first. And squeezed is the key word, because this one film attempts to combine elements from almost all of the games. That makes for a somewhat rocky plot and lackluster character development, but at least ensures a wild ride. Some amazing set pieces are brought to screen from the games, as well as one that is brand new that we wish we could experience ourselves in a future game. The film is nothing amazing, but it is a fun adventure just like the games.5. Tomb Raider
Angelina Jolie starred in two big-budget Tomb Raider films as titular hero Lara Croft in 2001 and 2003, but these leaned into the cheesy elements that defined early video games. When Alicia Vikander took over the role for 2018’s Tomb Raider, it was the rebooted, down-to-earth 2013 game that served as source material.
A few of the film’s most harrowing moments were pulled directly from the game, but this was done in a way that felt natural and fitting for the film rather than mere fan service. Vikander fit perfectly into the role of Lara Croft, and she was joined by the always entertaining Walton Goggins as villain Mathias Vogel.6. Rampage
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson appears in more than one of the movies on our list, but Rampage is likely the one he’ll want his audience to remember the most. Based on the classic Midway monster arcade game series, it’s just as ridiculous as it needs to be to remain entertaining.
An enormous gorilla is joined by a bizarre wolf-like monster and a sea creature as they cause havoc in a city filled with skyscrapers to climb and destroy, and only Johnson can put a stop to the madness before it’s too late. It’s light on memorable dialogue or storytelling, but it’s dumb fun from beginning to end.7. Sonic the Hedgehog
The deck was stacked against Sonic the Hedgehog from the very beginning.
