There are many video game movies, so I’ll provide you with a list of some popular ones that we spoke about on our Gaming To Hollywood podcast episode, along with a synopsis for each:
Super Mario Bros. (1993):
This live-action film features the iconic Nintendo characters Mario and Luigi as they try to save Princess Daisy from the villainous King Koopa. They must navigate a strange alternate dimension, Dinohattan, inhabited by humanoid dinosaurs. While the film didn’t follow the Super Mario Bros. aesthetic, it did take an interesting chance. One that unfortunately hurt video game movies that followed since this movie was a flop.
The original “Super Mario Bros.” movie, released in 1993, starred Bob Hoskins as Mario Mario and John Leguizamo as Luigi Mario. The amazing Dennis Hopper played a disappointing Bowser in the film.
Street Fighter (1994):
Based on the popular fighting game series, this movie follows Colonel Guile and other martial artists as they battle the evil dictator M. Bison. Their mission is to free hostages and put an end to Bison’s reign of terror.
The “Street Fighter” movie is a 1994 action film based on the popular video game franchise of the same name. The movie follows the story of Colonel Guile, played by Jean-Claude Van Damme, who is a military commander leading a team of fighters to take down the evil General M. Bison, played by Raul Julia.
The movie is set in the fictional country of Shadaloo, where General M. Bison has taken control and declared himself dictator. Guile and his team, which includes characters from the video game such as Chun-Li, E. Honda, and Balrog, must infiltrate Bison’s stronghold and stop him from carrying out his plans of world domination.
Along the way, Guile also has a personal stake in the mission as he seeks to rescue his friend and fellow soldier, Charlie, who has been captured by Bison and turned into a mind-controlled super soldier.
The movie features numerous fight scenes and action sequences, including a climactic battle between Guile and Bison. The “Street Fighter” movie received mixed reviews upon its release but has since gained a cult following among fans of the video game franchise.
Mortal Kombat (1995):
Inspired by the brutal fighting game franchise, this film centers around a martial arts tournament where Earthrealm’s fighters must defeat Outworld’s warriors to save their world from destruction.
The original “Mortal Kombat” movie is a 1995 action film based on the popular video game franchise of the same name. The movie follows the story of three warriors – Liu Kang, Johnny Cage, and Sonya Blade – who are recruited by the thunder god Raiden to compete in a high-stakes martial arts tournament known as the Mortal Kombat.
The Mortal Kombat tournament takes place on a mysterious island and is organized by the evil sorcerer Shang Tsung, who seeks to defeat Earthrealm’s champions and conquer the world. The tournament is fought between combatants from different realms, and the fate of the world rests on the outcome.
Throughout the tournament, the heroes face various opponents, including Sub-Zero, Scorpion, and Goro, a hulking four-armed creature. As they fight through the tournament, they discover the true motives behind Shang Tsung’s actions and uncover a larger conspiracy that threatens to destroy all of reality.
The movie features numerous fight scenes and special effects and stays true to the violence and gore of the video game franchise. The “Mortal Kombat” movie was a commercial success upon its release and has since become a cult classic among fans of the video game franchise.
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001):
This action-adventure film stars Angelina Jolie as the fearless archaeologist Lara Croft. She must find and recover powerful ancient artifacts while battling a secret society and other dangerous adversaries.
The first “Tomb Raider” movie is a 2001 action-adventure film based on the popular video game franchise of the same name. The movie stars Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft, a British adventurer and treasure hunter who seeks to follow in her father’s footsteps and uncover the secrets of an ancient artifact known as the Triangle of Light.
The movie begins with Lara working as a tomb raider and being hired by a wealthy businessman named Powell to retrieve the Triangle of Light, which has the power to control time and space. Along with her tech-savvy assistant Bryce and her friend and fellow adventurer, Alex West, Lara sets out on a perilous journey to locate the artifact.
As she navigates through dangerous traps and encounters various obstacles, Lara discovers that Powell has ulterior motives for obtaining the artifact, and that he plans to use it to control the world. With the help of her wits, strength, and agility, Lara battles Powell and his army of mercenaries to prevent him from achieving his goals and to protect the artifact from falling into the wrong hands.
The movie features numerous action sequences, including a thrilling motorcycle chase and a climactic battle at the end. Angelina Jolie’s portrayal of Lara Croft was widely praised, and the “Tomb Raider” movie was a box-office success, leading to a sequel and a reboot of the franchise.
Resident Evil (2002):
Adapted from the horror video game series, the movie follows a special military unit that fights against a powerful, out-of-control supercomputer and hundreds of scientists who have mutated into flesh-eating creatures after a laboratory accident.
The first “Resident Evil” movie is a 2002 horror-action film based on the popular survival horror video game franchise of the same name. The movie was written and directed by Paul W. S. Anderson and stars Milla Jovovich as Alice, the main protagonist.
The movie follows a group of soldiers and scientists from the Umbrella Corporation as they investigate a viral outbreak at a secret underground facility called “The Hive”. The outbreak causes the facility’s AI, known as the Red Queen, to seal the entrance and activate the facility’s defense mechanisms, which results in the death of most of the people inside.
Alice and a small group of survivors trapped inside the facility during the outbreak must fight their way through hordes of zombies and other mutated creatures to find a way out of the facility before it’s too late. Along the way, they discover that the outbreak was caused by the Umbrella Corporation’s experiments with the T-virus, a biological weapon designed to create super-soldiers.
The movie features intense action scenes and suspenseful moments, and its storyline is loosely based on the video game franchise. The “Resident Evil” movie was a commercial success, grossing over $102 million worldwide against a budget of $33 million. The movie spawned a franchise of six sequels, with the last one, “Resident Evil: The Final Chapter,” released in 2016.
Silent Hill (2006):
Based on the atmospheric horror game series, this film tells the story of a woman searching for her missing daughter in the eerie town of Silent Hill, where she encounters nightmarish creatures and learns about the town’s dark past.
The “Silent Hill” movie is a 2006 horror film based on the popular survival horror video game franchise of the same name. The movie was directed by Christophe Gans and stars Radha Mitchell as Rose Da Silva, the main protagonist.
The movie follows Rose as she searches for her adopted daughter Sharon, who has been having nightmares about the eerie town of Silent Hill. Rose takes Sharon to Silent Hill in hopes of uncovering the truth about her nightmares and her past.
Upon arriving in Silent Hill, Rose and Sharon are separated, and Rose discovers that the town is engulfed in a thick fog and is inhabited by monsters and other supernatural creatures. As Rose navigates through the town, she encounters other survivors, including a police officer named Cybil Bennett, and uncovers the dark history of Silent Hill and the reason behind its transformation.
The movie features stunning visuals and a haunting soundtrack, and its storyline is loosely based on the video game franchise. The “Silent Hill” movie was a modest commercial success, grossing over $97 million worldwide against a budget of $50 million. The movie received mixed reviews from critics but has since gained a cult following among fans of the video game franchise.
In addition to Radha Mitchell and Laurie Holden, who played Cybil Bennett, the movie also featured Sean Bean as Rose’s husband, Christopher, and Jodelle Ferland as the young Sharon/Alessa.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010):
This action-adventure film is based on the popular video game and follows a rogue prince who must join forces with a mysterious princess to prevent a magical dagger with time-bending powers from falling into the wrong hands.
The “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” is a 2010 action-adventure film based on the popular video game franchise of the same name. The movie was directed by Mike Newell and stars Jake Gyllenhaal as the main protagonist, Prince Dastan.
The movie follows Prince Dastan as he teams up with a princess named Tamina, played by Gemma Arterton, to prevent a powerful weapon called the Sands of Time from falling into the wrong hands. The Sands of Time have the power to turn back time, and whoever possesses them can use them to rule the world.
As Prince Dastan and Tamina journey across the kingdom to prevent the Sands of Time from being used, they are pursued by various enemies, including Dastan’s own brothers and a group of assassins. Along the way, they uncover a plot to overthrow the king and must race against time to stop their enemies and save the kingdom.
The movie features stunning action sequences and visual effects, and its storyline is loosely based on the video game franchise. In addition to Jake Gyllenhaal and Gemma Arterton, the movie also features Ben Kingsley as the villainous Nizam and Alfred Molina as Sheik Amar, a character created specifically for the movie.
The “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” movie received mixed reviews from critics but was a commercial success, grossing over $336 million worldwide against a budget of $150 million.
Warcraft (2016):
Set in the high-fantasy universe of the popular game franchise, this movie depicts the conflict between the human-led Alliance and the orcish Horde as they battle for control of the world of Azeroth.
The “Warcraft” movie is a 2016 epic fantasy film based on the popular video game franchise of the same name. The movie was directed by Duncan Jones and stars Travis Fimmel as the main protagonist, Anduin Lothar.
The movie is set in the kingdom of Azeroth, where humans and orcs have been living in peace for years until a group of orcs led by the evil warlock Gul’dan, played by Daniel Wu, uses dark magic to open a portal to the human world of Azeroth.
As the orcs invade Azeroth and threaten to destroy everything in their path, a group of humans, led by King Llane Wrynn, played by Dominic Cooper, and Anduin Lothar, a brave warrior, must unite to stop the orcs and save their kingdom from destruction.
The movie features stunning visual effects and epic battle sequences, and its storyline is loosely based on the video game franchise. In addition to Travis Fimmel, Daniel Wu, and Dominic Cooper, the movie also features Paula Patton as Garona, a half-orc, half-human who serves as a mediator between the two factions, and Ben Foster as the powerful mage, Medivh.
Despite high expectations, the “Warcraft” movie received mixed reviews from critics and had a lukewarm reception at the box office, grossing around $439 million worldwide against a budget of $160 million. However, it was still successful in some international markets, particularly in China.
Assassin’s Creed (2016):
Based on the historical fiction action-adventure game series, this film follows a man who discovers he’s a descendant of a secret society of assassins. Using advanced technology, he relives the memories of his ancestor to gain the knowledge and skills to fight against a powerful, age-old enemy.
The “Assassin’s Creed” movie is a 2016 action-adventure film based on the popular video game franchise of the same name. The movie was directed by Justin Kurzel and stars Michael Fassbender as the main protagonist, Callum Lynch.
The movie follows Callum Lynch, a man who discovers that he is a descendant of a secret society of assassins known as the Brotherhood of Assassins. Callum is captured by the Templars, the rival organization of the Assassins, and forced to participate in the Animus Project, a program that allows him to relive the memories of his ancestor, Aguilar de Nerha, who was an Assassin during the Spanish Inquisition.
As Callum delves deeper into his ancestor’s memories, he uncovers a conspiracy that spans centuries and threatens the existence of the Assassins. Along with the help of the modern-day Assassins, including Sophia Rikkin, played by Marion Cotillard, Callum must use his newfound abilities and knowledge to stop the Templars from obtaining the Apple of Eden, an artifact that grants its possessor the power to control free will.
The movie features stunning action sequences and visual effects, and its storyline is loosely based on the video game franchise. In addition to Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard, the movie also features Jeremy Irons as Alan Rikkin, the CEO of Abstergo Industries, the front organization of the Templars.
The “Assassin’s Creed” movie received mixed reviews from critics and was a commercial disappointment, grossing around $240 million worldwide against a budget of $125 million. However, it still has a dedicated fanbase among fans of the video game franchise.
Sonic the Hedgehog (2020):
A live-action adaptation of the classic Sega video game, this movie follows Sonic, a fast-running anthropomorphic hedgehog, as he teams up with a small-town sheriff to evade the sinister Dr. Robotnik and save the world.
The “Sonic the Hedgehog” movie is a 2020 live-action/CGI hybrid film based on the popular video game franchise of the same name. The movie was directed by Jeff Fowler and stars Ben Schwartz as the voice of Sonic the Hedgehog and Jim Carrey as the villainous Dr. Robotnik.
The movie follows Sonic, a speedy blue hedgehog with special powers, as he travels to Earth and befriends a small-town police officer named Tom Wachowski, played by James Marsden. Together, Sonic and Tom must evade the evil Dr. Robotnik, who is intent on capturing Sonic and using his powers for his own nefarious purposes.
As Sonic and Tom embark on a cross-country road trip to stop Dr. Robotnik and save the world, they also learn important lessons about friendship and the importance of being true to oneself.
The “Sonic the Hedgehog” movie features stunning visual effects and a fun, family-friendly storyline. In addition to Ben Schwartz and Jim Carrey, the movie also features Tika Sumpter as Tom’s wife, Maddie, and Adam Pally as Tom’s fellow police officer, Wade.
The movie was a commercial success, grossing over $320 million worldwide against a budget of $85 million. A sequel, “Sonic the Hedgehog 2,” was released in 2022.
