When it comes to getting ideas for new movies, one of the many places that Hollywood loves to borrow from is the video game universe. For good and bad there are a LOT of movies that were adaptations of video games. The trend continues, as just today the new trailer for the movie version of the hit video game Uncharted was released online. So, we thought we would come up with a quick list of 5 really good and 5 really awful movie adaptations from video games.
Just note, these are only adaptions of actual video games. So, movies like Free Guy (which was excellent) are not included.
Best
Silent Hill - 2006
This is a surprisingly scary movie and if you didn’t know better, you would really have no idea it came from a successful video game. For a fairly low-budget movie, it did a more than passable job at recreating the dread and horror that video game players appreciated about the game itself. The story a mother searching for her missing child in an abandoned and cursed town out in the boonies. You’re not going to this movie expecting Academy Award-winning acting and you won’t get it, but it’s a pretty competent bit of filmmaking. The visuals are extremely creepy and sometimes truly horrifying, so that puts Silent Hill on the shortlist of best video-game movies.
Resident Evil (2002)
The movie that kicked off a franchise (much like the video game itself) remains watchable, nearly 20 years later. The same can’t be said for some of the sequels, which honestly run together in my mind to the point that I can barely distinguish most of them. But, the first one had something going for it. A fun performance by Milla Jovovich and some great action from Michelle Rodgriguez helps elevate this one a bit. The story has its moments, although it is still pretty ridiculous. The special effects are pretty decent and there is some very solid action, especially one Milla (Alice) gets her memories back and takes charge as a tough secret agent. It’s a solid all-around effort.
Tomb Raider (2001)
We’re talking about the first iteration of Tomb Raider with Angelina Jolie as the title character. It was a big-budget flick and it mostly delivered. Jolie really stepped into the role and owned it. You also get a very pre-James Bond version of Daniel Craig in an important supporting role. The special effects are good and the action does a pretty decent job of incorporating video game styling within the movie format. It plays out as a very solid action flick, that just happens to be inspired by a video game. Job well done.
Mortal Kombat (1995)
I’m conflicted on this one. It isn’t a good movie in any respect. But, it’s an example where the filmmaker and actors just went for it, 150%. It’s absurd and the storyline is barely sketched out, otter than it’s an excuse to create a fighting game (which is what the video game is). So, you just accept the silliness of it and enjoy the fight scenes. And those were excellent. Some fun martial arts mayhem, mixed with crazy locations and weird powers. For what it was going for, it is pretty much a home run.
Tomb Raider (2018)
Hey, wait a minute… wasn’t this already on the list? Indeed, the original Angelina Jolie version is right up here on the best list. But, the remake, or the semi-prequel, starring Alicia Vikander was actually another solid action movie. Once again, the hero is a very talented actor, who brings something more to the character than most video game movies. It is another bigger budget flick, with fun locales, and lots of thrilling action. It’s another that could just be an action movie, if you didn’t know about the video game franchise.
Worst
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time - 2010
There are many worse video game movies than this one. However, it makes the list because it was actually made like a big-budget movie. It had actual movie stars and talented actors (Jake Gyllenhaal, Ben Kingsley, and Alfred Molina) and boasted real special effects. Because of those actual advantages, the fact the movie is pretty bad is why it makes this list. Even if you’re a fan of the video game, you can safely give this movie a pass.
Assassin’s Creed - 2016
Another one that makes the list largely because of the actors involved and the big-budget look and feel. Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard (both extremely talented actors) along with Jeremy Irons, Charlotte Rampling, and Brendan Gleeson, can’t save this one. The video game series is much beloved for its reality and history bending format, along with insane action. But, the movie fails to capture what makes players enjoy the game so much. It’s probably also a good example that a plot and backstory that seems rich and complex for a video game, may come up short when taken to the big screen.
Warcraft (2016)
Apparently, 2016 was quite the year for video game movies as that year is represented more than once on our list. This time we have Warcraft, an adaptation of the massive multiplayer online game of the same name that has been around forever, with a huge following of loyal players and fans. It has magic, wizards, monsters, Orcs, warriors, and plenty of common elements in a fantasy movie. But, it just doesn’t come together. Another set of talented actors in Dominic Cooper and Ruth Negga (both from the outstanding series Preacher). It has LOTS of expensive special effects and CGI, but it just never created a story that viewers could connect with.
Wing Commander (1999)
With some prime late 1990s actors (Freddie Prinze Jr., Matthew Lillard, etc.) this one was trying hard to be something that would stick with audiences. But, this space adventure hit theatres with a thud. It still holds an impressive 10% rating from the critics on Rotten Tomatoes and audience reactions weren’t much more favorable, at 25%. Pretty cheesy special effects, a less than stellar script, and the results just don’t come together in this one.
Hitman - 2007
Star Timothy Olyphant deserves better than this one. He’s a great actor (check out his work in Justified) but the character gives him nothing to work with since he is essentially an emotionless killing machine. The action sequences are relatively solid, as one would expect. The story from the video game feels like it could work in a movie, but somewhere along the way, the ingredients simply don’t work together to make a good film. This is another that hits the list as much for benign a disappointment as for being a meh movie.
