# Movies based on video games: 9 adaptations of famous games

> Nine movies based on video games, from Mortal Kombat, Tomb Raider, Resident Evil and Silent Hill to Detective Pikachu, Sonic, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Five Nights at Freddy's and Minecraft.

Source: https://rankiew.app/blog/movies-based-on-video-games
Published: 2026-08-05 · Updated: 2026-11-11
Author: Rankiew
Tags: lists, adaptations, video games

Video games have long inspired the movies. This list gathers nine well-known film adaptations of games, in release order, with posters and the game each one comes from.

For each film we explain what it took from the game, what it changed and how fans and critics reacted. Some were mocked in their day and became cult favorites, others broke box office records. Together they tell the story of a genre that took three decades to find its footing.

# Why video game movies are so hard to get right

A game and a film ask very different things from their audience. In a game, the player is in control for ten, twenty or a hundred hours. A film has about two hours and no controller, so it has to turn the feeling of playing into a story someone simply watches. Many early adaptations kept the names and costumes but lost what made the games fun.

Fans also arrive with strong expectations. They know how the characters look, move and sound, and they notice every change. Studios learned this the hard way, sometimes redesigning a character after a trailer, sometimes bringing the game creators into the production to protect the tone of the original.

The adaptations that work usually pick one thing and do it well: the atmosphere of Silent Hill, the tournament of Mortal Kombat, the bright joy of Mario. They treat the game world as a place worth visiting, not just a logo to sell tickets. That respect is what changed the genre in recent years.

# How we chose

We chose adaptations of well-known games that reached theaters and found an audience, from the 1990s to today. This is not a numbered ranking, and the list is not a judgment of quality.

We looked at commercial success, cultural impact and how each film was received by the fans of the original game. Some titles were hits with audiences and not with critics, and we say so when that is the case.

The list covers fighting games, action adventures, survival horror and family favorites, so you can see how each kind of game shaped a different kind of movie. Every film is presented in release order, with the studio or creator behind the original game.

## Mortal Kombat (1995)

::film[Mortal Kombat|1995]

Video game: Mortal Kombat (Midway).

**Why it matters:** Directed by Paul W. S. Anderson, Mortal Kombat reached number one at the US box office and is often remembered as one of the first game adaptations that fans actually enjoyed. Its techno theme, built around the shout "Mortal Kombat!", became as famous as the film itself.

![A scene from Mortal Kombat (1995)](/blog/scenes/movies-based-on-video-games/1.jpg)

Watch how the film keeps the structure of the game: a mysterious tournament, a gallery of fighters with special moves and a final boss. The fights are fast and clearly staged, and characters like Scorpion and Sub-Zero look close to their game versions. The effects show their age, which is part of the charm today.

A weaker sequel followed in 1997, and a new version arrived in 2021 with much more violence. The original is ideal for viewers who grew up with the arcade games or who enjoy nineties martial arts movies. It is short, simple and very rewatchable with friends.

## Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)

::film[Lara Croft: Tomb Raider|2001]

Video game: Tomb Raider (Core Design).

**Why it matters:** Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, directed by Simon West, turned Angelina Jolie into an action star and was for years one of the highest grossing video game movies. Part of the film was shot in the temples of Angkor in Cambodia, and Jolie's real father, Jon Voight, plays Lara's father.

![A scene from Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)](/blog/scenes/movies-based-on-video-games/2.jpg)

Pay attention to how the film tries to recreate the feeling of exploring the games: ancient tombs, traps, puzzles and acrobatic gunfights. Jolie trained hard for the stunts and plays Lara as confident and witty. The plot about a magical artifact is simple, but the locations are impressive.

A sequel came in 2003, and the series was rebooted in 2018 with Alicia Vikander. The original is a good choice for fans of light adventure in the style of Indiana Jones, and it shows how much Lara Croft meant to pop culture at the turn of the century.

## Resident Evil (2002)

::film[Resident Evil|2002]

Video game: Resident Evil (Capcom).

**Why it matters:** Resident Evil, directed by Paul W. S. Anderson, introduced Alice, a new heroine played by Milla Jovovich who does not exist in the games. The gamble worked: the film launched a series of six movies and became one of the most successful video game franchises in cinema history.

![A scene from Resident Evil (2002)](/blog/scenes/movies-based-on-video-games/3.jpg)

Watch the scenes inside the Hive, the underground laboratory controlled by the artificial intelligence known as the Red Queen. The corridor with laser beams is the most famous moment of the film and has been copied many times. The mix of zombies, mutant creatures and corporate conspiracy follows the spirit of the Capcom games.

Fans of the games often prefer the newer animated films or the original stories, but the movie series built its own loyal audience. It suits viewers who want action horror that is more about tension and set pieces than about real scares, and it works well as a marathon.

## Silent Hill (2006)

::film[Silent Hill|2006]

Video game: Silent Hill (Konami).

**Why it matters:** Silent Hill, directed by Christophe Gans, is often praised as one of the most faithful adaptations of a game's atmosphere. Gans worked closely with material from the Konami games and used music by Akira Yamaoka, the composer of the series.

![A scene from Silent Hill (2006)](/blog/scenes/movies-based-on-video-games/4.jpg)

Pay attention to the visual style: a town covered by fog and falling ash, and a siren that announces the arrival of the dark world, when the walls peel away and monsters appear. Creatures like Pyramid Head and the faceless nurses look as if they walked straight out of the game. The pace is slow and dreamlike.

Critics were divided, but many players consider it one of the best looking game movies ever made. A sequel followed in 2012. It is ideal for horror fans who prefer atmosphere and strange images to jump scares, and it works best watched late at night.

## Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019)

::film[Pokémon Detective Pikachu|2019]

Video game: Pokémon (Game Freak).

**Why it matters:** Pokémon Detective Pikachu, directed by Rob Letterman, was the first live action Pokémon film. Ryan Reynolds voices a talking Pikachu who wears a detective hat and drinks too much coffee, an idea taken from a spinoff game. The film proved that Pokémon could look natural in a world of real actors.

![A scene from Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019)](/blog/scenes/movies-based-on-video-games/5.jpg)

Watch the details of Ryme City, a place where people and Pokémon live side by side. The designs of creatures like Charizard, Psyduck and Mr. Mime are realistic but still cute, and fans enjoy spotting dozens of Pokémon in the background. The story is a simple mystery with family themes.

The film was a commercial success and opened the door for more live action projects with game characters. It is perfect for families and for adults who grew up with the games or the animated series. Ryan Reynolds' humor works for both ages.

## Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)

::film[Sonic the Hedgehog|2020]

Video game: Sonic the Hedgehog (Sega).

**Why it matters:** Sonic the Hedgehog, directed by Jeff Fowler, became famous before its release: after a first trailer was heavily criticized, the studio redesigned Sonic and delayed the premiere by a few months. The new look won fans over, and the film became a success.

![A scene from Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)](/blog/scenes/movies-based-on-video-games/6.jpg)

Pay attention to Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik, an energetic performance full of physical comedy that recalls his work in the nineties. Ben Schwartz voices Sonic as an excited, lonely teenager. The scenes where Sonic runs so fast that time almost stops are the visual highlight.

The film launched a franchise with sequels and a television spinoff about Knuckles. It is ideal for children and for families who want an easy, funny adventure. The story about friendship and finding a home gives the film a warm heart beyond the jokes.

## The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)

::film[The Super Mario Bros. Movie|2023]

Video game: Super Mario (Nintendo).

**Why it matters:** The Super Mario Bros. Movie was produced by Illumination together with Nintendo and became the highest grossing video game adaptation, with more than a billion dollars worldwide. It also made fans forget the troubled live action Super Mario Bros. from 1993.

![A scene from The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)](/blog/scenes/movies-based-on-video-games/7.jpg)

Watch the many references to the games, from the Mushroom Kingdom to Rainbow Road in Mario Kart. The animation is colorful and fast, and Jack Black steals the show as Bowser, including a power ballad that became a hit on social media. Chris Pratt and Anya Taylor-Joy voice Mario and Princess Peach.

The film is short and full of energy, made for children but loaded with details for adult fans. It works as a first movie for young viewers and as a nostalgia trip for those who played the games on old consoles.

## Five Nights at Freddy's (2023)

::film[Five Nights at Freddy's|2023]

Video game: Five Nights at Freddy's (Scott Cawthon).

**Why it matters:** Five Nights at Freddy's, directed by Emma Tammi and produced by Blumhouse, adapts a horror game created by Scott Cawthon about a night guard in a pizzeria with killer animatronics. The animatronics were built by Jim Henson's Creature Shop. Despite being released at the same time in theaters and on streaming, the film was a big box office success.

![A scene from Five Nights at Freddy's (2023)](/blog/scenes/movies-based-on-video-games/8.jpg)

Pay attention to how the film adds a family drama to the story: Mike, played by Josh Hutcherson, takes the job while trying to care for his younger sister. The pizzeria, with its stage, balloons and arcade, feels both nostalgic and creepy. Fans of the games will notice many hidden references.

Critics were cool on the film, but younger audiences embraced it, showing how strong the community of the games is. It works as a first horror movie for teenagers, because it is more eerie than graphic. Older viewers may prefer to know the games first.

## A Minecraft Movie (2025)

::film[A Minecraft Movie|2025]

Video game: Minecraft (Mojang).

**Why it matters:** A Minecraft Movie, directed by Jared Hess, brought Mojang's block world to the big screen with Jack Black as Steve and Jason Momoa as a former video game champion. It became one of the biggest hits of its year, and some of its lines turned into viral moments in theaters.

![A scene from A Minecraft Movie (2025)](/blog/scenes/movies-based-on-video-games/9.jpg)

Watch how the film mixes real actors with a world built entirely from blocks, where crafting and building become part of the plot. The humor is loud and silly on purpose, and Jack Black's songs and reactions carry many scenes. Fans will recognize creepers, villagers and the Nether.

The film is aimed at children and young players, and it works best seen with them, ideally in a full theater. Adults who do not know the game may find it chaotic, but they will understand why it became a group experience for a whole generation of players.

# Where to start

Choose by the kind of game you love or by who is watching with you:

- **With children:** *The Super Mario Bros. Movie*, *Sonic the Hedgehog* or *A Minecraft Movie*.
- **For Pokémon fans of any age:** *Pokémon Detective Pikachu*.
- **Nineties nostalgia:** *Mortal Kombat*.
- **Action and adventure:** *Lara Croft: Tomb Raider*.
- **Horror with atmosphere:** *Silent Hill*.
- **Action horror marathon:** *Resident Evil*, and *Five Nights at Freddy's* for younger horror fans.

If you are not a gamer, start with the films that work as stories on their own, like Pokémon Detective Pikachu or Sonic the Hedgehog. They explain their worlds clearly and do not depend on knowing the games. The Super Mario Bros. Movie is also easy to follow for anyone.

If you played the games, try watching the film right after a session with the original. It is fun to compare how each movie translated the controls, the music and the level design into scenes, and to see which details were kept just for the fans.

# Frequently asked questions

## What are the best movies based on video games?

Frequently praised are The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Sonic the Hedgehog, Pokémon Detective Pikachu and Mortal Kombat (1995), among others.

## What was the first movie based on a video game?

One of the early well-known ones is Super Mario Bros. (1993), though this list begins with Mortal Kombat (1995).

## Are video game movies getting better?

Reception has improved in recent years, with several adaptations succeeding at the box office and with fans.

## Which video game movie made the most money?

The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) is the highest grossing video game adaptation, with more than a billion dollars worldwide.

## Do I need to play the games to enjoy these movies?

No. Most of these films explain their worlds for newcomers, although fans of the games will catch extra references and jokes.

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*Sources: official studio releases, filmographies and public records.*