2023 Marks the Turning Point for Exceptional Video Game Movies and TV Shows

In 2023, there was a notable increase in the popularity of adaptations of beloved video game franchises, with Nintendo and Illumination Studios' The Super Mario Bros. Movie being a standout example. Despite initial doubts, the movie was a major success at the box office, earning over $1.3 billion and becoming the third-highest-grossing animated feature of all time. This marked a significant shift compared to previous years, and demonstrated the enduring appeal of bringing beloved gaming characters to the big screen.

Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of Super Mario and Legend of Zelda, expressed his perspective on the challenges of adapting games into movies in 2007. He highlighted the fundamental differences between the narrative structures of successful games and movies. Miyamoto emphasized that movies are a passive medium, with the story being presented to the viewer, while video games are interactive and require the player to actively engage with the story. He noted that video games have a simple flow, which is enhanced by incorporating various elements to keep the player entertained.

Throughout history, video games have been a risky bet, and Miyamoto's explanation for why does have some merit -- or it used to. Despite any nostalgic attachment to Paul W.S. Anderson's Resident Evil films, they simply weren't good. Although they did well at the box office, the connection with the games dwindled as the series progressed, and the connection wasn't particularly strong to start with. Nevertheless, fans turned out for 2016's Resident Evil: Final Chapter, earning it over $300 million, despite the fact that it was essentially Resident Evil in name only. It's unclear whether fans were uninterested in the source material or simply invested in the separate narrative of the franchise. This is difficult to determine because both critics and fans panned the film on Rotten Tomatoes.

Anderson, of course, landed the Resident Evil gig due to the first Mortal Kombat movie becoming the most financially successful video game movie of its time. Alongside these lighthearted films, there was a series of dreadful adaptations by Uwe Boll, Angelina Jolie's Tomb Raider movies, and even some entertaining yet nonsensical movies like Mortal Kombat: Annihilation. Some of these films were enjoyable, while others were not, but it's challenging to view any of them as highly successful or as something that would withstand the test of time. In fact, it wasn't until 2019 that a video game movie (Detective Pikachu) received a "fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Since the release of that movie, there have been both successful and unsuccessful attempts at adapting video games into film (think Monster Hunter and Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City). Fast forward to 2023, and Super Mario Bros. has set the stage for a promising year for video game movies.

Are well-made video game adaptations finally becoming more common because creators are striving to capture the essence of the game and reflect what fans envision? The sights, sounds, and music all contribute to the experience, and it's clear that the first live-action Mario movie failed in this regard. But looking back at these mistakes has led filmmakers and game studios to be more meticulous in the creative process of bringing video games to life.

It seems like the industry has learned from its past mistakes in determining what works and what doesn't in an adaptation. While there may be a generation of fans who grew up on name-only adaptations, modern audiences expect more than a mere cash grab. They received that with Mario, as well as on the small screen earlier this year.

Before the release of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, we were treated to HBO's live-action interpretation of the zombie survival series The Last of Us, which has been named the best TV show of 2023 by Our Website. Although there were some deviations from the original story to enhance the series and add more emotional depth to the world's collective mourning, fans couldn't get enough of the show, leading to a quick renewal for a Season 2. The series became a significant part of the pop culture zeitgeist and was hard to overlook, especially with star Pedro Pascal dancing alongside clickers from the show in SNL commercials.

Examples such as The Last of Us, Super Mario, and other series like Peacock's Twisted Metal and Netflix's Cyberpunk: Edgerunners demonstrate that successful video game adaptations are about expanding on the established property. There's a formula that takes the existing material and elevates it to a level that not only captivates the audience, but also evokes nostalgic feelings from when they first played the game.

Five Nights At Freddy's sparked interest from Warner Bros. for a movie adaptation shortly after the game's release, despite the release of several sequels and spin-off games. Eventually, the movie landed at Blumhouse and made its debut in late October on Peacock and in theaters. Despite being available for streaming, the movie became Blumhouse's highest-grossing film, earning almost $300 million. The film didn't rely solely on the game's storyline, but used it as a foundation to create a new and unique narrative based on the haunted pizzeria.

In contrast, Gran Turismo was not a direct adaptation of the video game series, but rather drew inspiration from the true story of a fan who went on to become a professional race car driver.

The fall saw the premiere of Castlevania: Nocturne on Netflix, quickly renewed for a Season 2. This spin-off features Richter Belmont, the protagonist of several Castlevania games and a key part of the story of Symphony of the Night. Nocturne fills in many gaps in Richter's lore and holds a 100% Metacritic score on Rotten Tomatoes.

These movies and shows demonstrate that Miyamoto's stance on video game adaptations is no longer applicable in 2023. Meeting fan expectations while offering something more for viewers has become a delicate balancing act. While The Super Mario Bros. Movie includes important Easter eggs, they do not drive the plot or improve the overall quality of the film. If the movie relied solely on Easter eggs, it would lack any real purpose and be just another forgettable video game adaptation.

Hopefully, the days of poorly made video game movies are behind us. There is now a newfound respect for creating high-quality adaptations, which bodes well for the upcoming Legend of Zelda live-action movie and potentially more to come. With numerous franchises still awaiting their chance for big-screen adaptation, there's the potential to introduce a new generation to the games that inspired them. And of course, we can expect at least a few more Sonic the Hedgehog movies as well.

Editor's P/S

As a hard fan of video games, I am thrilled to witness the recent surge in exceptional video game movies and TV shows. The success of 2023's adaptations, such as The Super Mario Bros. Movie, has demonstrated that it is possible to faithfully capture the essence of beloved gaming franchises while also creating compelling cinematic experiences. This positive trend is a testament to the growing recognition of video games as a rich source of storytelling and entertainment.

However, I believe that there is still room for improvement in future adaptations. While The Super Mario Bros. Movie was a financial success, it received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising its faithfulness to the source material while others criticized its lack of originality. To truly elevate video game adaptations to the next level, creators must strike a balance between honoring the original games and infusing them with fresh ideas and perspectives. By carefully considering the unique strengths and challenges of both mediums, filmmakers can craft adaptations that resonate with both fans and general audiences alike.