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Video game movies to watch at home

Making a movie inspired by a video game is never easy. It's not simple to emulate the freedom and vision that exist in a digital game on a cinema screen—no matter how large it is or even with room for interaction. How do you capture the fans of the video game and those who have never heard of the stories and characters? Movies inspired by video games are doing better in this scenario, as we've already shown here. And there are good ideas scattered in cinemas and on TV over the years. Below, Filmelier has selected some video game-based movies to watch at home — from the worst to the best examples, so you can understand the cinema landscape in this regard.

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Borderlands

Borderlands

4.3/10
1h41min
PG-13
2024
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
No longer in theaters

A legendary bounty hunter returns to the chaotic planet of her youth, Pandora, and forges an unlikely alliance with a band of outcasts to locate the missing daughter of the galaxy's most influential figure.

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Tekken

Tekken

4.8/10
1h31min
R
2010
Action
Watch at home
Rent or Buy:
Amazon Prime Video StoreApple TV (iTunes)Google Play
Free:
Pluto TVTubi

"The Tekken video game saga doesn't enjoy the same success as other more well-known franchises like Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat, and although it also has many fantastical elements - and even some ridiculous ones, aligned with Japanese sensibilities - it's perceived as a more realistic story about revenge, fights, and a bit of corporate intrigue mixed in. The 2010 Tekken adaptation is competent in rescuing most of these elements: the story continues to be about Jin, a young fighter who enters the tournament to avenge his mother's death, blaming the Mishima Zaibatsu corporation and its president, Heihachi Mishima - his grandfather. There are fights and an intriguing plot that seems to mix elements of sagas like The Hunger Games. If you're a fan of the original games and their extravagant stories, but also seek entertainment without great pretensions, you'll like it."

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Warcraft

Warcraft

6.7/10
2h3min
PG-13
2016
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Watch at home
Rent or Buy:
Apple TV (iTunes)

There’s a sort of curse hanging over Hollywood when studios decide to put video game adaptations on the big screen. The past, marked by titles like ‘Assassin’s Creed,’ ‘Mario Bros.,’ and ‘Tomb Raider,’ shows that these ventures have not been successful, often yielding below-average results. ‘Warcraft: The Beginning,’ fortunately, somewhat escapes this trend — even though it falls into common pitfalls of the genre. Here, filmmaker Duncan Jones (‘Moon,’ ‘Source Code’) draws inspiration from ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ to attempt to create a medieval epic depicting a clash between creatures and humans. There is strength, especially in the first half, when this fantasy shows its power and the mythology adapted for the screen gains momentum with a coherent script from Jones and Charles Leavitt (‘Those Who Wish Me Dead’). It is an above-average video game adaptation, primarily due to the exciting fantasy element. But, once again, given the quality of the game and the possibilities on the horizon, it could have been a much better film. It’s best to forget the original product and approach the story as if it were an epic emerging from scratch.

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Uncharted

Uncharted

6.3/10
1h56min
PG-13
2022
Adventure
Watch at home
Rent or Buy:
Amazon Prime Video StoreApple TV (iTunes)
Subscription:
Hulu

Riding the wave of successful video games, 'Uncharted' gets its film adaptation. The movie, subtitled 'Uncharted', brings the first adventure of Nathan Drake before the events of the games and stars Mark Wahlberg as Victor Sullivan and Tom Holland as the famous treasure hunter. They may not be the most obvious choices for these characters, but they brought a charm to the screen - especially Holland, who presents a mix of Peter Parker and Indiana Jones. In fact, it's hard to watch 'Uncharted' without thinking of 'Raiders of the Lost Ark'. That's why we have a very fun adventure that has the potential to become a successful franchise in cinemas as well. As soon as the movie ends, you want to join Wahlberg and Holland on another journey.   

 

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The Super Mario Bros. Movie

The Super Mario Bros. Movie

7/10
1h32min
PG
2023
Adventure
Watch at home
Rent or Buy:
Amazon Prime Video StoreApple TV (iTunes)Google Play

"The Super Mario Bros. Movie" marks the definitive leap of Nintendo's mascot onto the big screen (after a disastrous first attempt in 1993). Produced in partnership with Illumination Animation Studio (responsible for franchises such as 'Minions' and 'The Secret Life of Pets'), the film follows the basic premise of all Mario games: the evil Bowser (voiced by Jack Black) invades the Mushroom Kingdom and it's up to the plumber (voiced by Chris Pratt) to embark on an epic journey to defeat him. The animation is beautiful and there are some very good script decisions (like making Mario's brother, Luigi, the "damsel in distress" and giving Princess Peach a more active role), despite this, for the most part, it's a film that opts for a very clichéd humor - the music choices being one of the main offenses. For some, it may be too frenetic and is not as memorable as it should be, considering it's one of the most enduring characters in pop culture. However, it is very fun, suitable for all audiences, and keeps the essence of joy of the franchise intact. Discover more in our full review of 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie'.

 

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