The Super Mario Bros. movie is an example of how video game film adaptations are becoming more common occurrences, giving them a chance at a second life and new audience. Likewise, several games are themselves adaptations from existing IPs, such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (which spanned comics and TV before moving into games) or any of the Star Wars games, showing a strong connection between the two mediums. Despite the recent deluge of video games being adapted to films, there remain countless video game titles with compelling stories that have yet to be recreated for the silver screen.
Games like Resident Evil, Mortal Kombat, and Sonic: The Hedgehog have seen varying levels of success as faithful film adaptations of games in the past. Flops in box office figures and fan reception like Assassin's Creed and Warcraft, however, prove the necessity of taking the right care. Games suited to adaptation should have a strong premise with iconic characters or a complex plot, rendering popular, ever-evolving games like Fortnite poor options. The film should also be able to add something players can't find in the original IP. Given these parameters, here are several video games that would make excellent movies.
A Zelda Movie Could Bring Hyrule To The Big Screen
Most of the Legend of Zelda games have all the elements for a successful fantasy movie, telling an epic tale of light versus dark spanning the diverse kingdom of Hyrule. Such an adaptation could add some spectacular cinematic elements to The Legend of Zelda, and could finally give silent protagonist Link a voice. The movie also has high potential to garner from many fans, as the games have been popular since The Legend of Zelda first released in the 1980s.
However, fan fervor would also run the risk of being the undoing of a movie adaptation. If players perceived any aspect of the movie as done wrong, or disagreed with casting choices, it could have significant backlash. Additionally, if filmmakers weren't careful, the adaptation could get messy given The Legend of Zelda's notorious multi-branched timeline. The right approach to a Zelda movie would require a strong understanding of the core myth underlying the history of Zelda's Hyrule and a proper realization of the cinematic potential of its fantasy world.
Call Of Duty Would Make A Proper War Movie
To date, there has been no Call of Duty film, despite being one of the most popular and successful franchises of all time. Activision briefly announced a movie was in the works, but in 2020 confirmed adaptations into film were not a priority. In theory, a Call of Duty movie would do exceptionally well, as the war genre is very popular and has produced such hit titles as Saving Private Ryan, Apocalypse Now, and 1917, among many others.
However, this supposed boon could also prove to be a Call of Duty adaptation's downfall, as the market is oversaturated with war movies and very few rise to the top. If Activision were to make another attempt at a movie, an adaptation of Call of Duty: Vanguard that made narrative improvements might be its best bet. As an alternate history WW2 story, Call of Duty: Vanguard centered on one of the best female snipers in WW2, which would almost certainly be a standout in the genre. All Quiet On The Western Front’s strong performance at the 2023 Oscars showed how much attention a well-made war film can get, but making waves isn't easy.
An Elder Scrolls Movie Might Be A Hit
The first four games in The Elder Scrolls franchise paint a fascinating tale of Uriel Septim VII, the last ruler of Tamriel's Empire, and he would make a fascinating subject for a movie adaptation. Whether centered on Uriel's banishment to the realm of Oblivion, an attempt to raise the Numidium, or the looming threat of the Tribunal, the full history of The Elder Scrolls' Septim emperor has many events unique enough to grab new audiences' attention and satisfy longtime fans.
A movie would need to give Uriel a more active role than he takes in The Elder Scrolls games, as usually the player character is summoned to do great deeds, which could be a risk for some of the more diehard fans. Taking the right approach, however, could propel an Elder Scrolls film to success. The post-Game of Thrones world has seen a number of attempts to fill the medieval fantasy void Westeros left, but an Elder Scrolls movie could be the one to take the crown.
Returnal Would Be An Intriguing Film
Horror games tend to be more straightforward film adaptations, and Returnal could add to the genre with its roguelike twist. Selene's journey for the truth through the various biomes of Returnal's Atropos is mesmerizing, and starting with the protagonist finding her own corpse would immediately grab audiences. Since there are no other characters, a Returnal movie would need to work to make sure Selene's dialogue and actions remain engaging (or it could bring in elements from before her arrival at Atropos); films like The Martian prove how possible this is. Returnal's two endings could be done in a Clue-esque stunt, with different showings or distributions of the film getting different endings.
A God Of War Film Could Be A Box Office Smash
Kratos got a Norse makeover in the 2018 God of War, a touching yet blood-ridden story of a father and son on a journey of grief. The game gives players an in-depth look at the diversity in Norse mythology, with its nine realms full of monsters, gods, and otherworldly beings. God of War Ragnarok followed up the game to continued acclaim, and Ragnarok's beautiful locations and lore are the perfect fit for a film. A God of War TV series has been ordered from Amazon, but the visual scale of the series could still have an unparalleled impact in a big-screen adaptation.
The Northman took a Viking epic to the big screen in 2022 and failed to make a smash at the box office, but the fast-paced action and occasional humor of God of War make it an easier sell to a wide audience. The hardest part about a God of War film adaptation would be the 13 years worth of backstory from previous games in the franchise, a hurdle that would require appropriate streamlining to incorporate. With the right approach, however, God of War could have the same kind of cinematic success that the Super Mario Bros. adaptation is likely to command.
