Top 10 Movies and Shows Based on a Video Game

 

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

The Season 2 finale of Amazon Prime Video’s Fallout series aired last night so why not rank the all-time top movies and shows based on video games? Historically the overall track record isn’t good, but that’s not to say it’s impossible to tell a quality story based on a video game. No, they don’t match up well when compared to the best movies and shows based on novels or even comic books, but there are definitely a few worth watching. Keep in mind, I haven’t played much of the source material, so my rankings are mostly based on entertainment value, not strict adherence to the games’ plots and characters. Here’s how I rank them starting with #10 and working my way to the best of the bunch.

 

Uncharted (2022)

Critically panned, I actually enjoyed this movie. It’s family-fun adventure, sort of Indiana Jones-lite but if you’re just looking for a good time, you can do a lot worse. Tom Holland is his typical charming self as the protagonist and I liked Tati Gabrielle’s villain Jo Braddock as well.

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)

The sequel wasn’t as good and the reboot was even worse, but Angelina Jolie’s first turn as world adventurer Lara Croft was every bit as fun as the video games are said to be. Forget the plot and just enjoy the action sequences.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)

Unlike every other game series represented on this list, I am very familiar with Super Mario Bros. so this film already had nostalgia value going for it. It turns out it’s actually a solid family film too. I took my kids to see it in the theater and had a great time. Let’s hope the upcoming sequel does it justice.

Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)

Unlike the prior film on this list, I had to be dragged to the theater to see this one, but I was pleasantly surprised. The hero is fun, Jim Carrey’s villain Dr. Robotnik is great, and the story of how the CGI lead was redesigned after initial poor test audience response is a unique example of screeners being right.

Halo (2022-2024)

Many fans of the game series dislike this show, but having never played the games, I enjoyed it for what it is, a violent military sci-fi A-story with a slightly less engaging B-story. It’s a shame it was cancelled after two seasons because the last episode was a big-time cliffhanger.

Resident Evil (2002)

Sure, the many sequels are varying degrees of bad, but this first film is a solid example of sci-fi horror. Milla Jovovich convincingly kicks plenty of zombie ass, a few other members of the team manage to hold their own in some tense scenes, and the laser-room sequence alone is worth checking this one out.

Castlevania (2017-2021)

Fantastic animation and several interesting characters make this series stand out from the pack. Of course, the story of Dracula has been told time and again, but that’s just where this series starts. It expands to an entire world of vampires and those who hunt them.

Grand Turismo (2023)

I’m not a racing fan and I’ve never played any of these games, but this movie was thrilling and well-worth paying to see on the big screen. Like Top Gun: Maverick and F1, put me in the cockpit of an incredibly fast machine and you have my attention.

The Last of Us (2023-)

I placed this HBO show in the two-spot based on its first season which is an amazing nine episodes of television. It’s a suspenseful tale of a bitter father and an angry adopted daughter making their way through a zombie-invested American wasteland. I loved every minute of it. Then Season 2 Episode 2 came along and wrecked it. Apparently this matches the story in the games, but I turned it off and never watched another minute. Long live Season 1.

Fallout (2024-)

Yep, showrunners Jonathan Nolan (brother of famous director Christopher Nolan) and his wife Lisa Joy have done it again. After thoroughly entertaining us with sci-fi series adaptations Westworld and The Peripheral, they’ve taken on the Fallout game series and made two great seasons of television for Amazon Prime Video. The world-building, the storytelling, the special effects, and the casting are all top-notch. I can’t wait for Season 3 which was greenlit last May.

Throwback Thursday: Super Mario Bros. 3

Photo Credit: Nintendo

There are plenty of 80s and 90s artifacts that bring back fond memories, but one of my favorites is the Nintendo video game, Super Mario Bros. 3. Still considered one of the greatest video games of all time, I remember it not just for how good a game it is, but also because it was one of the last games I played habitually. Soon after, I found myself more or less forced into adulthood and haven't really had the time to play a game that regularly ever since.

The year was 1990 and I was lazily making my way through college at the University of Georgia majoring in WTF and minoring in pizza consumption. My best friend was a local who still lived at home with his mom and consequently had a more sheltered but way cushier lifestyle than I could ever afford in my shabby off-campus apartment. My friend introduced me to this classic 2D scroller and we played it for hours after class every day until we beat it. To be a bit more precise, we played it until he beat it. I must admit he was always much better at it than I was. My contributions were largely relegated to cheerleading and complaining about my controller, but that never stopped me from having fun. With its raccoon, frog, and tanooki suits, multiple stages, and bouncy music, the game never failed to entertain. To this day, there are only a few games I consider to be its equal despite its now antiquated graphics.

Today's best games are bigger, faster, and much more lifelike, but they just don't capture the same magic Mario and Luigi did in their efforts to free Mushroom World from the clutches of the evil Bowser and his seven Koopaling children. For me, Super Mario Bros.3 will always be more than just a game. It represents a simpler world, a more carefree life, and the most meaningful friendship of my youth. It's not only one of video gaming's greatest achievements, it's a warm, nostalgic hug packaged up neatly in a 4.1 x 5.5 inch cartridge.  They just don’t make 'em like that anymore.