19 Best Movies Based On Video Games

Forbes

03-05-2025

Milla Jovovich in "Resident Evil", directed by Paul W.S.Anderson
Video game movies often get a bad rap. It's a small genre, and many of the films in it aren't very good. However, there are also some real gems. The best video game movies often come from the action, animation, and horror genres, but others come from genres like mystery or drama. While many of the video game adaptations fall into the 'so bad it's good' category, many are actually just good (even if a couple of the former category have slipped onto this list). This list seeks to celebrate the best of the best when it comes to movies based on video games. The best video game movies capture the excitement and spirit of the games they are based on while telling engaging and unique stories. So boot up, log on and get ready for thrilling game movies that are actually worth watching.
While video games have been around since the late 1950s, the first 'video game movie' was either 1986's Super Mario Bros.: The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach! or Running Boy: Star Soldier's Secret. Both animated films were released in Japan on the same day. Since 1986, the video game film genre has grown immensely and is still on the rise (with four set to be released in 2025 and many more in the production pipeline). Many video game movies can seem like cash grabs of popular games. While some are, that doesn't mean they can't still be great films. Moreover, others feel like love letters to the source material by people who love games.
This list purposely excludes a couple of related genres. It doesn't feature movies based on board games or films about video games that aren't based on real games (for example, Tron, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, or Wreck-It Ralph). It also doesn't list documentaries about video games, even though there are many notable ones, including King of Kong, Indie Game: The Movie and Console Wars. It unfortunately omits TV shows. However, there are many great TV adaptations from The Last of Us to Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. This list isn't ranked on how close the adaptations are to the game, but it does consider what fans of the game may think of the adaptation. It also examines films outside the context of gaming.
Jann Mardenborough, 2011 GT Academy winner, poses for a photo prior to the premiere of 'Gran ... More Turismo,' a top video game movie.
While Gran Turismo is based on the Polyphony Digital game of the same name, it feels more like a standard car racing bio-pic. Partially, this is because it's also based on the true story of Jann Mardenborough, a teen Gran Turismo-player turned professional driver. This is both a blessing and a curse. It doesn't always feel like a video game movie, and more closely fits films like Le Mans or Grand Prix.
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Directed by Neill Blomkamp, it stars ​​David Harbour, Orlando Bloom, Archie Madekwe, Darren Barnet, Geri Halliwell Horner and Djimon Hounsou. It's a solid film with enough action, heartwarming elements and stakes to make it worthwhile.
Here's where you can stream Gran Turismo.
Some people will call 1994's Street Fighter a 'bad movie.' They aren't necessarily wrong, but there is something deeply enjoyable about this film. It is zanily wonderful and requires so-bad-it's-good watching. Street Fighter was Raul Julia's last theatrical film, and his performance as M. Bison alone makes this film a must-watch. It also stars Jean-Claude Van Damme, Julia, Ming-Na Wen, Damian Chapa and Kylie Minogue. Street Fighter follows a group of fighters who must rescue a group of relief workers from Bison.
From crazy political implications to terrible special effects, the movie is a true unintentional comedy. It was a disappointment for fans of the iconic game it's based on (partially due to how little street fighting is actually in it), but it has since gained a cult status.
Here's where you can stream Street Fighter.
Actor Tom Holland attends the "Uncharted" photocall at cinema Publicis Champs-Elysees on February ... More 11, 2022 in Paris.
Uncharted feels more like an Indiana Jones remake than a video game movie. However, it is based on the adventure game of the same name. Uncharted is helped by its story-forward and action-packed source material, but it can feel a little bland and unspecific at times. The movie follows a treasure hunter who recruits a bartender to pull off a heist and secure the lost fortune of Magellan.
Directed by Ruben Fleischer, Uncharted stars Tom Holland, Mark Wahlberg, Sophia Ali, Tati Gabrielle and Antonio Banderas. Holland especially shines. It is obvious how much work he put into being an action star for the role, and his stunt work is excellent. It is an easy and extremely palatable watch.
Here's where you can stream Uncharted.
Silent Hill is a horror film based on the video game of the same name. The movie follows a mother whose young daughter goes missing after she gets into a car accident near the mysterious town of Silent Hill. When she goes looking for her daughter, she must also contend with the disturbing truth about the town.
Silent Hill's real strength is in its visuals, which are perfectly creepy. The dialogue can be a little ham-handed, but it works overall as a video game adaptation. Directed by Christophe Gans, the movie stars Radha Mitchell, Sean Bean, Laurie Holden, Deborah Kara Unger, Kim Coates, Tanya Allen, Alice Krige and Jodelle Ferland.
Here's where you can stream Silent Hill.
Angelina Jolie, star of 2001 movie, "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider," directed by Simon West.
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider is perhaps more iconic than it is 'good.' Over 20 years later, there is still something delightful about it. Angelina Jolie gives a categorically fantastic performance as Lara Croft, even if the rest of the film is a little bit of a mess. Roger Ebert said of the film, ''Lara Croft Tomb Raider' elevates goofiness to an art form. Here is a movie so monumentally silly, yet so wondrous to look at, that only a churl could find fault."
Based on the Tomb Raider video game series, the film follows Lara Croft as she races around the globe on the hunt for powerful artifacts before a foretold planetary alignment. Directed by Simon West, the film stars Jolie, Jon Voight, Iain Glen, Noah Taylor and Daniel Craig.
Here's where you can stream Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.
1999 Pikachu And Ash In The Animated Movie "Pokemon:The First Movie."
Pokémon: The First Movie wasn't well-received when it first came out. However, over the last twenty years, it has become a certified nostalgic classic. It is hard to divorce this film from its 1990s sentimentality. However, it's a better film than it gets credit for, especially if you watch the Japanese version, which has stronger themes and doesn't suffer from a poorly made dub.
The movie follows Ash Ketchum and his friends as they are invited to a mysterious island by a powerful cloned Pokémon. It was remade in 2019 as Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back – Evolution, and while some things about the remake are better, the original looks better. Directed by Kunihiko Yuyama, Pokémon: The First Movie stars Rica Matsumoto, Ikue Ōtani and Masachika Ichimura.
Here's where you can stream Pokémon: The First Movie.
Mortal Kombat is not a great film; however, given how bad other entries in the Mortal Kombat franchise have been, it is a competently made and enjoyable adaptation of the 1990s Midway Games classic. The movie follows an MMA fighter who trains with some of the world's best fighters to battle for the fate of the universe.
Directed by Simon McQuoid, it stars Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Tadanobu Asano, Mehcad Brooks, Ludi Lin, Chin Han, Max Huang, Joe Taslim and Hiroyuki Sanada. The film will definitely be more enjoyable for fans of the video game, but there is enough cartoonish action to keep action fans entertained.
Here's where you can stream Mortal Kombat.
Yo-Kai Watch: The Movie is definitely a movie for kids, but its slick animation and jokes will keep parents entertained. Based on the Japanese video game of the same name, the film follows a young boy who must travel back in time to retrieve a watch that allows him to see yokai, trickster creatures from Japanese folklore sometimes compared to ghosts or spirits.
Directed by Shigeharu Takahashi and Shinji Ushiro, it stars Haruka Tomatsu, Tomokazu Seki, Etsuko Kozakura, Romi Park, and Yuki Kaji (there is also an English dub available).
Here's where you can stream Yo-Kai Watch: The Movie.
Milla Jovovich in "Resident Evil," directed by Paul W.S.Anderson.
While there are now seven films in the Resident Evil franchise, the first one is the best, and even so, it is a bit of an indulgence. James Cameron even called the movie his biggest 'guilty pleasure.' If you're looking for great dialogue and careful filmmaking, this film may not be for you, but arguably, the greater video game film genre won't be either.
Resident Evil follows an amnesiac commando who must break into an infected lab to stop a zombie horde. It is based on the Capcom horror/shooter game of the same name. It stars Milla Jovovich, Michelle Rodriguez, Eric Mabius, James Purefoy, and Colin Salmon. While many of the movies in this franchise aren't great, the most recent addition, 2021's Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, is a surprisingly high point as well. A new film is also scheduled for 2026.
Here's where you can stream the original Resident Evil.
Jack Black attends the World Premiere of "A Minecraft Movie" at the Cineworld Leicester Square on ... More March 30, 2025 in London.
Minecraft is a uniquely challenging video game to adapt. It doesn't really have a plot or specific goals. While A Minecraft Movie is far from a perfect film, the fact that it works as well as it does based on the source material is impressive. The movie follows a group of small town residents who get sucked into a world of blocks where they must help a resident named Steve fight evil pigs if they want to return home.
The film will be a favorite for children and fans of the game, but it also has enough jokes and fast-paced action to entertain parents and others, as long as you don't think too much about it. Directed by Jared Hess, the film stars Jack Black, Jason Momoa, Danielle Brooks, Emma Myers, Sebastian Hansen, and Jennifer Coolidge.
Minecraft is currently in theaters.
Directed by Emma Tammi, Five Nights at Freddy's is based on the horror/survival game of the same name. While it received fairly negative reviews, it was popular with audiences and fans of the video game. The film feels a bit like 'baby's first horror film' and doesn't hit the highs of other recent horror comedies. However, it's well-made, has a good look to it, and contains some fun jump scares.
Five Nights at Freddy's follows a security guard who takes a job at Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria only to be terrorized by the cursed animatronics that come alive at night. The movie stars Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail, Piper Rubio, Mary Stuart Masterson and Matthew Lillard.
Here's where you can stream Five Nights at Freddy's.
There are many animated Pokémon movies. Many of these movies are beloved because they evoke deep nostalgia among millennials. The Power of Us is different. There might be a childlike nostalgia factor, but the real strength of the film is the sweet characters, overlapping story structure and impressive animation.
The movie follows Ash Ketchum as he travels to Fula City for their famous Wind Festival. However, after a man-made forest fire, the fate of the festival, the city and its legendary Pokémon are put into danger. Directed by Tetsuo Yajima, the film stars Rica Matsumoto, Ikue Ōtani, Unshō Ishizuka, Gaku Hamada and Rina Kawaei. There is also an English dub led by Sarah Natochenny.
Here's where you can stream Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us.
Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie follows M. Bison as he tries to recruit fighters to Shadowlaw, an evil crime syndicate. The film is an adult anime based on the 1991 Capcom game, Street Fighter II. The movie features great retro animation and a great soundtrack.
Directed by Gisaburō Sugii, Street Fighter II stars Kojiro Shimizu, Kenji Haga, Miki Fujitani and Takeshi Kusaka. However, there is also an English dub. While every English actor was credited under a pseudonym, the film stars Skip Stellrecht, Eddie Frierson and Bryan Cranston.
Here's where you can stream Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie.
Based on the Capcom game Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, Ace Attorney is a mystery-comedy film about a rookie defense attorney who must take on a courtroom battle against a prosecutor who has never lost a case. Directed by Takashi Miike, the film stars Hiroki Narimiya, Mirei Kiritani and Takumi Saitoh.
While the film is live-action, it is purposely cartoonish, which really works given its source material. The film is deeply strange, but that is also true of the game.
Here's where you can stream Ace Attorney.
Shigeru Miyamoto attends a Special Screening of Universal Pictures' "The Super Mario Bros."
It's surprising how good The Super Mario Bros. Movie is. The other film based on the Mario franchise, 1993's Super Mario Bros., is remarkably bad (though almost in a so-bad-it's-good way). The 2023 film is an animated family comedy that follows Mario, a plumber from Brooklyn, who is transported to a magical realm and must save his brother, Luigi.
Directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, the movie stars Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogen and Fred Armisen. While Pratt isn't a great casting choice, the film is elevated by a funny script and overall good voice-over performances. It's a highly enjoyable film that is inoffensive in its choices. It is also currently the highest-grossing video game adaptation, as well as the 15th-highest-grossing film of all time.
Here's where you can stream The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
Based on the Taiwanese horror-adventure game of the same name by Red Candle Games, Detention follows two students who must find their missing teacher and escape from their haunted high school. Set in 1962 during Taiwan's White Terror period, the film combines a sense of history with supernatural horror scares.
The film was met with controversy upon its release for its political elements and was banned in China. However, it still received 12 Golden Horse Awards nominations and won 5.
Here's where you can stream Detention.
Werewolves Within is technically based on the social VR mafia-style game of the same name. However, it also feels thematically and stylistically like the point-and-click mystery games of the early computer era. The movie follows a forest ranger who comes to an isolated Vermont town the night before a snowstorm. There, he must find out which townsperson is secretly a werewolf… if there even is one.
While the mystery/twist is relatively obvious, it doesn't take away from the comedic value of this movie. It is silly, purposely so. The film is elevated by great performances, retro set pieces and a tongue-in-cheek sensibility. Directed by Josh Ruben, it stars Sam Richardson, Milana Vayntrub, Catherine Curtin, Harvey Guillén, Rebecca Henderson and Cheyenne Jackson. Werewolves Within did well at the box office and became the highest-rated video game adaptation on Metacritic as of 2025.
Here's where you can stream Werewolves Within.
Sonic attends "Sonic The Hedgehog" Family Day Event at the Paramount Theatre on January 25, 2020 in ... More Hollywood.
There are now three films in the live-action Sonic franchise. All of the films are surprisingly good, and many fans actually prefer the third movie (really, any of them could have made this list). However, the first film, Sonic the Hedgehog, lays the groundwork for the franchise and is a very successful adaptation. It follows a young alien hedgehog whose speed and power attract the ire of evil genius Dr. Robotnik and the sheriff who steps up to be his friend.
Directed by Jeff Fowler, it stars James Marsden, Jim Carrey, Tika Sumpter, Lee Majdoub and Ben Schwartz as the voice of Sonic. When the trailer for the film originally dropped, it was met with sharp criticism of Sonic's animation and character design. The character was hastily redesigned before the movie premiered. While it reportedly cost an extra $5 million, it feels like a worthwhile investment since it greatly improved the film.
Here's where you can stream Sonic the Hedgehog.
Pokemon character is seen during "Pokemon Detective Pikachu" U.S. Premiere at Times Square on May ... More 2, 2019 in New York City.
Loosely based on the 2016 mystery game Detective Pikachu, Pokémon Detective Pikachu is the only live-action Pokémon movie. Bringing Pokémon into the real world could have been a cinematic disaster, but Detective Pikachu really works. The movie follows a young man who must solve his father's disappearance with help from his father's Pokémon partner: a talking Pikachu.
Directed by Rob Letterman, the film stars Justice Smith, Kathryn Newton, Suki Waterhouse, Omar Chaparro, Chris Geere, Ken Watanabe, Bill Nighy and Ryan Reynolds as Pikachu. It's a stylish yet goofy noir homage. While most will see the twist coming, it doesn't take away from how engagingly enjoyable this movie is. It feels a bit like Who Framed Roger Rabbit meets Scooby-Doo for the videogame crowd. Scott Mendelson said in a review for Forbes that the film is "the best video game movie ever," and this writer agrees.
Here's where you can stream Pokémon Detective Pikachu.
Bottom Line
With boss-level action and tongue-in-cheek easter eggs, these video game adaptations top the leaderboard. While this genre won't be for everyone, the best video game movies will have gamers and noobs alike saying, 'GGWP.'
There are many bad video game adaptations. One of the worst is 2005's Alone in the Dark. Directed by Uwe Boll (a kind of icon in the bad video game adaptation genre). The movie is based on the 1992 video game of the same name. It follows a paranormal investigator and an archeologist who take on a demon horde. It stars Christian Slater, Tara Reid and Stephen Dorff. From the effects to the acting, everything is bad in this film, and often not in a fun way.
1997's Mortal Kombat: Annihilation is another stinker. While 1995's Mortal Kombat is fun (if not also a little bad), Annihilation sucks a lot of the fun out of the franchise. While it has a pretty great soundtrack, the rest of the film just feels lackluster. It follows a group of warriors who must save the world. Directed by John R. Leonetti, the movie stars Robin Shou, Talisa Soto, Brian Thompson and Sandra Hess.
The highest-rated animated video game movie on this list is The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023). However, there are many others that are lesser known. 1994's Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie is a great animated adaptation. Based on the video game of the same name, it follows elite fighters and the evil M. Bison, who hopes to recruit them to his evil syndicate. Directed by Gisaburō Sugii, Street Fighter II stars Kojiro Shimizu, Kenji Haga, Miki Fujitani and Takeshi Kusaka.
There are also many great animated Pokémon movies. One of the best is 2018's The Power of Us. The film follows Ash as he must help save a town's annual wind festival and legendary Pokémon. Directed by Tetsuo Yajima, the film stars Rica Matsumoto, Ikue Ōtani, Unshō Ishizuka, Gaku Hamada and Rina Kawaei. There is also an English dub led by Sarah Natochenny.
There are fewer board game movies than video game movies, generally. One of the best is easily 1985's Clue. The cult classic comedy, based on the board game of the same name, follows a group of strangers called to a mysterious mansion on the night of a murder. It features shocking good performances from Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Eileen Brennan, Michael McKean, Martin Mull and Lesley Ann Warren. It also originally featured different endings in different theaters. Most streaming versions of the film play the three endings in a row as "How It Could Have Happened,' "How About This?" or 'Here's What Really Happened.'
2023's Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is another favorite of the tabletop game genre. Directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, the film follows a ragtag party as they are tasked with the quest for an ancient relic. The film is surprisingly good, not only as a DnD adaptation but as an entry into the fantasy genre. The film stars Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis and Hugh Grant.