[Top 15] Movies Inspired by Video Games

Movies Inspired by Video Games
Updated:
15 Jul 2021

15. Mortal Kombat  

Cole Young is a washed-up mixed martial arts fighter who is suddenly hunted down by someone named Sub Zero. Worried for the safety of his family, he seeks out other fighters. Together, they must battle for their planet from what is known as Outworld. 

So one of the bloodiest games in history has finally been made into a movie. 

And just like how Deadpool finally got a movie, the world rejoiced.  

14. Resident Evil 

The military is called into action when they are tasked with taking down a research facility. Affected by a virus known as “The Hive”, scientists have become flesh-eating zombies. The elite unit meets Alice, who has survived the ordeal but is suffering from amnesia. While the officers are forced to risk their lives to ensure the virus doesn’t go out into the world, Alice is forced to come to terms when her memories slowly come back.  

Think of every zombie movie and game you’ve played. 

Now if Outlast and House of the Dead had a child, it would be this. 

13. Pokemon: The First Movie  

Ash, Pikachu, Misty, and Brock receive a mysterious letter one day, asking them to meet someone who claims to be a Pokemon trainer seeking battle. In the midst of finding this secret individual, there is a strong, intimidating change in the atmosphere. Ash will not only find himself facing possibly his greatest foe yet. But against the most powerful Pokemon to have ever been created.

Even after 20 years...who still cries over Ash’s death? 

Sure, it wouldn’t be the last time he’d die. But compared to the other times, especially in “Lucario and the Mystery of Mew”, seeing Pikachu and all those Pokemon mourn him was an absolute punch in the gut. 

12. Warcraft    

In search of a new home, Orcs invade the kingdom of Azeroth. It’s humans versus Orcs in this bloody battle of refuge and prejudice. However, one defective Orc becomes allies with a group of rebellious humans to overthrow his corrupt leader. In hopes that the land he seeks to call home will be restored. For all Orcs, humans, and all living creatures. 

The ultimate fantasy game where people fulfilled their wildest, non-boring fantasies. 

I’m pretty sure people got into this game mostly because all the characters were super attractive. Human or not. 

11. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle 

Five teens with no relation to each other whatsoever, get in trouble at school one day and are forced to take clean-up duty. Among the garbage, they discover an old gaming cartridge titled “Jumanji”. Wanting to kill time until they can finally leave the premises, they choose their characters and press start for what seems like a pixelated, simple quest game. Next thing they know, they’re all sucked up into the game. And get turned into their avatars. 

We remember Robin Williams and his amazing role in the 1995 original. The Rock honored him in the 2017 reboot. 

There was actually a game for this franchise in 1996, which may have inspired the plot of the 2017 film version. 

Dare to play the game yourself? There’s official merch of it! 

10. Pokemon: Mewtwo Returns     

Not only did this movie give us more insight on other Team Rocket members. It proves that Butch and Cassidy aren’t the only most annoying rivals of Jesse and James. 

The interactions between Ash and Mewtwo gives off an enemies-now-BFFs vibe. This was already proof enough that Ash was the “chosen one” for any powerful Pokemon he would come across (best examples “Pokemon 2000” and the Sun and Moon series)

And if you listen hard enough, especially in the English version: you can actually hear Mewtwo laugh. 

(P.S. that “Mewtwo Strikes Back - Evolution” on Netflix was UNNECESSARY)

9. Postal   

A lame cult leader hires a trailer trash hitman to save his compound from getting foreclosed. Meanwhile, a terrorist plans to use a popular cartoon character as a means for his secret plans. 

Stupid. Racist. Offensive. The kind of movie only Deadpool would watch. 

In other words, it’s so f*cking hilarious!  

I enjoy the game. Actually, I enjoy watching my friend play the game because I’m more into Kirby and New Super Lucky’s Tale. 

I will never get tired of watching the character pee on a civilian. 

8. Pokemon the Movie: Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel

Ash, Pikachu, Serena, and Bonnie and Clemont travel to Azoth Kingdom, made entirely of gears and powered by both people and Pokemon. However, they are met by two unusual Pokemon: mythical Volcanion and the historical Magearna, who had been lost in time. The latter is being hunted down by a mad scientist who is determined to use her essence to take control of the kingdom. Allying with Princess Kimia and her brother Raleigh, the group must stop him before both Pokemon and humanity are harmed. 

While cliche at best, it was pretty cool to see steampunk type Pokemon. 

And you got to admit, Kimia and Raleigh were great additional, if not one-off, characters. 

We’re all in agreement that the absolute best part of the movie was seeing Ash’s Greninja being his usual badass self. 

7. Pixels 

In 1982, a time capsule filled with footage of video game references was launched into space. However, the aliens misinterpret the footage as an act of war. Childhood friends Brenner, Cooper, and Ludlow relive their younger days by battling monsters created exactly as the ones from arcade games. Will it be GAME OVER for the planet? 

Say what you want, this is one of Adam Sandeler’s better films. Like a THOUSAND times better than “Jack and Jill”. 

While there was no Mario or Sonic, we got the classic games! 

Centipede, Donkey Kong, and especially Pac-Man! 

Two other things to love about this movie: 

Q*bert making an appearance

The voice of Olaf starring in this film

I’d like to consider this somewhat of a crossover between Wreck-It Ralph and Frozen. 

Also, while Duck Hunt was one of the more annoying games, can we appreciate just how wholesome the scene between the videogame dog and that old lady was? 

6. Ratchet and Clank 

While we have been wanting a Sly Cooper movie (or even an Overwatch one), this one stands out. 

Like one gigantic cutscene. 

Predictable and kind of cliche, it did pave the road for future R&C games. 

It even did the characters justice by giving them real character. Completely contrasting with how they were portrayed in the game (Qwark being the biggest example). 

5. The Angry Birds Movie 

Red is a loner bird with anger issues. And can you blame him? He lives on an island that only focuses on happy vibes. While he is constantly at odds with most of the flock, he is always trying to reason with their viewpoint. When a group of green pigs suddenly come to their island, Red suspects they are up to no good. Along with acquaintances Chuck and Bomb, he’ll discover a horrible secret. 

When the trailer first came out, most of us were skeptical. 

However, you have to admit, the “Lake of Wisdom” scene will forever be one of the most hilarious WTF moments in game-turned-movie history! 

And we all needed some new furry hype after Zootopia blew the world by storm! 

4. Wreck-It Ralph 

Tired of his job as just the “bad guy”, Ralph leaves his own game in search of some real “heroic action” that would make him more popular. Cheating his way through Hero’s Duty, he manages to snag one of the console’s medals. However, a mishap results in him crash-landing in a game called Sugar Rush. He meets a witty, annoying child with a “glitch issue” who suddenly steals his medal to fulfill her own desires. 

A love letter to arcades and the gaming community. 

With “Ralph Breaks the Internet” being a less-than-equal sequel. 

3. Detective Pikachu  

After the mysterious death of his father, Tim Goodman travels to Ryme City to empty his father’s apartment. However, he discovers his father’s Pokemon partner, a Pikachu, amongst his things. And he can talk! Forming an unlikely duo, they search for clues behind what Tim's father had been investigating. 

Ryan Reynolds. That’s all everyone had talked about since the trailer aired. 

That and a majority really thought the movie was going to sink because they couldn’t handle live-action Pokemon. 

It wasn’t until near premiere time did that attitude change. 

And realizing that OUR CHILDHOOD DREAM HAD BECOME A REALITY (sort of).  

2. Sonic the Hedgehog 

Forced to flee his dimension, Sonic has spent a great deal of his life on the run. And boy, can that hedgehog run. His latest home is on Earth, in a small town called Green Hills, where he longs to interact with the humans. After a running mishap results in the government trying to locate him, he collides with local sheriff Tom Wachowski. Realizing this creature is in a life-or-death situation, Tom agrees to help the hedgehog find his rings. During their trip, they are pursued by mad scientist Dr. Robotnik. 

We were going to make this movie sink before it even started until they gave Sonic a proper design. 

But what really filled the theaters was Jimy Carrey’s performance. It felt more like he was playing as himself than Robotnik/Eggman. 

1. Animal Crossing: The Movie 

11-year-old Ai moves to the Animal Village where she is immediately put to work by Tanukichi to deliver goods. As she becomes adjusted to her new home, she begins making friends. One of them is Sally, who dreams of becoming a fashion designer. When she suddenly moves away, she encourages Ai to pursue her own personal journey. And it all starts when Ai suddenly discovers random bottles with messages at the beach, and believes aliens left them there. 

Why is this #1 on the list? 

Because Animal Crossing: New Horizons is still a massive hype right now (especially since it was distributed last year when quarantine first started and we needed something to keep us occupied). 

And some Animal Crossing fans STILL aren’t aware that this movie exists! And this movie premiered in 2006! 

Besides getting a Sonic sequel and that rumored Mario movie in the making, an Animal Crossing film would be really great at this time. 

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