It took over 20 years for Hollywood to get the formula right, but we’re finally in an era of consistent video game adaptations hitting the big screen. Instead of churning out films like 2007’s Hitman or 2016’s Assassin’s Creed, films that don’t appeal to the existing audience of fans or general audiences, studios have unlocked the key to massive financial successes like The Super Mario Bros. Galaxy Movie or A Minecraft Movie.
And now that the sharks have gotten a taste for blood, there’s no reason for them to stop. Already there are adaptations in the works for The Legend of Zelda, Gears of War, Call of Duty, God of War, and countless more — some of the most recognizable games ever made. But there are also adaptations coming based on lesser known indie games. This year’s Iron Lung showed the world that films based on games other than triple A releases can also score big at the box office. And it’s a lesson that Hollywood seems to have internalized, as Sony is already starting the development process for a film based on a game released last year, that has made major waves in the indie scene.
