Grew up with these video games? The movie versions totally deliver
Grew up with these video games? The movie versions totally deliver
Some of these movies made billions, others just nailed the vibe. Either way, they’re all worth a watch.
It’s official: “A Minecraft Movie” is awesome (I saw it in theaters). And I’m not the only one who thinks so — it’s crushing it at the box office with over $550 million in ticket sales — and it got me thinking: video game movies have actually come a long way. Sure, there used to be a time when “based on a game” basically meant “bad movie,” but lately? We’ve gotten some legit fun, big-budget, crowd-pleasing adaptations. So, before I dive into the blocky chaos of “Minecraft,” I figured it was time to brush up on the best of the genre. Here are my top seven video game movie adaptations, ranked.
Top 7 video game movie adaptions on streaming right now.
No. 7: ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’ (2022) | Paramount+
“Sonic the Hedgehog 2” picks up right where the first one left off — and somehow kicks things up another notch. This time around, Sonic teams up with Tails (yep, the flying fox is finally here) to stop the return of Dr. Robotnik, who’s now rolling with Knuckles, a red echidna with serious anger issues. What makes this sequel work so well is that it fully leans into the chaos and charm of the games.
The world is bigger, the action is more over-the-top, and Jim Carrey dials his performance up to full cartoon villain in the best way. It’s the rare follow-up that actually improves on the original — especially for fans of the franchise who grew up with the Sega games. Add in a few Easter eggs and some genuinely fun set pieces, and this is one video game movie that knows exactly what it is — and delivers.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
After settling in Green Hills, Sonic is eager to prove he has what it takes to be a true hero. His test comes when Dr. Robotnik returns, this time with a new partner, Knuckles, in search for an emerald that has the power to destroy civilizations. Sonic teams up with his own sidekick, Tails, and together they embark on a globe-trotting journey to find the emerald before it falls into the wrong hands.
No. 6: ‘Mortal Kombat’ (1995) | Rent with Prime Video
Coming in at No. 6 is “Mortal Kombat,” the first video game movie that actually felt like the game it was based on — and that’s a big deal. Released in 1995, it wasn’t trying to win Oscars; it was trying to bring the arcade to life, and it did exactly that. The characters looked like their pixelated counterparts, the story kept the tournament structure from the game, and the soundtrack? Still iconic.
Sure, it didn’t have the over-the-top gore that made the game infamous (thanks, PG-13), but the fights were legit, the sets were cool, and it had that perfect mix of camp and commitment. For a while, this was the video game movie gold standard — not because it was flawless, but because it actually respected the source material. It knew what fans wanted and didn’t try to reinvent the wheel. Just give us Liu Kang, Scorpion, and a whole lot of punching.
Mortal Kombat
For nine generations an evil sorcerer has been victorious in hand-to-hand battle against his mortal enemies. If he wins a tenth Mortal Kombat tournament, desolation and evil will reign over the multiverse forever. To save Earth, three warriors must overcome seemingly insurmountable odds, their own inner demons, and superhuman foes.
No. 5: ‘Uncharted’ (2022) | Hulu
I love the “Uncharted” video game series, so when they announced the movie version of “Uncharted,” I was very curious how they were going to pull it off. Turns out? It didn’t disappoint. Tom Holland steps into the role of a young Nathan Drake, and while he’s not a carbon copy of the game version, he brings a fun mix of charm and scrappiness that works for the big screen.
The movie plays like a greatest hits mashup of the series — globe-trotting, ancient treasure hunts, wild stunts (that plane cargo scene is pulled straight from the game), and plenty of double-crosses. Mark Wahlberg as Sully takes some getting used to, but once the buddy dynamic kicks in, it clicks. Is it a perfect adaptation? No. But it gets the tone right: pulpy, fast-paced, and full of that “this should be impossible” energy that made the games so fun to play.
Uncharted
A young street-smart, Nathan Drake and his wisecracking partner Victor “Sully” Sullivan embark on a dangerous pursuit of “the greatest treasure never found” while also tracking clues that may lead to Nathan’s long-lost brother.
No. 4: ‘Pokémon Detective Pikachu’ (2019) | Rent with Prime Video
“Pokémon Detective Pikachu” was kind of a surprise hit. On paper, it sounded a little out there — Ryan Reynolds voicing a wisecracking Pikachu in a neon-lit noir mystery? But somehow, it all came together in a way that really worked. The movie builds a fully realized world where Pokémon live side-by-side with humans, and the attention to detail is honestly kind of wild.
From the moody cityscapes to the dozens of fan-favorite creatures brought to life with surprisingly good CGI, it just feels like a place where this kind of story could happen. Justice Smith plays the straight man to Reynolds’ fuzzy chaos, and the buddy-cop dynamic ends up being both funny and surprisingly heartfelt. It doesn’t try to retell the original games or the anime — it spins off into its own thing while still showing love for the source material. It’s weird, it’s fun, and it proved that a live-action Pokémon movie could actually be good.
Pokémon Detective Pikachu
In a world where people collect pocket-size monsters (Pokémon) to do battle, a boy comes across an intelligent monster who seeks to be a detective.
No. 3: ‘Lara Croft: Tomb Raider’ (2001) | Rent with Prime Video
Back in 2001, “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” was everywhere. The Tomb Raider video game was already a massive hit, basically the female version of “Indiana Jones,” and the movie doubled down on that vibe: globe-trotting, ancient artifacts, booby-trapped temples — you name it.
Casting Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft was a total no-brainer. She had the attitude, the physicality, and the presence to bring that pixelated icon to life. And yeah, the plot is kind of nonsense (something about planets aligning and time travel?), but it didn’t matter. The movie was stylish, loud, and totally owned its over-the-top energy. Plus, it crushed at the box office, making it one of the first real commercial successes for a video game adaptation. Whether or not you think it holds up, there’s no denying this one helped put game-to-movie adaptations on the map.
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
Orphaned heiress, English aristocrat and intrepid archaeologist, Lara Croft, embarks on a dangerous quest to retrieve the two halves of an ancient artifact which controls time before it falls into the wrong hands. As an extremely rare planetary alignment is about to occur for the first time in 5,000 years, the fearless tomb raider will have to team up with rival adventurers and sworn enemies to collect the pieces, while time is running out. But, in the end, who can harness the archaic talisman’s unlimited power?
No. 2: ‘Resident Evil’ (2002) | STARZ
“Resident Evil” might not have been a critics’ darling or a box office monster, but for fans of the original game like me, it scratched exactly the right itch. I grew up with this game — it basically defined the survival horror genre — and while the movie doesn’t follow the game beat-for-beat, it totally nailed the vibe. Creepy underground labs, flesh-eating zombies, AI gone rogue — it’s all there.
Milla Jovovich plays Alice, a new character created for the film, and while that was controversial at the time, she ended up being the best thing about it. She’s badass without being over-the-top, and her fight scenes gave the movie a pulse even when the plot veered into sci-fi nonsense.
What made “Resident Evil” work, especially for fans, is that it didn’t try to be prestige horror — it knew what it was: a fun, gory, high-stakes ride with enough nods to the game to keep you invested. And hey, despite mixed reviews, it pulled in over $100 million worldwide on a $33 million budget and launched a franchise that ran for six movies. The tone, the aesthetic, the sound design — it all brought back that same creeping tension I felt sneaking through Spencer Mansion on my PlayStation. It may not be perfect, but it absolutely earns its spot on this list.
Resident Evil
When a virus leaks from a top-secret facility, turning all resident researchers into ravenous zombies and their lab animals into mutated hounds from hell, the government sends in an elite military task force to contain the outbreak.
No. 1: ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ (2023) | Peacock
At No. 1 is “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” the one that finally got it right. My wife and I watched this one together, and even though we’re usually not big on animated movies, this one totally had us. It’s bright, fast, packed with references — and somehow still totally accessible even if you haven’t touched a Mario game in years.
I’ve got the re-issued original Nintendo at home, and the only game I ever really play is Super Mario Bros. 3. It’s a love affair that started almost 30 years ago. And let’s be real — the plot of those games? Stupid simple. You’re a mustachioed plumber running through colorful worlds, collecting coins, dodging fireballs, and trying to save a kidnapped princess from a giant turtle monster. That’s it.
So the fact that this somehow turned into a fun, crowd-pleasing movie is kind of a miracle. Chris Pratt as Mario and Charlie Day as Luigi might’ve raised eyebrows at first, but the whole voice cast brings real energy, especially Jack Black as Bowser (his power ballad alone deserves its own spin-off). The movie doesn’t try to overcomplicate things — it leans into what makes Mario fun.
From the Rainbow Road sequence to side-scrolling action scenes that feel pulled straight from a level, it hits that sweet spot between nostalgia and new-school energy. And clearly it clicked — this thing made over $1.3 billion at the box office, becoming the highest-grossing video game movie ever. For fans, families, or honestly anyone who’s ever stomped a Goomba, this one’s a total win.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie
While working underground to fix a water main, Brooklyn plumbers—and brothers—Mario and Luigi are transported down a mysterious pipe and wander into a magical new world. But when the brothers are separated, Mario embarks on an epic quest to find Luigi.