Video Game Series Are The New Superhero Movies
It’s something that no one could have really predicted but it seems like the heir to the superhero movie throne in Hollywood might be the video game adaptation. While it was once a laughable genre that pumped out some genuinely terrible movies (along with some pretty fun ones), it’s now a genre that can pump out critically acclaimed prestige TV and billion-dollar movie blockbusters in equal measure. And now every studio seems to be chomping at the bit to add a video game series adaptation to their upcoming release schedule.
Sonic The Hedgehog
The recent video game series adaptation renaissance was arguably kicked off by 2020’s Sonic the Hedgehog, which is surprising if you witnessed the initial Sonic reveal for the film. Initially, the film looked like it was going to be a total flop thanks to the hideous design of the titular blue blur.
Fortunately, the studio fixed it, the movie was pretty great, and it raked in a pretty good sum of cash at the box office.
The Last Of Us
Not too long after, we got fantastic TV adaptations of League of Legends with Netflix’s Arcane and the biggest video game series adaptation hit yet, HBO’s The Last of Us.
The Last of Us was the perfect storm of great casting, a faithful adaptation that added to the source material, and a story that was already proven to be good, thanks to the fantastic game it was based on. HBO had a massive hit on its hands, raking in millions of viewers and Emmy nominations to boot.
Super Mario Bros Movie
Then the Super Mario Bros Movie made over $1 billion the same year and boom, video game series adaptations are the new hot Hollywood property.
The most recently released adaptation of the Fallout franchise, now streaming on Amazon, has also been heaped with critical acclaim already. It definitely seems like this train won’t be slowing down anytime soon.
Taking Over The Superhero Genre
There’s a huge slate of video game series adaptations coming out in the coming months and years, and it seems perfectly poised to replace the gradually dwindling superhero movie genre.
Unlike the Marvel and DC movies, fans don’t have to pay attention to an interconnected universe and watch hours and hours of content to keep up. Almost none of these video game adaptations could be a cinematic universe (outside of a potential Super Smash Bros movie), which is a pretty refreshing change of pace.
New Series Coming
Based on the upcoming slate of video game series adaptations, it seems like fans and newcomers alike have plenty to look forward to.
Of course, there are returning contenders like the second season of The Last of Us, the second season of Arcane, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and a TV series that follows Idris Elba’s Knuckles.
Right around the corner, we have the release of Borderlands, which is based on the looter-shooter of the same name and stars Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Ariana Greenblatt, and more.
Legend Of Zelda And More In The Works
Nintendo and Universal also have a The Legend of Zelda movie in the works, which could be just as massive as The Super Mario Bros Movie.
For TV shows, there are adaptations of God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn, Mass Effect, and many more, all of which could be the next big TV prestige hit.
Even smaller indie titles like Stray and Disco: Elysium are getting adaptations, which would have been unthinkable back when video game series adaptations were considered box office poison.
In any case, this boon of great video game series adaptations is definitely a positive development. If they can continue to make great stuff like the Fallout, Arcane, and The Last of Us, who are we to complain? You can check out Fallout now on Amazon Prime Video.
