Video game film adaptations used to be huge flops. Now studios can’t get enough
From Mario to the new Street Fighter film, the video game-to-film pipeline is now bursting open – and there are several reasons for it.
In the early 1990s, Hollywood attempted to capitalize on the burgeoning home video game market by producing feature-length films based on popular games. These early adaptations, such as Super Mario Bros. (1993), Mortal Kombat (1995), and Street Fighter (1994), received poor reviews. However, times have changed.
Today, video game adaptations are successful blockbusters, from Minecraft to Resident Evil, and even include lower-budget gems like Iron Lung. This resurgence has been driven by several factors.
First, film studios seek projects that will appeal to both younger and older audiences, similar to the strategy employed by Disney with its live-action remakes. The current trend in video game adaptations began around 2020, thanks to a growing cross-generational audience not present in the 1990s. The 1994 Street Fighter film, for example, was released just a few years after the game itself.
Second, these adaptations carry cultural legitimacy as the generations that grew up playing video games have become filmmakers and critics. Directors like Kitao Sakurai, who have a personal connection to the source material, help bridge the gap between games and films.
Third, the advances in digital technology have narrowed the visual gap between video games and movies. In the early 1990s, video games used two-dimensional sprites, while films relied on practical effects. Today's digital production methods, including 3D gaming, allow for convincing adaptations with the same visual fidelity as the source material.
Fourth, conglomerates like Disney, Universal, and Skydance Corporation see video game universes as valuable assets for transmedia franchises. By integrating games into their corporate strategies, they can cross-promote properties and expand audiences, as seen in Sony's partnership with Zach Cregger for the PlayStation Productions film adaptation of Resident Evil.
In summary, the video game-to-film adaptation process has evolved from a series of box-office bombs to a thriving industry, driven by cross-generational appeal, cultural legitimacy, technological advancements, and corporate support.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
