5 Movies Based on Video Games Worth Watching
I’ve seen people complain about video game movies for years. And, to be fair, some of them give you plenty of reasons to complain. A game you love gets turned into a movie, your favorite character barely feels like themselves, and the story goes in a direction nobody expected.
But there are films that get enough right to make you forget about all that. Here are five worth giving a shot.
1. The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)
The Super Mario Bros. Movie is definitely one I’d put on my watch list. It came out in 2023, and Mario is basically one of those characters everyone knows by now. You could have zero experience with video games and still recognize the guy. The movie follows Mario and Luigi after they get thrown into a world that’s nothing like Brooklyn, and that’s where the adventure really starts.
What I liked about the idea behind this movie is how much it has to work with. Mario games are full of weird little details, and the film has room to bring them together. Some scenes feel like they’ve been taken straight out of a game level. Others are just silly, which is kind of the point.
You don’t watch this one because of some clever plot. Watch it when you want to have some fun.
2. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024)
Sonic usually sees a problem and runs right into it without thinking twice. That’s basically his thing. Shadow adds something new to the story because he’s not just another guy who wants to challenge Sonic to a race.
The two are different in their own ways, and that helps make the story more interesting. There’s action, some funny moments, and a few things that fans of the games might enjoy more than people who are new to Sonic.
You can still enjoy the movie without knowing much about the games. But if you played them when you were younger, seeing these characters together hits a little differently. And yeah, it’s loud. It’s Sonic, after all.
3. Warcraft (2016)
I can see why Warcraft won’t work for everyone. There’s a lot of fantasy lore, several groups with their own problems, and plenty of names to keep track of.
Still, the world itself is interesting. Humans and orcs are caught in a conflict, and neither side is quite as simple as it first appears. The film gives you battles, magic, and some impressive locations.
People who know the games will have an easier time recognizing what’s going on. The beginning is kinda slow, so not everyone will like it right away. But fantasy fans might enjoy it.
4. Detective Pikachu (2019)
A talking Pikachu acting like a tired detective sounds pretty weird.
Tim teams up with Pikachu to investigate his father’s disappearance. Along the way, they move through a city where Pokémon aren’t just creatures you send into battle. They’re part of everyday life.
That’s what makes the film fun to watch. You start wondering what it would actually be like to have Pokémon living around you. Would they be helpful? Would they make a mess? Probably both.
You don’t really need to know much about Pokémon to enjoy this movie. The mystery is easy to understand, and Pikachu is honestly one of the funniest parts.
5. A Minecraft Movie (2025)
It’s kind of funny trying to turn Minecraft into a movie because the game doesn’t really have one set way to play. You can build houses, dig underground for hours, or just go exploring because you found something interesting. Everyone does their own thing.
So the movie has to make up a story that works on its own. At the same time, it can’t lose the stuff that makes Minecraft recognizable.
A Minecraft Movie brings together familiar blocks, creatures, and crafting in one adventure. People who play the game will probably recognize some details, even if the story ends up being pretty different.
And if it makes you want to play again with your friends, you’ll probably need a server. I still follow the advice that helped me choose a host when comparing different hosting options. Prices and features can be different, so it’s worth checking what’s included before paying.
Minecraft is a little different when you’ve spent years playing it yourself. There are things you’ll recognize straight away that probably won’t mean anything to someone who has never played before.
These movies don’t need to replace the games, though. They’re just another way to enjoy something familiar. You get to see the world differently, catch a few details you remember, and have something to chat about once the movie ends.
And maybe you’ll go back to playing the game the next day.