The 7 Best Video Game Movies

Video games have some of the best storytelling in all of media right now, and that's what makes them such valuable properties for adaptation into films. But as I am sure you know, a lot of these video game movies have a terrible reputation for sucking. At least they did for a while. It feels like, recently, Hollywood has a better handle on what these stories can be.And we've got some really fun movies because of that. Let's go over seven of the best video game movies.Let's dive in. 1. Sonic the Hedgehog 3Director: Jeff FowlerWriters: Pat Casey, Josh Miller, John WhittingtonCast: Ben Schwartz (Sonic, voice) Jim Carrey (Dr. Robotnik) Idris Elba (Knuckles) Keanu Reeves (Shadow the Hedgehog)I really like this trilogy of movies. They're sort of the perfect blend of what makes the games fun, but they have solid stories and laughs that make them feel like movies first and not just marketing materials. However, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is by far the best in the franchise, as you can see from its rating on Rotten Tomatoes.2. The Super Mario Bros. MovieDirectors: Aaron Horvath, Michael JelenicWriter: Matthew FogelCast: Chris Pratt (Mario, voice) Anya Taylor-Joy (Princess Peach, voice) Charlie Day (Luigi, voice) Jack Black (Bowser, voice)I think turning these movies into animated films works best because it really preserves the characters from the games and also there's a lot of room for the fantastical elements to translate to screen. This is a charming movie that understands paying homage to the game while having a fun story at its center. 3. Gran TurismoDirector: Neill BlomkampWriters: Jason Hall, Zach BaylinCast: Archie Madekwe (Jann Mardenborough) David Harbour (Jack Salter) Orlando Bloom (Danny Moore)This had a good spin on it. It took the soul of the racing game but was able to translate it into real life and provide real stakes. It was based on a true story that celebrated the game and did a good job of bringing humanity to its center. 4. Lara Croft: Tomb RaiderDirector: Simon WestWriter: Patrick Massett, John ZinmanCast: Angelina Jolie (Lara Croft) Jon Voight (Lord Richard Croft) Daniel Craig (Alex West)Perhaps this is on here due to nostalgia, but I remember seeing this in theaters in 2001, and it was formative. I totally understood what drew me (then in like 7th grade) to the game and Angelina Jolie was a bonafide star having a blast in the role. 5. Final Fantasy: The Spirits WithinDirectors: Hironobu Sakaguchi, Motonori SakakibaraWriters: Al Reinert, Jeff Vintar, Hironobu Sakaguchi (story)Cast (Voice): Ming-Na Wen (Doctor Aki Ross) Alec Baldwin (Captain Gray Edwards) Donald Sutherland (Dr. Sid) James Woods (General Hein) Ving Rhames (Ryan) Steve Buscemi (Neil) Peri Gilpin (Jane)This was a groundbreaking movie thanks to its CGI. I haven't seen it in years, but I remember feeling like I was being sucked into a video game. You had the experience of being there and it wasn't reliant on our world. 6. UnchartedDirector: Ruben FleischerWriters: Rafe Judkins, Art Marcum, Matt HollowayCast: Tom Holland (Nathan Drake) Mark Wahlberg (Victor "Sully" Sullivan) Sophia Ali (Chloe Frazer)I love adventure movies. This movie just had fun set pieces that feel like a video game and a lot of different "levels" to the story that make you feel like you're progressing while the character arcs. 7. Five Nights at Freddy'sDirector: Emma TammiWriters: Scott Cawthon, Emma Tammi, Seth CuddebackCast: Josh Hutcherson (Mike Schmidt) Elizabeth Lail (Vanessa) Piper Rubio (Abby)A horror movie with a fun ending, this movie takes the essence of the fear in the game and turns it into a reality. Again, it finds human stakes for us to care about and locks us into the world. Summing Up The 7 Best Video Game MoviesThese are my picks, but you may have some titles of your own you want to see on here. I always want to hear about more movies I need to check out. Video games are hard to translate, but as people search for more IP, these films are inevitable. The more good ones, the better. Let me know what you think in the comments.

Mar 18, 2025 - 19:58

Video games have some of the best storytelling in all of media right now, and that's what makes them such valuable properties for adaptation into films. But as I am sure you know, a lot of these video game movies have a terrible reputation for sucking. At least they did for a while. It feels like, recently, Hollywood has a better handle on what these stories can be.

And we've got some really fun movies because of that.

Let's go over seven of the best video game movies.

Let's dive in.

1. Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Director: Jeff Fowler
Writers: Pat Casey, Josh Miller, John Whittington
Cast:
- Ben Schwartz (Sonic, voice)
- Jim Carrey (Dr. Robotnik)
- Idris Elba (Knuckles)
- Keanu Reeves (Shadow the Hedgehog)

I really like this trilogy of movies. They're sort of the perfect blend of what makes the games fun, but they have solid stories and laughs that make them feel like movies first and not just marketing materials.

However, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is by far the best in the franchise, as you can see from its rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

2. The Super Mario Bros. Movie

Directors: Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic
Writer: Matthew Fogel
Cast:

Chris Pratt (Mario, voice)
Anya Taylor-Joy (Princess Peach, voice)
Charlie Day (Luigi, voice)
Jack Black (Bowser, voice)

I think turning these movies into animated films works best because it really preserves the characters from the games and also there's a lot of room for the fantastical elements to translate to screen. This is a charming movie that understands paying homage to the game while having a fun story at its center.

3. Gran Turismo

Director: Neill Blomkamp
Writers: Jason Hall, Zach Baylin
Cast:
- Archie Madekwe (Jann Mardenborough)
- David Harbour (Jack Salter)
- Orlando Bloom (Danny Moore)

This had a good spin on it. It took the soul of the racing game but was able to translate it into real life and provide real stakes. It was based on a true story that celebrated the game and did a good job of bringing humanity to its center.

4. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

Director: Simon West
Writer: Patrick Massett, John Zinman
Cast:
- Angelina Jolie (Lara Croft)
- Jon Voight (Lord Richard Croft)
- Daniel Craig (Alex West)

Perhaps this is on here due to nostalgia, but I remember seeing this in theaters in 2001, and it was formative. I totally understood what drew me (then in like 7th grade) to the game and Angelina Jolie was a bonafide star having a blast in the role.

5. Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within

Directors: Hironobu Sakaguchi, Motonori Sakakibara
Writers: Al Reinert, Jeff Vintar, Hironobu Sakaguchi (story)
Cast (Voice):
- Ming-Na Wen (Doctor Aki Ross)
- Alec Baldwin (Captain Gray Edwards)
- Donald Sutherland (Dr. Sid)
- James Woods (General Hein)
- Ving Rhames (Ryan)
- Steve Buscemi (Neil)
- Peri Gilpin (Jane)

This was a groundbreaking movie thanks to its CGI. I haven't seen it in years, but I remember feeling like I was being sucked into a video game. You had the experience of being there and it wasn't reliant on our world.

6. Uncharted

Director: Ruben Fleischer
Writers: Rafe Judkins, Art Marcum, Matt Holloway
Cast:
- Tom Holland (Nathan Drake)
- Mark Wahlberg (Victor "Sully" Sullivan)
- Sophia Ali (Chloe Frazer)

I love adventure movies. This movie just had fun set pieces that feel like a video game and a lot of different "levels" to the story that make you feel like you're progressing while the character arcs.

7. Five Nights at Freddy's

Director: Emma Tammi
Writers: Scott Cawthon, Emma Tammi, Seth Cuddeback
Cast:
- Josh Hutcherson (Mike Schmidt)
- Elizabeth Lail (Vanessa)
- Piper Rubio (Abby)

A horror movie with a fun ending, this movie takes the essence of the fear in the game and turns it into a reality. Again, it finds human stakes for us to care about and locks us into the world.

Summing Up The 7 Best Video Game Movies

These are my picks, but you may have some titles of your own you want to see on here. I always want to hear about more movies I need to check out.

Video games are hard to translate, but as people search for more IP, these films are inevitable. The more good ones, the better.

Let me know what you think in the comments.