Video game movies might not have the best reputation, but that doesn’t mean they’re all bad. Amongst all the stinkers and the disappointments, every so often, a good adaptation gets made. In fact, this has started to happen more regularly, and video game movies are slowly being considered with a little more hope.
The problem is that there are a lot of challenges to consider when making a video game movie. Fans of the original game will want an adaptation to be true to the source material, but this can alienate newcomers. Some games don’t translate well to non-interactive media, which then requires a little out-of-the-box thinking.
Navigating the minefield of video game movies might not always make for the best blockbusters, but there are still good examples of how to do it right. Whether its a case of a good cast, a good script, or just a good knowledge of the original game, some adaptations just work. With that in mind, here are 10 of the all-time best video game movies.
10. Doom (2005)
2005’s Doom is certainly not a critical darling, that much is obvious. The problem is, adapting a series of first-person shooters which historically aren’t particularly story-heavy isn’t an easy task. All things considered, Doom did an admirable job, and deserves a little recognition for it.
Starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Karl Urban, and Rosamund Pike, Doom follows a squad of marines sent to investigate an attack on humanity’s top secret facility on Mars. After finding the place is overrun with monsters, they’re asked to retrieve research from the facility. Cue badass sci-fi action-horror (and a couple of really big guns).
What makes Doom so enjoyable is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously. It loosely borrows its premise from the games, but it’s more of a spiritual adaptation than a direct one. With the action talents of Dwayne Johnson and Karl Urban, it’s far more competent than it gets credit for, and is certainly worthy of a spot on this list.
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