Best Video Game Movie Adaptions
Celebrate National Video Game Day with These 3 Films
National Video Game Day is September 12th, and we're ready to celebrate with movies. While video game film adaptations have a shaky track record, the genre still has plenty to offer. The disconnect likely stems from audience expectations, which tend to vary between film and video games. For instance, people are more likely to suspend their disbelief and appreciate cheesy dialogue in video games than they are in movies. In this week's post, we'll be talking about adaptations that bridge the gap from game to movie in just the right way.
1) Silent Hill (2006) - Christophe Gans
After Konami published Silent Hill in 1999, Christophe Gans fell in love with the game. So much so, in fact, that he spent years attempting to achieve the film rights for it. The publisher finally granted the rights after Gans submitted a video explaining how important the games were to him, as well as his plans for the film. This adaptation bridges the game-movie gap thanks to the production team's dedication to breaking down the story's elements in order to build up something cinematic. In doing so, they made one of the most iconic horror films of the 2000s. Along the way, screenwriter Roger Avary reportedly received threatening letters in the mail from fans of the game who claimed only they were fit to write the script. Naturally, the only thing that stopped Gans and Avary was their producers--the original script didn't have any men in it, so they wouldn't approve it. The filmmakers were able to take this constraint and create a (male) character whose presence further reflected the story, and, ultimately, produce a genre-defining movie true to the spirit of its video game source material.
2) Werewolves Within (2021) - Josh Ruben
If you're looking for something on the cozier side of horror, we recommend Werewolves Within. While not nearly as big a name as Silent Hill, this adaptation is still a lot of fun and worth the watch for any comedy-horror fan. Audiences are taken to a town that is plagued by a werewolf, tasked with determining who of the townsfolk is the culprit. Director Josh Ruben was brought on to the project after his feature film Scare Me (2020) caught the production company's eye. Impressed with his work, Ubisoft provided Ruben with a VR set to play Werewolves Within and sign on to the film. While the game is set in a medieval fantasy village, the movie takes place in a modern day town. This alteration (in conjunction with the dynamic cast that makes up the townsfolk) helps keep things slightly more grounded for the film--audiences aren't tasked with as much suspension of disbelief but still get the feel of the game. In this way, the adaptation still captures the story and atmosphere in a more mainstream, relatable package.
3) Iron Lung (2026) - Mark Fischbach
Reminiscent of Gans's love of Silent Hill, Mark Fischbach (known as Markiplier online) fell for Iron Lung (2022) while streaming gameplay on YouTube. The story is a science fiction thriller that takes place in a post-rapture desolate future. After completing the game, Fischbach connected with David Szymanski, its creator, and announced he would be directing, writing, editing, and starring in a film adaptation. While Fischbach received offers for distribution, companies only saw the project as a straight-to-streaming film. Instead of taking an offer, Fischbach decided to self-distribute to give the film a theatrical release. Even so, the film was only originally slated to be released in independent theaters. The filmmakers started a grassroots campaign for fans to request the film to be shown in local cinemas. Their dedication paid off--literally--as the film grossed $8.9 million on opening day alone (with a budget just under $5 million). While the acting isn't stellar, the atmosphere of the film is impeccable and captivating all the same, remaining reflective of its source material
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