10 Video Games That Deserve A Movie Adaptation, According To Reddit

In the past three decades, a multitude of film adaptations of video games have been released. In that time, only 4 of those films have received a “Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite many of these projects not being well received, fans still continue to demand for more.

As many game studios have put their focus into creating film and television projects based on their properties, such as PlayStation with Uncharted and Microsoft with Halo, there’s more hope than ever that fan-favorite games will be translated well onto the big screen. As gamers debate which projects they’d like to see, Reddit is of course the place to be.

Red Dead Redemption 2

In a game filled with a multitude of Western movie references and homages, Red Dead Redemption 2 would function perfectly as a Western film. Reddit user thetrappster cites Rockstar’s acclaimed game Red Dead 2 as his pick as he feels “Arthur’s character arc would translate well into film.” Arthur Morgan goes through quite an extensive change throughout the story of the game. His internal conflicts really make the character relatable to the audience, even if he is a bandit.

This user also mentions that the film could implement interactive features such as “your choices impact the direction the film takes”, just like how different choices in the game can affect the outcome of the story. Having this film done in a way like Netflix’s Black Mirror: Bandersnatch film would be a really cool experience to attract filmgoers and also service the story that the film is based on.

Portal

“I wish they’d make a Portal movie”, user Cranburson says. He clearly wishes what most video game fans want. A Portal movie would really work, as there are no constraints as to what can be done. The games follow a pretty basic mechanic, as the player simply solves puzzles using the iconic portal gun. However, there is more than meets the eye.

There is a huge amount of history surrounding Aperture Science and the abandoned facility. A prequel film following the creator, Cave Johnson, who just so happens to be played by J.K. Simmons, would be a great way to flesh out the series’ lore. A film adaptation has been in development alongside Half-Life at Bad Robot since 2011. As of May 2021, J.J. Abrams maintains the film is still in active development, per Collider.

Mass Effect

With a world as diverse and expansive as Mass Effect, it’s no surprise Reddit user Vlaks1-0 would choose this as his go-to film adaptation. He makes mention that the film could benefit by focusing on “The First Contact War to introduce audiences to the world”. This takes place before the events of the first game and is when humans first began colonizing space.

It wouldn’t be the first time a film adaptation acts as a prequel to the games. Most recently, Tom Holland’s Uncharted film did this, as it details Nathan Drake’s first encounter with Sully before he’s a seasoned adventurer. In February of last year, Henry Cavill teased he was working on a secret project in an Instagram photo, while holding paper that had several words and characters from the Mass Effect franchise. It seems a film based on this game could be coming sooner than later.

BioShock

Based on a franchise filled with great quotes, BioShock remains one of the most clever, original video game series out there. Reddit user Hey_Bim suggests the film can still happen, despite Gore Verbinski’s version being shelved. Hey_Bim states that “Verbinski refused to make it as anything other than an R.”

A problem most film studios have is toning down the violence from the source material so the film can attract wider audiences. Reported by Polygon in 2017, Verbinski noted that due to the success of Deadpool, there is now reason to produce his R-rated version of the film. However, Netflix has now acquired the license to produce a film adaptation with the series’ publisher 2K Games co-producing. BioShock certainly invites viewers to a beautiful, visual experience that would look great in cinemas.

Alan Wake

When it comes to making unique mystery games, Remedy never misses. With its large catalog of games, any of their works would make for a really cool film, but the one that seems to be the favorite is Alan Wake. Reddit user voivod1989 remarks “Alan Wake would make a cool one”.

Just the premise alone of the game is so interesting. The game follows novelist Alan Wake as he investigates his wife’s disappearance while events from his books are inexplicably happening in real life. The mysterious intrigue of the game wouldn’t work as just a film. Due to the game’s extensive story and its episodic format, it would work way better as a miniseries. More studios should look to television in adapting games, as it allows more time for the story to develop.

Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis

The Indiana Jones franchise has had four films under its belt but there are also video games that many have never heard of. Easily the most iconic game in the series, Fate of Atlantis saw Indy team up with another archaeologist named Sophia Hapgood. Indy has found himself in so many countries, but Atlantis definitely has to be the craziest place he’s been so far.

Reddit user DrRexMorman notes “It’s almost too late to make an animated […]Fate of Atlantis with Harrison Ford as Indy”. As Harrison Ford is now 79, many more adventures starring the actor are unlikely, but in animation, Indy can remain ageless. DrRexMorman also mentions that Isla Fisher would be his casting choice for Hapgood, which is just perfect. Fate of Atlantis would surely make for great animated content on Disney+.

Assassin’s Creed

While it wouldn’t be the first attempt at adapting the iconic Ubisoft series, Reddit user ToyVaren says he’s “really fascinated by the plot mechanics in Assassin’s Creed, it’s a very original twist on time travel”. He couldn’t be more right. Although the previous Assassin’s Creed film starring Michael Fassbender failed, there’s always room for improvement.

Hiring the writing team from the games could massively help shape the scope and quality of the film, as sometimes just hiring Hollywood writers doesn’t always go well since they don’t necessarily understand the material. The series is still popular as ever so another film could go over well with audiences.

Max Payne

Yet another Rockstar game on this list, Max Payne was a staple in the gaming world of the 2000s, which lead to the much-hated film in 2008. Many praised the production design but criticized the poor writing. Reddit user SPQR_Maximus jokes “I would like to see Max Payne get a real movie. Not what ever that abomination was”.

While moviegoers have seen revenge stories play out for decades, it’s been some time since a big-budget anti-hero has hit the screens. In a game heavily inspired by Hong Kong cinema and The Matrix with its unique bullet-time mechanics, there’s no better filmmaker than John Woo to helm this project. Add some cool production design similar to Sin City, Woo’s excellent action, and a good script, that’s a box-office hit right there.

Destiny

Upon its release, Destiny was a breakout hit, spawning a wildly successful sequel as well. Reddit user BuddhistSlater makes a very good point stating that “I don’t like the idea of adapting stories that have already been told well in video games. I do however love the idea of using movies to expand already established video game universes without retelling stories that have already been told.”

He mentions Destiny as a good franchise “that a writer can tell a new story within”. The universe, history, and lore of Destiny is so massive that there are many opportunities to tell an original story without simply replicating something already told in a game.

Jak and Daxter

Already one of the many movies PlayStation has in development, Jak and Daxter is a project many fans have been clamoring for. Reddit user AlienSamuraiXXV mentions “Jak & Daxter can work well as an animated film,” which is very true.

Development on a Jak and Daxter film has advanced with Uncharted‘s Ruben Fleischer selected as the director. Tom Holland has also expressed great interest in starring as Jak but would want the film to be made “at A24, so it would be really weird and like dark.” Pairing the director and actor again would be a great choice, especially working with A24, who have been producing masterpiece after masterpiece.

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