While there may be slight variances in opinion, I think most will agree that film and TV adaptations of video games have become…quite enjoyable as of late. They actually are decent in quality and are enjoyed by the masses. However, a recent Tweet by Culture Crave showed us the video game adaptations pipeline, and it’s a lot. Will film and TV adaptations of video games grow to be another bloated hype in Hollywood?
Forty adaptations is a high number
We’ve certainly hit a hot streak of “good” and even great adaptations such as the Sonic movies, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, The Last of Us, and Fallout. For example, HBO’s The Last of Us received several accolades, including but not limited to, 24 Emmy nominations and winning seven at the Critic’s Choice Super Awards. The Super Mario Bros. Movie amassed $377 million in box office sales. Amazon Prime’s Fallout received a commendable 94% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Hollywood may have struck gold. And where there’s gold, there’s always a rush to replicate the wealth. Look at remakes of old classics. When was the last time you’ve seen original movies making a splash? Recent remakes or follow ups include It, Charlies Angels, Ghostbusters Afterlife and Frozen Empire, and Twisters. Some were great…and more are…well, you know.
While I never want to stifle creativity and want to see some of the best video games of all-time hit the silver screen, I am concerned about Hollywood’s tendency to focus only on the “cash grab” aspect. Look at the lukewarm reception to the Minecraft trailer. Plenty of media outlets such as USA Today cited criticisms on the visuals and the choice as a live-adaptation versus animation. We also see a lot of concern with how real-life The Legend of Zelda adaptation will turn out.
Of course, there are also concerns about adaptations of video games that are already highly cinematic or plot heavy such as Ghost of Tsushima and Alan Wake (compared to, say, the Mario and Pac-Man). The stakes are high; does the director stick with the story beat by beat or will there be creative liberties? However, with the success of The Last of Us, we can at least have some hope.
Overall, I celebrate this influx of film and television adaptations of video games, especially now that adaptations have become “good” for the most part. However, I do take pause in the massive pipeline and only hope this doesn’t become a bloated “me-too” era where quality will take a nosedive.
What are your thoughts on the pipeline of video game adaptations? Are you excited…or more concerned? Please share your thoughts with us on our Boss Rush Facebook Group or our Boss Rush Discord.
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Sources: Culture Crave, USA Today, Variety, Rotten Tomatoes, Wikipedia
Featured Image Source: Warner Bros.
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