Combining two of the greatest entertainment industries together, a layman would naturally think that the results would be outstanding. Unfortunately, they simply cannot be any more misdirected. With big names and even bigger audiences, the stakes are sky-high.

Movies based on video games have been a continuous disappointed for many hardcore gamers and general audiences alike. In fact, some of them have turned out to be so outrageous that they have become comic references in pop-culture and sprouted numerous memes over the internet.

According to a recent study by The Numbers, the highest-grossing movie based on a video game is Warcraft by Universal Pictures, released back in June 2016.

The movie earned over $439 million at the worldwide box office, followed by Detective Pikachu in the second spot, with over $433 released by Warner Bros. Pictures in May 2019. However, do these numbers do justice to some of the most notable franchises in the gaming industry? I hardly think so!

In light of this information, let’s take a quick look at some of the reasons why many video game movies fail.

Absence Of Outside Interest

If you compare the filmmaking world with the gaming industry changes, you might conclude that the first film was showcased in 1888, almost a century before the first video game. Hence, you find people on the planet who may show interest in watching a movie, but playing a video game is not their cup of tea.

This is where filmmakers need to realize that all audiences are interested in the idea or pulled by the plot or main notion presented in a game. A game can be ridiculously fun to play with, as it is a very much interactive medium.

However, movies are more passive and closer to living life vicariously through actors and situations being played on the screen.

Even though nowadays I believe that video games have far outclassed the filmmaking industry, that is just an opinion.

As a gamer myself, I believe that the inability to strike that interest in general audiences’ hearts truly is what makes video game movies fail and underperform at the box office. There is just so much potential out there.

Changing What’s Canon

For many of us gamers who adore titles to our death, canon plot and story matters to us a lot. The Holy Grail keeps us all from debating and beheading each other at the very minuscule of conflict. However, it turns out that for some filmmakers, the original story doesn’t even matter.

Instead, all they are interested in is selling tickets which is simply so heartbreaking. I mean, if only people understood that keeping their audiences happy can actually provide them with manifold returns.

Instead, we find filmmakers who have their own agenda, a bet they want to win, a wager to showcase their talent, and have their own spin on the franchise.

Maybe in some instances, it might work, but reinventing the wheel? Why? When you know that there are people out there who love a game, why would you change it and bring nothing but shame on themselves!

Expectations Denied

We all have expectations; in fact, video game lovers know that expectations for new coming titles, sequels, prequels, spin-offs, or related media content are always high.

That is not even mentioning updates, DLCs (downloadable content) and whatnot. The same goes for video game movies. From the announcement to the teaser, the first trailer, and the actual film itself, expectations are rocketing.

The fan base for video games has grown incredibly over the years, and it’s no wonder failing to meet their expectations serves as one of the biggest pitfalls for any video game movie.

If filmmakers can’t even satisfy the brand ambassadors of the game itself, then how can they possibly think to make the film even remotely interesting for general audiences out there.

Generational Lag

It is not like a game to become a hit, and a movie is instantly released to the theaters in a couple of years. Building up a fan base for a game takes time, and then setting the resources for making a movie based on that game takes even more time.

This is why it’s no wonder that the first-ever video game movie “Super Mario Bros.” in 1993 was released a decade later after the game came out.

Hence there is always a chance that a generational lag may exist once the movie is being created. This can include fans of the video game all grown up, losing their interest, or moving on to some other video games that they find interesting in the current period.

However, with the revered game title and long-running game series, this might not be the case. But for one-offs and lesser-known game titles, this problem can exist.

Inability To Adapt Script To The Narrative

There are often times when finding the right script for the movie can be difficult. The game also may or may not offer a substantial storyline of its own which can create doldrums for screenwriters. Hence discrepancies between the two can lead to all sorts of trouble.

Many games may not follow an intriguing plot or story, which can often lead screenwriters to a grey area. This ill-defined situation can result in all sorts of confusion, which can hamper transforming one media into another media format, i.e. creating a movie ploy out of gameplay.

Lack of Funds

Well, it shouldn’t sound too obvious but let’s say there is a game that can be extremely taxing for the virtual graphics department. Next, crew members start debating how much funds can be used to include special graphics and believe me, top-notch visual quality and high-resolution graphics are never cheap.

Hence, if a movie producer and other people are unable to generate funds, then chances are the movie will turn out using cheap gimmicks, which can spoil the audiences’ experience.

So Much To Handle

Ok, I know that the Justice League image above isn’t even remotely related to a game, but I know that you get the idea. There are times video games can deliver a gigantic concept, and the filmmakers simply go bonkers where to begin and end with because there is just so much to cover.

To put this into perspective, the longest game is reportedly Animal Crossing which can take roughly 400 hours to complete, whereas the longest movie in history is Amra Ekt Cinema Banabo, released in 2019 with a running time of 21 hours.

Sounds ridiculous, but even then, there is simply no comparison. Just imagine the pressure on the filmmakers to round up an entire feature-length film in just a couple of hours while the audience expects them to cover every single detail.

Terrible Casting Choices

Last but certainly not least, a terrible cast choice is pretty evident. People are willing to commit murder to see their favorite game character on the big screen, and for some, the main or a side character is more important than the game itself.

There are players out there that have fantasies, infatuations, and even dirty thoughts about game characters, whether they admit them or not. This is just how powerful a game character can be, and with bad casting, filmmakers can actually ruin everything for fans.

I am a big FGC fan, and seeing Ray Park playing Rugal Bernstein just broke me. I have nothing against the actor. He is great at what he does. But by the end of the day, Ray Park at best is 5’9″ (not even close to 6 feet tall) and nowhere near as buff as Rugal is portrayed in the games.

To me, it was a huge disappointment where a mammoth of a character was shrunk down to look like a hobbit!

Changes Producers Can Make to Make Game Movies Successful

There is a lot producers can do to make movies successful, and perhaps one of the best things to do is just don’t let people reinvent the wheel. Stick to the game, listen to the gaming community, and stay as true to the canon as possible.

There are a plethora of games out there that deserve an explosion on the big screen, just like MCU and the DC Cinematic Universe is doing right now.

There are so many amazing stories, and we gamers simply cannot wait to have a decent live-action film about them. In all fairness and honesty, just a decent job would do wonders. Forget a bang-up job. Believe if it’s even remotely good filmmakers can see remarkable results coming their way.

Conclusion

I might sound harsh, and I apologize for being a bit rash, but the gamer in me gets the better of me every time video game movies are part of the discussion. Plus, after seeing JK Rowling and J. R. Tolkien’s works brought to life, I simply see no reason why we can’t have a blockbuster video game movie. I mean, the tech to make reality is already here. Yes, the invested time, effort, and capital are huge, but it’s like they say, you gotta believe first!

Author Bio

Elaine Vanessa currently works as a Recreational Officer at Dissertation Assistance and Master Thesis. This is where higher education students can acquire research proposal service from professionals specializing in their field of study. She is also a passionate traveler, and the Mayan Ruins at Belize are her favorite.