2023-04-25 17:45:00
In recent months, game adaptations for the screen – whether in cinema or streaming – have been successful at the box office and audience, with the right to break some records and high revenues.
But it was not always so. Wonder what changed for recent game productions to work? Detective TC brought up recent and past examples to explain this change.
distrust of the past
Until we get to the most recent examples, it’s important to go through history and the suspicions that the past has generated. One of the most iconic failures was the Super Mario Bros. released in 1993. Conceived by British filmmaker Roland Joffé, the feature wanted to take advantage of the growth of that audience thanks to the Nintendo game.
The problem was that the parties thought the character’s brand had enough strength to overcome any and all storylines. The result was, as co-producer Fred Caruso later commented, “more of a serious dramatic piece than a fun comedy”.
Then, in 1994, came the film Street Fighter. In the game packaging Street Fighter IIthe feature film starred Jean-Claude Van Damme and had a budget of US$ 35 million, but did not pass a 3.9/10 in the IMDb. However, several factors explain the failure here.
One of them is the lack of knowledge of the actors in relation to the characters. Several of the cast even confessed that they didn’t know what they were doing nor were they aware that each character should have a different combat style. There were still a number of disagreements between the cast. Van Damme, for example, was often absent from recordings.
successes of the present
In recent years, the scenario seems to have turned in favor of film versions of games. Sonic: The Movies maybe it was the “plot twist” of the adaptations. It had both a big budget – estimated at US$95 million – and a high collection – more than US$300 million. The sequel was no different. Sonic 2 reached over $400 million at the international box office in theaters.
But two examples from 2023 show just how good the time is for screen versions of games. One of them consists of the series The Last of Us. The HBO production still has repercussions on the internet, even with the conclusion of the first season in March, and even surpassed the audience of House of the Dragon (29 million) with its more than 30 million total.
More recently, it was the turn of the feature film Super Mario Bros.: The Movie make history. In mid-April, the film broke the record for Warcraft and became the biggest game adaptation of all time, reaching a revenue of US$ 508.7 million.
Despite still growing in box office numbers, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among the Rebels is another whose plot has pleased enthusiasts. It also received a 7.6 on the IMDbeven greater than the 7.3 points of Super Mario Bros.: The Movie.
What has changed?
Has the “trauma” of the past been overcome? Or are there other factors that explain the success of more recent game adaptations? If in the 1990s, Hollywood’s knowledge of electronic games was still in its infancy, today the hitherto emerging market has already consolidated and won the world.
In other words, there is no more way for the plot to stray from the original characteristics. The actors – many of whom may have grown up playing the title represented, or perhaps play today – also have their identifications with the area.
In practice, the result is a work that does not bring innovations that lose the essence of the game. Of course, there are specific inclusions – as we have discussed in The Last of Us in a column dedicated to the topic – but with more caution. Basically, the secret to success is to walk the same path as video games.
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And the future?
The moment is so propitious for the adaptations, that regarding another ten are already confirmed. Netflix plans a version live action from Bioshock, a series of Assassin’s Creedan adaptation of Far Cry focused on the expansion “Blood Dragon” and a film and animation of Gears of War.
Amazon confirmed for Prime Video the series of God of War e Fallout. Already Warner will take to the cinema an adaptation of the success Minecraftwith the right to the presence of Jason Momoa. Death Stranding e Streets of Rage are also two titles that will soon become movies.
So, what is your assessment of the success of recent game adaptations on screens? Report your opinion to us!
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