Entertainment keeps evolving every year, and one of the best new forms of fun is video games, which have grown from a two-bit match of slow table tennis to sprawling, fantastical worlds that players can explore and immerse themselves in. As video games get more and more popular and mainstream, it is only natural for Hollywood to stick their nose in and make live-action adaptations. What started as a slaughter of popular video games with horrendous movie and TV versions has become a respectable source of entertainment, with some of the best video games of all time, such as The Last of Us, becoming acclaimed pieces of television.
While TV seems to have a good time adapting video games, movies haven’t had the same luck, with plenty of forgettable films. Even some of the best video game movies are fun but flawed stories, such as Detective Pikachu and Street Fighter, simply offering a good time and nothing more. However, three video game movies can actually be considered good adaptations that respect the source material while still feeling wholly cinematic. This list will go into why, based on story, acting, originality, how good an adaptation of the source material it is, what the film enhances about the games, fan opinion, critical acclaim, and overall quality. As more renowned video games get movie versions, fans can only hope this list will grow in the future, especially with iconic franchises such as The Legend of Zelda and Elden Ring coming in the next few years.
Collider Exclusive · Sci-Fi Personality Quiz Which Sci-Fi Hero Are You Most Like? Paul Atreides · Captain Kirk · Princess Leia · Ellen Ripley · Max Rockatansky
Five iconic heroes. Five completely different ways of facing an impossible universe. One of them shares your instincts, your values, and your particular way of refusing to back down. Eight questions will tell you which one.
🏜️Paul Atreides
🖖Capt. Kirk
✊Princess Leia
🔦Ellen Ripley
🔥Max Rockatansky
01
How do you lead when the stakes couldn’t be higher? The way you lead under pressure is the most honest thing about you.
02
What is your greatest strength in a crisis? The quality that keeps you alive when everything else fails.
03
What is the thing you’d sacrifice everything else for? Your deepest motivation is your truest compass.
04
How do you relate to the people around you? Who you are to others under pressure is who you really are.
05
You’re facing a threat that no one else believes is real. What do you do? How you respond when you’re the only one who sees it defines everything.
06
What has your heroism cost you personally? Every hero pays. The question is what — and whether they’d pay it again.
07
How do you feel about the rules of the world you’re in? Every hero has a relationship with the system. What’s yours?
08
When everything is on the line, what keeps you going? The answer is the most honest thing about you.
Your Hero Has Been Identified Your Sci-Fi Hero Is…
Your answers point to the iconic sci-fi hero who shares your instincts, your values, and your particular way of facing the impossible.
Arrakis · Dune
Paul Atreides
You carry a weight most people would crumble under — the knowledge of what you’re capable of, and the burden of what you might have to become.
You see further ahead than others and you plan accordingly, even when the vision frightens you.
You are driven by loyalty to your people and a sense of destiny you didn’t ask for but can’t escape.
Paul Atreides is not simply a hero — he is someone who understands the cost of power and chooses to bear it anyway.
That gravity, that willingness to carry what others won’t, is exactly you.
USS Enterprise · Star Trek
Captain Kirk
You lead with instinct, warmth, and an absolute refusal to accept a no-win scenario — because you’ve always believed there’s a third option nobody else has thought of yet.
You take the mission seriously without ever taking yourself too seriously.
Your crew would follow you anywhere, not because you demand it, but because you’ve earned it.
Kirk’s genius isn’t tactical — it’s human. He reads people, bends rules with purpose, and wills outcomes into existence through sheer conviction.
That combination of warmth, audacity, and relentless optimism is unmistakably yours.
The Rebellion · Star Wars
Princess Leia
You are the kind of person who holds the line when everyone else is losing faith — not because you’re fearless, but because giving up simply isn’t something you’re capable of.
You lead through conviction. Your voice carries because your belief is unshakeable.
You gave up everything ordinary the moment you chose the cause, and you’ve never looked back.
Leia is not a supporting character in her own story — she is the moral centre of the entire rebellion.
That same fierce, principled, unbreakable core is what defines you.
The Nostromo · Alien
Ellen Ripley
You are not reckless, not grandiose, and not particularly interested in being anyone’s hero — you just refuse to stop when it matters.
You see threats clearly, you document the truth even when no one listens, and when the time comes you handle it yourself.
Ripley’s heroism is earned, not performed. She doesn’t have a speech — she has a flamethrower and a plan.
You share her composure under the worst possible pressure, and her refusal to pretend the monster isn’t there.
When it counts, you don’t flinch. That’s everything.
The Wasteland · Mad Max
Max Rockatansky
You have been through fire that would break most people — and what came out the other side is something the world underestimates at its peril.
You don’t ask for help, don’t need validation, and don’t wait for anyone to tell you the rules no longer apply.
Your loyalty, when it finally arrives, is absolute — but it’s earned in silence and tested in action, not in words.
Max is not a nihilist. He is someone who lost everything and found, against his will, that he still has something worth protecting.
That bruised, stubborn, ultimately human core is exactly yours.
‘The Angry Birds Movie 2’ (2019)
Characters from The Angry Birds Movie 2 looking up with confused expressions.Image via Sony Pictures Releasing
This may be a surprising and controversial entry, especially considering it made it over many fan-favorite video game movies, such as Mortal Kombat. However, The Angry Birds Movie 2 is shockingly good, landing on this exclusive list of the best video game movie adaptations of all time. Birds and pigs have been lifelong enemies for as long as time, but one green pig suggests a truce between the two to fight a common threat, as aggressive birds from a faraway island are planning to attack their island. The birds and pigs select their brightest and strongest to infiltrate the island and stop the attack before it takes flight, but what exactly do these enemies have in store, and are the pigs being entirely forthcoming?
The Angry Birds Movie was an absolute disaster and a disgrace to the games, which meant fans were less than excited when a sequel was announced. But much to their surprise, it was actually good. The Angry Birds Movie 2 was most likely the last movie viewers expected on this list, probably because they never watched it for various reasons. But this film abandoned the restraints of its predecessor to instead embrace the completely goofy premise and unhinged slapstick craftsmanship. With rapid-fire pacing, chaotic humor, classic jokes, and a self-aware style, The Angry Birds Movie 2 focused on making a good and entertaining experience rather than setting up a franchise or turning more people towards the games. It may not be for everyone, but it is undoubtedly an enjoyable movie that’s far better than it has any right to be. It may not feel as closely tied to the video game in terms of gameplay, but its new focus on comedy and animation creates an adventure that is fun from start to finish. Plus, The Angry Birds Movie 2 retains the game’s distinct charm that made fans fall in love with it, and more fans should check it out.
‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ (2024)
The Angry Birds Movie 2 isn’t the only sequel on this list, with Sonic the Hedgehog 3 also earning a spot. Back when they announced the first movie, fans unleashed an onslaught of hate after seeing Sonic’s (Ben Schwartz) atrocious design. However, that is all history, with these films quickly establishing themselves as the best video game movie franchise. The third movie picks up with Team Sonic needing to fight a new threat that shares some similarities to the protagonist. Shadow (Keanu Reeves) is a tragic villain who has lost everything and is now teaming up with a mad scientist to destroy the world. To match this hedgehog and genius duo, Sonic and Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) must put differences aside and team up to save the world.
Truth be told, every Sonic the Hedgehog movie could be on this list, but the third one is the best of the bunch, and it would be weird if half of this list were Sonic movies. It may not be completely flawless, but Sonic the Hedgehog 3 offers a wildly entertaining plot that balances its goofiness with genuine emotional stakes and solid storytelling. Shadow is one of the most iconic video game characters, and this film highlighted his greatness and tragic backstory. The themes and engaging characters build a magnificent narrative, but its highlight is by far the sheer, unfiltered entertainment value. Carrey delivers one of his best late performances, with full freedom to be as weird and endearing as possible. He is easily one of the best parts of the trilogy, but he has double the roles here, which means he has double the fun and creates double the entertainment value. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is a great adaptation of the original game and the story, but it also feels like a distinct creation that fans and new viewers can enjoy all the same. From memorable moments to chaotic humor and eccentric characters, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is one of the best video game movies ever, which is fitting for one of the best video game franchises of all time.
‘Werewolves Within’ (2021)
A man holding weapons in Werewolves Within.Image via IFC Films
Sonic the Hedgehog and Angry Birds are two very popular video game franchises, so it is only natural that they would get good video game movies. However, even lesser-known titles can produce magnificent films, including Werewolves Within. Set in a medieval town, this mafia-style social deduction VR game is relatively niche, with the gameplay stemming from players guessing who is disguised as werewolves. This concept is a staple in social games, which is why the game didn’t stand out too much, but the film took that premise and made it an iconic film. When a snowstorm traps the residents of a town inside a small inn, a forest ranger and a postal worker must work together to try to solve the mystery of a mysterious creature that may be disguised as one of the residents.
Both the game and the movie aren’t blockbusters, but they are each fun experiences that fans definitely need to play and watch, respectively. Werewolves Within doesn’t try to replicate the game’s lore and setting, instead using the vibe, gameplay loop, mechanics, intended experience (paranoia), and an enclosed area to create an intriguing story that is authentic and unique. If fans didn’t know of the game’s existence, they might not have even recognized that this movie was an adaptation at all, especially considering its witty dialogue, tight writing, and building mystery are all so masterfully crafted. The tension only escalates the further the film progresses, and with this devolving sanity, the characters become more interesting and provide a rich storytelling environment, blending perfectly with the narrative’s staple sense of humor that never loses its touch or gets in the way of the mystery. Werewolves Within is such a good video game movie adaptation because it doesn’t try to be a video game movie too much, instead relying on its horror-comedy style, sharp dialogue, and exhilarating plot. If fans haven’t heard of Werewolves Within, they should take this as a sign to play the game with some friends and then watch the film, which is arguably the best video game movie adaptation ever.
