Top 5 Money Making Films That Were Video Games First
Not every high-grossing film is an epic love story from modern fiction, a fast-action thriller from the pages of a graphic novel, or a period piece based on centuries-old literature. Some of the top moneymakers on the charts belong to films that originally came from video game franchises. Make no mistake, these movies that began as video games lack none of the block-busting elements that the silver screen is oft known for. The presence of video game-based films is increasing more and more, much to the delight of fans globally. If all this talk of gaming has got you hankering to play some games, check out the Paddy Power Games bonus.
So, where did this trend start? We give you the, erm… cinematic masterpiece?… that is 1993’s “Super Mario Bros.” It isn’t on the Top 5 List, having grossed $38.9 million worldwide, against a budget of $42–48 million, but does deserve highlighting for being one of the first video game to film movies. Whether you were out enjoying this movie in the theatres or this is the first time you are reading about it, “Super Mario Bros.” brought gaming to the big screen in live-action story form. The reviews were… well… you can read about the reviews or write your own after viewing this piece of cinematic history! Safe to say, movies based on video games have come a long way since Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo played Mario and Luigi, respectively.
Here are the Top 5 Highest Grossing Movies Based on Video Games. Based on worldwide box office sales, these movies made the top revenue spots.
1. “Warcraft” (2016) Universal Pictures $439,048,914
Based on the 2004 MMORPG game World of Warcraft by Blizzard Entertainment. Warcraft is the highest-grossing video game movie ever recorded. This movie stars Travis Fimmel and Paula Patton and was directed by Duncan Jones.
2. “Detective Pikachu” (2019) Warner Bros. Pictures $433,005,346
Based on the 2018 Nintendo game Detective Pikachu for Nintendo 3DS. Detective Pikachu was directed by Rob Letterman and stars Ryan Reynolds and Justice Smith. Ryan Reynolds is, in fact, Detective Pikachu.
3. “Rampage” (2018) Warner Bros. Pictures $428,028233
Based on the 1986 arcade game by Bally Midway. “Rampage” stars Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Naomie Harris with Brad Peyton directing. Look out for “The Walking Dead” fan favourite Jeffrey Dean Morgan as character Harvey Russell.
4. “Prince of Persia: Sands of Time” (2010) Walt Disney Studios $336,365,676
Based on the 2003 action-adventure game of the same name released by Ubisoft. Directed by Mike Newell, this movie stars Jake Gyllenhall, Gemma Arterton, and Ben Kingsley.
5. “Sonic the Hedgehog” (2020) Paramount Pictures $320,954,026
Based on the character and mascot of the same name first created for the company Sega in 1991. This movie was in production for some time before actually making it to the big screen, switching production companies midway over the span of several years. Starring Jim Carrey, James Marsden, Ben Schwartz, and Tika Sumpter and directed by Jeff Fowler. FYI: Benjamin L. Valic voices young Sonic and Ben Schwartz then voices Sonic for the rest of the movie.
Whether you’re into fast-action movies or light-hearted comedies with anthropomorphic characters, you can find an array of movies that hit it big in the box offices but got their start on consoles. Serving up video game-inspired realness, these movies also pack a punch with star-studded casts, further solidifying their relevance and sure footing for years to come.
