Ever since the rise of video games since the early days of arcades, Hollywood has tried to capitalize on their success through a range of video game adaptations. In recent years, this has branched out into the world of TV as well. In 2024, Fallout is the latest video game adaptation to land big with gaming lovers.
However, before limited TV shows became so popular, most of these video game adaptations existed within the realm of big-budget Hollywood movies. While some have been smash hits, others have left viewers underwhelmed and critics unimpressed. So, here are 6 video game movie adaptations that failed with audiences.
6. Street Fighter (1994)
By the time Jean-Claude Van Damme starred in the live action movie adaptation of Street Fighter, he was one of Hollywood’s biggest action stars alongside the likes of Bruce Willis and Sylvester Stallone. However, the movie led to the beginning of his phasing out of big budget movies, leading him down the route of straight-to-DVD and VOD movies. Street Fighter was one of the most loved video games of the late 80’s and early 90s. Originally released as an arcade came by Capcom Company, the game gave rise to the fighting genre in video games, with games like Streets of Rage and Tekken following after.
The 1994 movie grossed $99.4 million at the box office against a $35 million budget. While the financial performance did bring in a profit, it was considered a lukewarm release due to its mixed reception. Critics heavily panned the movie, citing its lackluster plot, cheesy dialogue, and underwhelming performances. As a result, Street Fighter failed to make a lasting impact and did not achieve the legacy that the studio had hoped for. To that, the film’s negative reviews caused it to slip under the radar and become largely forgotten in the realm of video game adaptations in cinema.
Watch Street Fighter on Prime Video
5. Max Payne (2008)
The 2008 video game movie adaptation of Max Payne followed the story of the titular character, a detective seeking revenge for the murder of his family. Mark Wahlberg took on the lead role, embodying the brooding and haunted character of Max Payne. At the time of the film’s release, Wahlberg was a prominent name in Hollywood, though not the box office draw that he would later become.
Despite making a return on its investment by grossing $85.8 million against a production budget of $35 million, Max Payne received overwhelmingly negative reviews from critics. The film failed to capture the gritty and atmospheric tone of the video game, disappointing fans and casual moviegoers alike. Over time, Max Payne has faded from memory and fallen under the radar as a forgettable entry in the video game adaptation movie genre.
4. Doom (2005)
The movie video game adaptation of Doom arrived at a time when Dwayne Johnson, also known as The Rock, was transitioning from his wrestling career to establishing himself as a prominent actor in Hollywood. With Johnson’s rising star power, there were high hopes for the film. However, despite his charisma and on-screen presence, Doom ultimately failed to resonate with audiences and critics. The movie was a box office bomb, only grossing $58.7 million worldwide against a production budget reported to be between $60–70 million.
The movie was criticised for its poor plot and character development and failed miserably to capture the spirit of the well-known video game series. Doom‘s box office underperformance, despite Johnson’s star power, was a blow to his early acting career. However, he of course recovered, which is evident in his title of the highest paid actor in Hollywood in the years to come.
3. In the Name of the King (2007)
In the Name of the King is another example of a video game adaptation that couldn’t be saved by its enigmatic lead star. In the Jason Statham led movie, the plot revolves around Farmer (portrayed by Statham) who embarks on a quest to rescue his kidnapped wife and avenge the death of his son. Inspired by the Dungeon Siege video game series, the film is filled with battles, magic, and adventure in a medieval fantasy setting.
However, despite the star power of Statham and the potential of the fantasy genre, In the Name of the King was a major critical and commercial failure upon its release. The film was heavily disregarded by critics for its disjointed plot and “atrocious” special effects. Additionally, it struggled to attract audiences and only grossed $13.1 million worldwide against a hefty budget of $60 million. In later years, the movie was re-titled In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale, arguably to attract new audiences who didn’t initially realise that the movie fell into the realm of video game adaptations.
Watch In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale on Apple TV+
2. Tekken (2010)
The 2010 movie Tekken was a well-hyped video game adaptation that had been in the works for a long time. As of 2024, there are now 11 entries into the game series. So, when the movie was released, it had big shoes to fill. However, it failed to land with a larger audience, only grossing $1.6 million worldwide against a budget of $30 million. Many would accredit this failure to the movie’s lack of star power, with the cast consisting of D-list movie actors and lesser known action stars who typically starred in straight-to-DVD vehicles. On top of this, the film was not well-received by critics, with many hailing the adaptation as “boring’ and disagreeing with its shaky camera style and UFC inspired fight scenes, therefore failing to capture the flair of the original games.
1. Far Cry (2008)
The 2008 movie adaptation of Far Cry was a critical failure and a massive box office bomb, only grossing $743,634 worldwide against a budget of $30 million. The film, based on the popular video game series, failed to resonate with audiences and critics alike. As of 2024, the movie has an audience rating of 12% on Rotten Tomatoes. Failing to live up to the weight of the popular game, critics slammed the movie for its lack of ambition, underwhelming action and “dad jokes”. It was also criticized for its weak storyline and overall failure to capture the essence of the beloved video game franchise. However, to some, the movie has fell into the “so bad that it’s good” category, making it still worth a watch for entertainment value. Want to read about more video game adaptations? Here’s our list of 5 games that need the Hollywood treatment.
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