Today’s most knowledgeable video game and movie aficionados are likely already aware that there are dozens of movies out there based on the plots — or in some cases, the lack thereof — of video games that date as far back as the late 1970s. While some of these movies have turned out to be highly entertaining and a genuine pleasure to watch with all manner of special effects, decent acting, and all-around great casting and costume design, others haven’t exactly lived up to these kinds of high standards.
If you are a true gamer, you’re probably already familiar with most of the titles on this list. Here, we’ve ranked some of the greats from our genuine favorites to our favorite less-than-phenomenal but still entertaining classics from a time when special effects weren’t… so special.
Super Mario Bros.
This screen gem featuring arguably the most well-known video game characters of all time, Mario and Luigi, hit the big screen in 1993. Starring fan favorites like John Leguizamo, Dennis Hopper, Bob Hoskins, Fiona Shaw, Samantha Mathis, and Fisher Stevens, this movie was at once strange and entertaining for viewers of all ages.
Though older fans with the benefit of knowing Dennis Hopper from other roles like the antagonist in Blue Velvet might not agree the casting was exactly on-point for a younger audience, the feature enjoyed some acclaim at the time, and for those who still consider themselves diehard fans of the Mario Bros. franchise, it absolutely deserves a watch.
Sonic the Hedgehog
As the newest movie on this list, Sonic the Hedgehog hit screens of all sizes in 2020. This animated adventure offers up plenty of good fun and lighthearted humor while still bringing that edge that all gamers love in their video game-themed films. Featuring the likes of Jim Carrey and plenty of James Mardsen, Sonic the Hedgehog, the movie has everything from an absurd plotline to thrills and spills sure to please moviegoers of all ages.
It’s hilarious, entertaining, and yes, it even looks as good as the video game itself, thanks to incredible recent updates to CGI technology. And to top it all off, at the end of the day, Sonic the Hedgehog — the movie — is really just a fun tale about the lasting bonds of authentic friendship.
Mortal Kombat
Just as with the video game of the same name, the Mortal Kombat movie brings us a mixed bag of would-be heroes and heroines all poised to battle to the death — all in an effort to save the entire planet. What’s not to love already?
Mortal Kombat was not the very first video game-based movie, but given that it came out in 1995, it isn’t that far off! If you are among those who gathered around this arcade game at your local pizza shack or bowling alley, Mortal Kombat, the movie, is a must-see — if you haven’t yet. Likewise, for those too young to remember the days of pizza-grease-laden arcade game buttons and joysticks, this one is a cult classic any gamer can get on board with from the jump. Enjoy your favorite Mortal Kombat characters, including Sub-Zero, Goro, and Scorpion, come alive as they take on the evils of, well, everything, in this 90s standard.
Doom
Originally airing in theatres in 2005, Doom is a video game-turned-movie with many great assets in its corner, not the least of which is some of the best casting any movie of this kind has ever seen. With leading stars Karl Urban and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Doom immediately promises to deliver. Add to this that Doom features The Rock for the first time in his career — outside of the wrestling ring — playing a downright dirty villain, and you’ve got yourself a gamer’s movie delight in the making.
While some still try to suggest that this early 2000s classic just doesn’t deliver, we happen to believe it really does. From offering up first-person shooter mode for the gamers in the audience to bringing lovers of great acting the likes of Rosamund Pike, Doom steals the screen by sticking to its video game plot while still offering tons of fun for those who may not necessarily know the ins and outs of the video game itself.
The Best May Be Yet to Come
While it is certainly true that some of today’s absolute best arcade and video games have not yet been turned into movies, give it time! And, while you wait, consider trying your hand at some of the latest and greatest video and arcade games there are, right at your local Main Event location!
With everything from the classic arcade games you (or your parents!) grew up on to some of the most authentic virtual reality experiences and everything in between, Main Event truly does have something for every kind of gamer.
With an entire arcade hall loaded with interactive games galore, you’re sure to find something you’ll love. From The New Ghostbusters to fan favorites like Candy Crush Saga, and even a giant Connect Four, and multiplayer games like NBA Basketball, Main Event truly offers something for every lover of video and arcade games of every age — or should we say genre!
