Photo: The Super Mario Bros. Movie (screenshot: youtube.com/@illumination)
A list of the top-grossing video game adaptations at the global box office was compiled by The Movie Blog. Take a look!
Although video games are mostly intended for amusement and leisure, they can also be used for computer learning, competing, and even wagering, for which betting offers are increasing year after year and making some platforms of a kind, such as those reviewed at https://bookmaker-expert.com/country/australia/, more prominent than the others. Certain video games are made to enhance hand-eye coordination and fine motor abilities. Some, nevertheless, attracted producers and directors who wanted to “transfer” them to the big screen.
Hollywood video game film adaptations became well-known between 2002 and 2017. The vast majority of the films received critical or mixed reviews. The Resident Evil series (2002–2016), Silent Hill (2006), Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010), and Warcraft (2016) are a few of the most popular movie adaptations from this era.
Video game movies are incredibly popular, even if there are many other genres to choose from, and they also dominate the box office. The industry has produced some amazing pieces, such as Super Mario and Rampage, that haven’t only made millions of dollars but also have had a profound effect on viewers. Let’s quickly review the top seven video game adaptations across the world, which made history with their phenomenal financial success.
# 7 The Angry Birds Movie
Has anyone not played an Angry Birds game? The seventh position on this list went to the film adaptation of the well-known video game series of the same name.
Fergal Reilly and Clay Kaytis, two new directors, directed The Angry Birds Movie, which came out in 2016. The film was a huge box office success, with an estimated budget of US$73 million. With a staggering US$352 million at the global box office, the movie ranked eighth among the highest-grossing video game films globally.
# 6 Uncharted
Uncharted, an action-adventure movie directed by Ruben Fleischer, is based on a Naughty Dog video game series. The main actor was Tom Holland.
Despite the negative reviews from critics, the film made a huge amount of money at the box office. With a global box office total of almost US$400 million, Uncharted is one of the highest-grossing video game movies ever.
# 5 Sonic the Hedgehog 2
The successful gaming series of the same name, Sonic the Hedgehog, served as the inspiration for the action-adventure comedy Sonic the Hedgehog 2. It’s the most popular film in the franchise and was directed by Jeff Fowler.
The film took fifth place among the highest-grossing video game films of all time with a total box office receipt of almost US$405 million worldwide.
In December 2024, the third film in the beloved franchise was released.
# 4 Rampage
Starring Dwayne Johnson, Naomie Harris, Malin Akerman, Jake Lacy, and others, Rampage is loosely based on the video game franchise of the same name. This is the third time that Dwayne Johnson and filmmaker Brad Payton have worked together. The film received accolades for its visual effects in addition to its expansive and intense battle sequences.
With a global box office receipt of US$427 million, it ranks fourth among the highest-grossing video game films ever made. Even with mostly negative reviews, it’s nevertheless a profitable video game adaptation.
# 3 Pokémon: Detective Pikachu
Many times, people are skeptical when video games are shown on large screens. However, the animation didn’t seem strange at all when Pokémon: Detective Pikachu was published. As a result, the film captivated the audience.
The voice of Ryan Reynolds plays the role of Pikachu in Rob Letterman’s piece, which gives it an appealing charm. The film was a great hit at the box office both domestically and internationally. The movie made history by making US$428 million throughout its theatrical run, surpassing Rampage in the process.
# 2 Warcraft
The 2016 action fantasy movie Warcraft is based on the same-titled video game franchise. Warcraft was a huge box office success in the overseas market, despite its failure to impress the native audience.
The Duncan Jones-directed film made an incredible US$438 million overall, placing it in second place among all-time high-grossing video game adaptations.
The video game after which the movie was made is the only title on our list that has had an adaptation on the big screen while also having a status as an eSport. Actually, one of Warcraft’s franchises, World of Warcraft, or WoW, is the one that entered the eSports realm.
It takes a combination of ability, strategy, and preparation to compete in World of Warcraft eSports. To be as effective as possible, successful teams must carefully choose their compositions, balancing various classes and specializations. Whether it’s commanding adversaries, healing, or doing damage, each player’s role is vital. With an emphasis on both PvP and PvE elements of the game, WoW eSports competitions are varied and serve a range of player types. The Arena World Championship (AWC) and Mythic Dungeon International (MDI) stand as the most important WoW tournaments in the competitive season.
# 1 The Super Mario Bros. Movie
The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a 2023 American adventure comedy film produced by Universal Pictures. It’s among the greatest video game films you’ll ever watch. For those who grew up with the plumber brothers, the rendition evoked nostalgia.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie, directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, is the highest-grossing video game movie ever made. At the worldwide box office, it surpassed the US$1 billion milestone, and it has made US$1.36 billion in total. Indeed, it’s also one of the highest-grossing animated films.
The cast of adored characters, all of whom are well-known to viewers of the series, is one of the main reasons this film is so excellent. Donkey Kong, Princess Peach, Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Bowser, the malevolent large turtle. Fans will enjoy the unforgettable moments and designs that each of these characters has in the movie.
Even though Mario doesn’t engage with the characters in the film very often, the moments when he does connect with them make the viewer chuckle and feel nostalgic. For instance, it’s clear that Luigi and Mario are brothers because they support one another through both good and bad times. Since the two characters seldom ever interact in the original video game, fans will value those pleasant family moments.
There will likely be more Easter eggs (opened on a Wednesday instead of a weekend as customary for premieres due to the Easter holiday) in the next sequel in April 2026 than the first one.
“A Minecraft Movie”: The Biggest Video Game Movie Opening Ever
On its first weekend of release, April 4-6, A Minecraft Movie broke box office records, earning a record-breaking US$157 million domestically. At the box office, that was the largest three-day opening ever for a video game-based film.
As previously stated, the former record was held by another Jack Black-starred film, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which made $146 million nationally over three days in 2023, ranking second in terms of 2023 box office receipts after Barbie.
A Minecraft Movie, which starred Jason Momoa alongside Black, took the all-time best-selling video game to the big screen. However, the film received mixed reviews, and the audience’s reaction wasn’t very positive, just like The Super Mario Bros. Movie wasn’t a hit with critics. But that doesn’t always turn out to be crucial for a movie to become a success ultimately…
