Top 10 Most Underrated Video Game Movies of All Time

#10: Warcraft (2016)

Coming from visionary director Duncan Jones, the film based on the massively popular Warcraft franchise was nothing if not ambitious. With one of the biggest budgets ever given to a video game adaptation, it was a spectacle that rivaled similar fantasy epics like The Lord of the Rings trilogy on a purely visual level. However, many critics took issue with its script, and despite setting box office records, its huge price tag meant that it failed to break even financially. Despite a few issues, its incredible scope, breathtaking worldbuilding, and loving attention to the series mythology make this one worthy of a second look.

#9: Super Mario Bros. (1993)

For better or for worse, the craze of films that adapted video game properties started in earnest with Super Mario Bros. The film was, to be charitable, loosely based on the game franchise, which was as popular in the early 90s as it is today. Aside from character names and a slew of references, it had more in common with Blade Runner than its source material. However, it had a certain charm. Initially lambasted by Mario fans as well as traditional critics, its truly bizarre plot, wacky special effects, and seemingly unhinged actors have earned it fans over the years. Despite being such a flop that it scared Nintendo from making further films for decades, it absolutely earned its spot in the cult classic canon.

#8: Rampage (2018)

As its title suggests, the 1986 arcade game Rampage and its many sequels feature a trio of monsters wreaking havoc, destroying cities, and eating people. That trio included the giant gorilla George, a lizard monster Lizzie, and a freakishly huge werewolf creature Ralph. While the film changed the origins of the kaiju and added sufficient plot, the destruction and disaster from the games were perfectly represented, thanks in large part to the effects from Wt Workshop. George is now a protagonist, fighting alongside humans led by a perfectly utilized Dwayne Johnson. While it may not be high art, neither was the incredibly fun original game, both instead providing a metric ton of smashing stuff.

#7: Assassins Creed (2016)

Rather than being a direct adaptation of a particular plot from the vast array of Assassins Creed games, the film told an original story focusing on a new central character, Cal. That story fit seamlessly into the overarching plot of the games, with the shadowy organization Abstergo and their conflict with the Assassins once again taking center stage. As both Cal and his ancestor Aguilar de Nerha, Michael Fassbender anchors the film as it shifts between 15th-century Spain and the present day. Both periods are beautifully realized as Fassbender reteamed with director Justin Kurzel and cinematographer Adam Arkapaw, who had made one of the most gorgeous films of all time just a year prior with their adaptation of Macbeth.

#6: Mirai Ninja (1988)

Released five years before Super Mario Bros., this little-known film, which never received a theatrical release in North America, was the first ever feature-length video game film. Based on the side-scrolling arcade game of the same name, Mirai Ninja followed a cybernetic ninja in a quest for vengeance. Falling firmly into the genre of tokusatsu, it combined sci-fi elements with those reminiscent of feudal Japan, yielding spectacular results. The film wouldn't be released at all in the West until a VHS dub in 1995, when it was retitled as Cyber Ninja in the US and Warlord in Canada. Even today, the film and its piece of video game history remain largely unknown.

#5: Werewolves Within (2021)

With a small budget and a limited release, few saw Werewolves Within. Even fewer were aware that it was based on a VR game for the PlayStation 4. Those who did see it were impressed as it quickly set the record for best-reviewed video game film based on aggregators Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes. While the film shifted its setting from Medieval Europe to the Pacific Northwest, it retained the mystery involved as a group of people attempt to suss out which of them is secretly a creature of the night. Like any good mystery, it's full of twists and turns, courtesy of a clever script from Mishna Wolff.

#4: Tomb Raider (2018)

Much like the 2013 game that it was primarily based on, the 2018 reboot of the Tomb Raider film franchise brought a more realistic take to Lara Croft. A survival thriller set on a mysterious island, the film contained enough gun-toting adventure in the jungle as well as puzzle-solving to satisfy hardcore fans and newcomers alike. Alicia Vikander was absolutely shredded for the role, while also providing the title character with much-needed charm. However, the film hardly scratched together a net profit and reviews, while better than most video game films released to that point, were mixed. This, along with a rights lapse from the studio, killed the planned sequel, with yet another reboot in its place.

#3: Gran Turismo (2023)

How exactly does one turn a racing simulator with no plot to speak of into a feature-length film? The solution was to loosely base it on the real-life events surrounding Jann Mardenborough, a Gran Turismo player who used his gaming skills to become a professional racecar driver. The film challenges the perception that gamers are basement-dwelling nerds, presenting Jann and other gamers as real athletes, fighting for respect and victory in a system that despises them. Only receiving a lukewarm critical reception and box office return, the film fizzled out. Considering its strong direction from Oscar nominee Neill Blomkamp and strong supporting performances from David Harbour, Orlando Bloom, and Djimon Hounsou, that's quite a shame.

#2: Ace Attorney (2012)

Faithfully adapting the first entry in the Phoenix Wright series of courtroom drama video games, right down to the over-the-top hairstyles, Takashi Miikes adaptation was well received in Japan upon release. However, its gone largely unknown in North America, as another film that never received a proper release, and one that was largely ignored altogether by Western critics. As of writing, it hasnt received enough reviews to even register a score on Rotten Tomatoes. Those who did manage to see it, however, were rewarded with the same zany antics and twists that were beloved in the original visual novel. Even those not immediately familiar with the franchise are sure to find a lot to love in this off-the-wall legal thriller.

#1: Silent Hill (2006)

Upon release, Silent Hill received the usual criticisms aimed at both video game adaptations and horror films, leading to an abysmal reception from critics. However, even its harshest critics could not deny the incredible visuals alternating between a foggy, oppressive landscape and absolutely nightmarish scenes. Much of the film was shot on Super 35 film, helping to add to the grainy lived-in feeling of the forgotten town. Darker scenes were shot digitally, meaning it was never difficult to see. The sound design was equally unnerving and often directly lifted from its source material. Ultimately, many of the criticisms laid against the film by critics, including its less-than-straightforward story, oppressive world, and bleak and ambiguous ending, are precisely what make the film truly special.

What video game film do you think deserved to level up with audiences and critics? Let us know in the comments below!