Hollywood’s superhero bubble popped. Now hit video games are taking the controls

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Over an extended period, Hollywood has consistently found success by transforming comic books into films that attract viewers and keep the ticket sales robust.

However, with the decline of superheroes’ success, film studios are struggling to find their next big thing. Could it be video games?

Several studios, such as the recently financially revitalized Paramount among others, are placing their wagers on this trend, considering that video games already have an established audience base and cater to a younger demographic.

As a passionate film enthusiast, I can’t help but get excited about the latest news in the industry – Paramount and Santa Monica-based video game publisher Activision joining forces to bring “Call of Duty” to the big screen! As a die-hard fan myself, I can feel the anticipation building among our community. But it’s not just us hardcore fans that David Ellison, the new media mogul behind this project, is aiming to captivate; he’s also reaching out to those who may be unfamiliar with the first-person-shooter game sensation, ensuring that everyone can jump on the “Call of Duty” bandwagon.

It’s worth noting that “Call of Duty” now joins an extensive collection of video games that have been adapted for screenplays, with productions based on titles like “The Last of Us,” “Twisted Metal,” “Minecraft,” and “Super Mario Bros.” gracing our screens over the past few years.

Roy Lee, a producer known for adapting video games like “A Minecraft Movie,” “Until Dawn,” and the upcoming “Resident Evil” reboot, stated that comics are just another form of source material, similar to how they were perceived with comic books. He believes that this medium will be viewed as more legitimate than it has been previously.

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Due to the current surge of comedies in cinemas, movie creators are hoping that people will choose shared laughter at theaters instead.

Recently, film adaptations of video games have proved to be big business.

The movie “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” released by Universal Pictures, Illumination Entertainment, and Nintendo in 2023, holds the record for the highest-grossing adaptation of all time with over $1.3 billion earned at global box offices. This is followed closely by the unexpected success of “A Minecraft Movie” from this year, which grossed approximately $958 million worldwide. In third place comes “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” released in 2024 by Paramount Pictures, with a box office take of about $492 million, according to figures from FranchiseRe’s industry newsletter.

Among these three movies, there’s a common theme: they all resonated strongly with family audiences, who are crucial for both film studios and cinema operators.

David A. Gross, author of the FranchiseRe newsletter, noted a significant benefit: they possess a wide range of appeal. He explained that the powerful combination of virtual reality, live action, and animation is what makes them so appealing, often stimulating one’s imagination and humor when executed skillfully.

However, it’s not only family movies that find success; even genres like the 2023 cult horror sensation “Five Nights at Freddy’s” resonated strongly with Generation Z, earning a staggering $291 million.

As a devoted cinephile, diving into the world of video games on the big screen isn’t exactly uncharted territory. In fact, way back in 1993, the first (albeit criticized) cinematic rendition of the iconic Nintendo game “Super Mario Bros.” graced our screens.

For years, video game adaptations were viewed almost as a running joke in Hollywood.

The movies were universally panned. Players discovered they had very little connection to the initial releases, while less familiar viewers dismissed them. As a result, video games were grouped with toys and board games, considered lightweight options unsuitable for cinematic adaptation.

Today, things have significantly shifted. In a time where a classic toy like Barbie from the past becomes a billion-dollar blockbuster movie, and TV series such as HBO’s “The Last of Us,” inspired by Naughty Dog’s game, and Amazon MGM Studios’ “Fallout,” adapted from Bethesda’s game series, are highly praised by critics, studios now view these as valuable assets to explore.

Today, it’s the individuals who spent their childhood immersed in video games such as “The Last of Us” and “Resident Evil”, that are now leading the charge in adapting these popular games into films. According to filmmakers and studio bosses, they’re channeling their passion for those game titles onto the silver screen.

In the announcement of Paramount regarding Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision, Ellison expressed his fondness for the “Call of Duty” series, stating that the opportunity to transform it into a movie was like a long-held dream being realized.

Since Ellison assumed control of the established studio, he’s been on a roll with deal-making, and the Activision deal is just another addition to that spree. The company, seeking to bolster its film franchises, has secured agreements for valuable UFC media rights, “South Park,” and managed to attract Matt and Ross Duffer, creators of “Stranger Things,” away from Netflix.

On Thursdays, it was disclosed that Paramount struck a multi-year global distribution agreement with Legendary Entertainment. The initial movie under this pact will be a remake based on the popular arcade game “Street Fighter.

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The company is providing a severance offer to vice presidents and other staff members based in Los Angeles and New York, should they decide to depart. This decision follows approximately a month since the Ellison family and RedBird Capital Partners finalized their acquisition of Paramount.

Identifying a skilled filmmaker who appreciates and grasps the essence of a franchise is crucial for PlayStation Productions’ endeavors.

The compact Sony Pictures team, stationed on the lot in Culver City, primarily concentrates on creating and producing film and TV projects derived from Sony games. Notably, they were behind the 2022 release “Uncharted” and the forthcoming 2023 production “Gran Turismo.” Following these, they are now working on a television series based on the highly acclaimed “God of War” game franchise. This project was a high-priority endeavor for PlayStation Productions and is set to be streamed via Amazon.

A successful adaptation that pleases both dedicated fans and a wider audience can be achieved by “treating the medium with respect while using the original content as a guide rather than following it rigidly,” according to Asad Qizilbash, head of PlayStation Productions.

He stated, “Nowadays, video games have become significantly more prominent in popular culture.” This observation, he added, makes it less risky for many film and television production companies to undertake related projects.

It’s noteworthy that video games appeal particularly to younger audiences, including Generation Alpha. As per a recent study by National Research Group, seven of the top ten entertainment franchises that are important to Generation Alpha moviegoers are based on video games.

Among them are “Fortnite”, “Minecraft”, Roblox, and “Pokémon”, all of which initially stemmed from the world of video games. Interestingly, the highest-ranked property not originating from video games was “The Avengers” by Walt Disney Co. and Marvel, standing at No. 6.

Modern video games now incorporate more cinematic elements compared to their earlier counterparts, featuring intricate narratives and immersive world designs. For instance, the “Call of Duty” series, starting in 2003, has annually released games that offer numerous opportunities for storytelling, resembling a continuous movie franchise.

Steve Granelli, a communication studies professor at Northeastern University, expressed his astonishment that it had taken so long for “Call of Duty” to be adapted into a movie, as he considered the game to be incredibly cinematic. Many aspects of it seem perfectly suited for a film adaptation.

The franchise enjoys an incredibly large fanbase as well. To date, the “Call of Duty” series has sold over 500 million units globally, translating to hundreds of millions of players worldwide.

It’s worth noting that Paramount is known for its successful ventures in adapting video games into films. Among their notable works are the “Sonic the Hedgehog” film series, which has been based on the Sega franchise. These movies have garnered positive reviews from critics and have managed to captivate both gamers and a wider audience.

In total, the three movies starring Jim Carrey as the wicked Dr. Eggman, along with other animated characters, brought in an impressive $1.2 billion at the box office.

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2025-09-08 13:32