For the past century or so that the film industry has existed, movies, especially gaming movies, have been an expression of the collective unconsciousness of their era and people. An outward manifestation of the cultural zeitgeist. In the past 20 years, culture has become so centered around video games that a large percentage of young people self-describe as “gamers”.
More and more gamings are being adapted into movies. These gaming movies are some of the best adaptations that celebrate gaming and its culture by capturing it on film. Here are the top 10 gaming movies that have been made:
10. Pixels (2015)
Okay, so maybe our first entry here isn’t exactly Citizen Kane, but it’s still an extremely fun movie to watch especially for younger gamers as well as their parents. You see, the movie is set in a world where aliens intercept video feeds of classic arcade games and misinterpret them as a declaration of war, thereby prompting them to attack the planet using the video game models that they received. So, this means that the movie feels nostalgic for the parents that get to see their favorite childhood video games in a gorgeous 3D animated augmented reality setting. Adam Sandler is as always very funny in this movie and I think it’s great fun for everyone.
9. Grandma’s boy (2006)
This 2006 comedy is an incredibly funny film about a video game designer who finds himself living with his well-meaning grandmother, who knows nothing about what he does for a living. Also, balancing his love for his fellow female co-worker with the rivalry he has with her produces some hilarious memorable scenes that you’re sure to enjoy.
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8. Gamer (2009)
Switching to a darker tone for our third entry, Gamer is a film starring Gerard Butler as a violent death-row inmate who has to battle other inmates every week for the entertainment of the masses. There’s one twist though- his every move is being controlled by a young gamer’s control device. This movie is like a futuristic, dystopian take on roman gladiators and is amazing to put on for movie night with your gamer friends.
7. Pure Pwnage (2016)
Pure Pwnage started out as a web series but it gradually became more popular. After a break that lasted for years, they released the first movie. Although this is not a famous blockbuster title, the movie is about gamers, more precisely old-school gamers. It’s probably not for everyone, but if you love the original web series-as many people do- you’ll definitely love this movie. The main character who is a super comparative pro player is ridiculing the new trends like single-player games or playing for fun. He is also trying to dominate a new form of competitive gaming or MOBA genre. It’s basically a story of how competitive spirit can be toxic in a modern gaming environment. This is a result of games becoming more mainstream and way more people play now, just to have fun.
6. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2019)
This movie is a continuation of the classic 90s movie Jumanji, however, it focuses more on video games rather than traditional board games. The movie depicts high school kids who are drawn into a game’s jungle setting where they appear as the adult avatars they chose. However, this movie has many familiar faces that you know and love. For example, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillian, Nick Jonas, and the star of the show, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson are among these daces. This movie is a lot of fun and has a surprising amount of heart to it (no pun intended). It is sure to be a lot of fun for the whole family.
5. The Last Star Fighter (1984)
This movie is an absolute classic and arguably what starts the whole video game movie genre. Yet after all these years, it’s still as much fun as when it first came out. The movie focuses on Alex an everyday teenager who achieves the highest score on Starfighter, his favorite arcade video game. In addition, this allows him to meet the game’s designer Centauri who informs him that the game had been in fact a training program for developing and recruiting actual pilots to help fight a war in space. The novelty of the concept alone was enough to make this movie massively popular. So, you might find out your dad might’ve watched it when it first came out. It would be a great suggestion on movie night with the family. Since it’s cool to watch for you, but amazingly nostalgic for the older folks in your family.
4. Ready Player One (2018)
Directed by Steven Spielberg, this movie was an absolute blockbuster when it first came out, it is in my opinion one of the best gaming movies ever made. The plot centers around Wade Watts, who lives in a dystopian future. The planet sits at the brink of chaos in the year 2045. People find Salvation from this stress in a virtual reality universe called OASIS, created by eccentric James Halliday. So, when Halliday dies, he promises his immense fortune. His promise is to the first person to discover a digital Easter egg that’s hidden somewhere in the OASIS. Wade joins the contest and finds himself becoming an unlikely hero. In this reality-bending treasure hunt through a fantastical world of mystery, discovery, and danger, he found himself a hero.
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3. Free guy (2021)
The newest entry on this list by release date, this movie takes us on the journey of a bank teller (played by Ryan Reynolds) who discovers that his entire existence is as a background character in a video game. This prompts him to decide to become the hero of his own story. Also, perhaps he can find romance with the coder who conceived him.
2. Summer Wars (2009)
This Japanese animated movie by the world-famous studio Madhouse centers around a young genius who solves a complex equation and inadvertently puts a virtual world’s artificial intelligence in a position to destroy Earth. It is directed by legendary director Mamoru Hosoda and its amazing musical score was composed and edited by Akihiko Matsumoto. I truly cannot recommend this movie enough for every gamer, but especially those who love Japanese animation as a wonderful, creative medium.
1. The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (2007)
Among all the movies thus far mentioned in this list, this gaming movie truly stands out as an amazing piece of art. It captures the passion, dedication, and love that being a professional gamer demands. It’s a documentary film about competitive arcade gaming directed by Seth Gordon. It follows Steve Wiebe in his attempts to take the high score record for the 1981 arcade game Donkey Kong from Billy Mitchell. I don’t think I can state it more clearly: if you’re a gamer, you will love this movie. Please, give it a watch.
