These 17 Movies and TV Shows Bring Your Favorite Video Games to Life, FromBorderlandstoThe Last of Us

Mar. 15, 2025

Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal in ‘The Last of Us’. ; Cate Blanchett in ‘Borderlands’.Photo:HBO ; Courtesy of Lionsgate

HBO ; Courtesy of Lionsgate

Hollywood has been adapting video games for both the big and small screens for decades — and there seems to be no end in sight.

The latest video game to get the Hollywood treatment isBorderlands, which hit theatres in August 2024.Cate Blanchettleads the cast as space outlaw Lilith, who teams up with a band of outcasts to save the universe.

“I’ve never been happier on a set than I was withBorderlands,” the actress admitted at CinemaCon in April 2024. “I have a great support system around me and that’s the key to staying sane, so I can play insane characters.”

The Last of Us

Liane Hentscher/HBO

Twisted Metal

Anthony Mackie in ‘Twisted Metal’.Skip Bolen/Peacock

Skip Bolen/Peacock

Peacock’sTwisted Metalis based on the classic PlayStation video game of the same name. Set in a post-apocalyptic alternate timeline, the series follows a “milkman” (Anthony Mackie) who needs to cross the war-torn wasteland of America to earn his freedom. Along the way, he meets lots of foes and a few allies, all with some wildly tricked-out cars and trucks that are designed for bloodshed.Twisted Metalis kind of like ifMad Maxand the WWE decided to join forces. The series also has a surprisingly robust cast withNeve Campbell,Will Arnettand Thomas Haden Church joining Mackie.

Resident Evil

Milla Jovovich in ‘Resident Evil: The Final Chapter’.Screen Gems/Everett/Shutterstock

Screen Gems/Everett/Shutterstock

In 1996,Resident Evilchanged video games forever. Not only did it spawn one of the largest franchises in gaming history, but it also perfected the survival horror genre, popularizing it for a global audience. In 2002 a film adaptation was made starringMilla JovovichandMichelle Rodriguez. The plot follows an elite team who investigate an underground facility known as the Hive after a contagion leak caused everyone to become bloodthirsty zombies. The film was a hit and eventually led to five sequels.

Fallout

Ella Purnell as Lucy in ‘Fallout’.JOJO WHILDEN/Amazon Prime Video

JOJO WHILDEN/Amazon Prime Video

Based on the popularBethesda action role-playing game, Amazon’sFalloutpicks up 200 after a series of nuclear bombs rendered the world’s surface virtually uninhabitable. In the show, a young “vault dweller” is forced to leave the safety of her bunker and explore the surface wasteland after her father (Kyle MacLachlan) is kidnapped. The series has been praised for its fantastic setting and great worldbuilding, which is set in an alternate timeline that utilizes a great retrofuture aesthetic. Joining MacLachlan wasa fantastic cast, includingYellowjackets’s Ella Purnell andJustified’s Walton Goggins.

Sonic the Hedgehog

Tika Sumpter and James Marsden in ‘Sonic the Hedeghog’.Paramount/Everett/Shutterstock

Paramount/Everett/Shutterstock

After a string of games and animated series throughout the 2000s and early 2010s, theSonicfranchise received its first live-action film in 2020.Jim Carreyvoiced a CGI-sonic while Tika Sumpter and James Marsden also starred. A sequel followed in 2022 and a third film is scheduled to release in late 2024.

Knuckles

‘Knuckles’.Paramount/Everett/Shutterstock

Uncharted

Sophia Ali, Tom Holland, and Mark Wahlberg in ‘Uncharted’.Sony Pictures/Everett/Shutterstock

Sony Pictures/Everett/Shutterstock

The PlayStation exclusiveUnchartedhas been wildly popular since its first game released back in 2007. In 2022, the film adaptation premiered and roughly follows the plot of the games. The young Nathan Drake (Tom Holland) joins seasoned treasure hunter Sully (Mark Wahlberg) on an adventure because Sully says he might know where Drake’s long-lost brother is. Some callUncharted“Tomb Raider with guys,” but the added emotional component is what really makes the games (and movie) stand out above other adventurous tales.Unchartedwas a hit,topping the box officetwo weeks in a row, ultimately grossing over $407 million. In July 2024Varietyconfirmedthat a sequel is in development.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie

Universal Pictures / Illumination

Halo

Paramount+

Another wildly different take on a classic is Paramount+’sHalo. Based on the popular Xbox franchise,Halofollows an epic war between humans and a coalition of fanatically religious aliens known as the Covenant. The two groups battle to reach and secure giant ringworlds known as Halos, which, if in the wrong hands, can be used as universe-destroying weapons. TheHaloseries diverts heavily from the game franchise, but even diehard fans will love seeing Master Chief, Cortana and the Arbiter brought to life.

Five Nights at Freddy’s

Universal Pictures

Anyone who has been to Chuck-E-Cheese knows the secret fear of wondering what happens to those animatronics at night. 2023’sFive Nights at Freddy’spreys upon this fear and offers a glimpse at how the animatronics act after the lights go down: they become murderous monsters. Audiences loved the scares and the filmgrossed almost $300 millionat the box office, becoming Blumhouse’s highest-grossing movie ever.Varietyreportsthat a sequel is on the way and is expected to hit theaters in late 2025.

Pokémon

There are now three generations of kids who grew up withPokémon. The game was originally released in Japan in 1996, but in September 1998, both the game and anime series were launched simultaneously in the United States.Pokémonfollows Ash Ketchum as he collects, raises and trains Pokémon, competing against other trainers around the world. As everyone probably already knows …Pokémonwas a massive hit, becoming a cultural phenomenon that spawned movies, merchandise (including the equally popular trading card game) and a series of sequels and spinoffs that are still being released to this day.

Pokémon Detective Pikachu

Justice Smith and Kathryn Newton in ‘Detective Pikachu’.Warner Bros/Everett/Shutterstock

Warner Bros/Everett/Shutterstock

Alien vs. Predator

‘Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem’.20thC.Fox/Everett/Shutterstock

20thC.Fox/Everett/Shutterstock

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

Djimon Hounsou and Angelina Jolie in ‘Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life’.Paramount/courtesy Everett

Paramount/courtesy Everett

The Witcher

Susie Allnutt/Netflix

Based on the video game franchise of the same name, Netflix’sThe Witcherfollows monster hunter Geralt of Rivia, who ventures through a dark fantasy world filled with challenges.Henry Cavillplayed Geralt in seasons 1 through 3, and Netflix revealed thatLiam Hemsworth is taking over the rolefor the upcoming fourth and fifth seasons.

Mortal Kombat

Robin Shou in ‘Mortal Kombat’.E R Aaron/New Line/Kobal/Shutterstock

E R Aaron/New Line/Kobal/Shutterstock

In 1995, theMortal Kombatmovie hit theaters. Based on the popular (and at the time controversial) fighting game of the same name, the film centers around a group of fighters who are gathered together to compete in a mysterious tournament that has world-altering consequences.Mortal Kombatbrought iconic game characters to life, like Johnny Cage, Sonya, Sub-Zero and Scorpion.

Borderlands

Cate Blanchett as Lilith, Ariana Greenblatt as Tiny Tina, Kevin Hart as Roland, Florian Munteanu as Krieg and Jamie Lee Curtis as Tannis in ‘Borderlands’.Courtesy of Lionsgate

Courtesy of Lionsgate

After its debut in 2009,Borderlandshas gone on to become a seven-game franchise. The film, which premiered in August 2024, sees stars likeAriana Greenblatt, Blanchett andJamie Lee Curtisteam up to bring the hit game to life.

source: people.com