17 video games are currently being adapted into movies or TV shows — here they all are
- While video games have blossomed into a multi-billion dollar industry, most attempts to adapt popular games into movies have failed.
- In spite of terrible reviews, recent video game-based movies like "Rampage," "Warcraft," and "Assassin's Creed" have seen high international earnings, perhaps thanks to their recognizable brands.
- At least three video game movies will be released during 2019, and there are more than a dozen currently in production.
There's no denying the impact video games have on pop culture. But despite decades worth of attempts, only a handful of movies have been successful in bringing the fun of gaming to the big screen.
A trio of recent big budget video game adaptations, "Rampage, "Warcraft," and "Assassin's Creed," were all commercial and critical failures in the U.S., but managed to take advantage of their recognizable brands to earn hundreds of millions of dollars overseas. Their performance proved that there remains a market for video game movies, no matter what the critics say.
So, more movies based on video games are on the way! At least three video game-based movies will be released this year, and more than a dozen adaptations are currently in the works.
These are the upcoming video game-based movies to look out for:
"Detective Pikachu" (May 2019)
"Pokémon: Detective Pikachu" is easily the most anticipated of the upcoming video game movies. An early trailer showed off Nintendo's iconic Pokémon characters in live action for the first time, and "Deadpool" star Ryan Reynolds will voice the titular character.
It seems the movie is mostly inspired by the story of the "Detective Pikachu" video game, released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2016, but details are sparse.
"Angry Birds Movie 2" (August 2019)
This year will mark the the 10th anniversary of "Angry Birds," the smash hit mobile game that has grown into a monster licensing vehicle. While the "Angry Birds" fad is over, the characters do still have their fans.
The first "Angry Birds" movie is actually the third highest-grossing video game movie of all time, with more than $352 million box office earnings worldwide. Only "Warcraft" and "Rampage have earned more.
"Sonic the Hedgehog" (November 2019)
Sonic the Hedgehog is one of the most iconic video game characters in the world, and after multiple cartoon series and nearly three decades worth of games, he'll be getting a live-action film later this year.
So far Paramount Pictures has only offered glimpses of Sonic's live-action look, but fans have been less than pleased. Sonic will be voiced by Ben Schwartz of "Parks & Recreation," with legendary comedian Jim Carrey playing Sonic's nemesis, Dr. Robotnik.
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1072128809019813889?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The guys that brought you Deadpool & The Fast and the Furious are bringing SONIC THE HEDGEHOG to the big screen! #SonicMovie speeds into theatres Nov 2019.
Check out the new teaser poster, and click to read what they had to say about making the film: https://t.co/bdCPODHdVg pic.twitter.com/LMakeasL6y
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