The 10 best movies about video games, according to Ranker (2023)

There is a lot of stigma attached to video game movies, though fans are hoping for success from newer movies.sonic the hedgehog 2can help change that. The general feeling is that video game adaptations struggle to live up to the source material, often leaving fans disappointed. Adaptations aside, however, there is an entirely different genre of video game movies - those about games.

These types of movies really have an extensive history. They date back to the 1980s, even before the first mainstream video game was released in the 1990s. These gaming movies contain some popular cult classics. Who of them is the best, fans intendrilsvoted for their top ten.

Observation:Leaderboards are live and continue to collect votes, so some leaderboards may have changed after this release.

Player (2009)

playerhas a somewhat unique premise. The idea is that there is a video game that uses nanites to control real people. During the gameHunter, Logan Lerman's character actually controls Gerard Butler's character in an actual deathmatch. The film finished fourth in its opening weekend, but did not receive a great critical response.

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Many critics criticized the film for lacking in talent, and also for overdoing it.matrix matrix. It's considered a low point for director Mark Neveldine, which is surprising considering he also directed the second.wrong way driver. At the very least, Gamer's unique concept was enough to win the full commercial.The Wizardto the top ten of the ranking.

Grandma's Boy (2006)

Grandma's Boy is a pot comedyabout a game tester who gets fired and has to live with his grandmother. It was being handled by Happy Madison Productions, founded by Adam Sandler, so critics didn't like it. However, the public response was much more positive and it even won some Stony awards.

Allen Covert plays the title tester, Doris Roberts plays his grandmother, and Linda Cardellini plays his lover Samantha. The video game test takes up much of the film's running time, including a scene of a monkey playing games. Developer Terminal Reality provided resources for the film's gameplay, but the game in question was never released.

Tron (1982)

When it comes to cult classics, none have the same appeal as the '80s sci-fi epic.Tron. In this film, Jeff Bridges was drawn into a game of his own making. The plot was criticized for being slow, but the graphics were something else, combining backlit animation with CGI for a distinctive look.

The movie was originally going to be animated before Disney picked it up and turned it into live-action. The film received nominations for Best Costume Design and Best Sound, but strangely not for Visual Effects. The film was only modestly successful, but would be used in many other Disney properties, such asKingdom Heartsbefore finally getting a sequel in 2010.

Tron: Legacy (2010)

Tron: Legacysaw the return of actors and production staff from the original. With a soundtrack by Daft Punk and an animated series and video game to go with it, it was Disney's attempt to reinvigorate and market the brand. Unfortunately, the sequel received mixed reviews.

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The film deviated from the first's video game theme in favor of a story about emerging AI. Certain character motivations were also completely changed and Tron himself was barely introduced. The film was still financially successful, but it wasn't the big break Disney was hoping for. A third of the franchise has been in development hell ever since (forGizmodo).

The Last Starfighter (1984)

The Last Starfighter is practically inseparable from the first games. Many games of this era were flight simulators and the film's plot took advantage of this, as Lance Guest is recruited as a pilot in a space war due to his gaming skills. The film also stars Robert Preston in his final theatrical role.

Along with Tron, this movie was also one of the first to use CGI. likelegacy, also received many enhanced media such as video games and a musical theater version. It is still fondly remembered and there have been attempts to bring it back. The Last Starfighter is in good company among theThe Most Underrated Action Movies of the 80s.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)

Welcome to the Junglemay be one of the many jungle action movies starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, but it's actuallyOne of The Rock's best movies. O originaljumanjiThe board game evolved into a video game that changed over time. The main characters are drawn and transformed into the game's avatars.

The original Jumanji was a Robin Williams classic, so audiences were understandably reluctant to revive it. While some thought it lost the complexity of the original, it serves its purpose as a very funny adventure comedy. All the actors perform well together and successfully represent their teenage counterparts. The film also fits into many video game tropes, much like the board game original.

War Games (1983)

In the early days of gaming, many movies used video game environments to critique war. In the 1983 filmwar games'Matthew Broderick unknowingly accesses a US supercomputer to play what he believes to be a game. Unfortunately, he is simulating and executing plans for a nuclear war against the Soviet Union.

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The film correctly predicts many unsettling things about the future, such as video games used by the military and drones. Perhaps most disturbing is how hacking and cybercrime are being portrayed as major weapons in global conflicts as they are today. The film is considered highly influential and was released straight to DVD in 2008.

Jumanji: The Next Level (2019)

in sequel ofJumanji: Welcome to the Jungleincreases the number of game references. It is set two years after the events of the first one with the same children. Two older men, played by Danny DeVito and Danny Glover, also join, leading to new Avatar characters, including one played by Awkwafina.

The discovery of a magical pool of water that allows players to switch avatars causes further complications. This results in one of the avatars being a horse in a hilarious twist. It also leads to discussions of class and stat systems in video games. The film ends with a happy moral about what to love, who to love with, and a teaser for a possible fourth film.

Wrack Es Ralph (2012)

Unlike other films of this typedestroy it Ralphtakes place in a video game world, even more literal than one might expect. Litwak's Arcade contains a central hub where all of the game's characters live. They interact during the night, but it is forbidden to go to other games during the day.

Of course, the main character Ralph does just that and gets stuck in many different genres. It's a big part of why the film works, mixing its morality with video game references and cameos. The other big reason why it works ishow likable are the characters in Wreck-It Ralphit is.

Ready Player One (2018)

Mid to late 2010sready player oneit was a phenomenon. The film and the book that inspired it were a tremendous crossover, but also a story about the spirit of humanity. In the future, everyone is addicted to OASIS, a huge virtual reality world where they can be anyone. The rights belong to whoever discovers the developer's secret, so the protagonists flee from evil corporations to find him.

Due to the nature of OASIS, avatars are often familiar characters that have been repurposed as in-game avatars. This led to an impressive appearance by theiron Giantunder references tothe shine. It's the film's meta-narrative that makes it such a great piece about gaming. The film is about people who wear their favorite games on their sleeves and band together to prevent what unites them from becoming too corporate.

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