The 10 Worst Game-Inspired Movies of the Last 10 Years
Games are games, and movies are movies, and never the twain shall meet—in a good review. There’s some key element that is consistently lost in creation, and there have been more wrecks than many of us care to admit. But with adaptations of popular titles like Assassin’s Creed, Mass Effect, Halo, Shadow of the Colossus, World of Warcraft and so many more hanging in the balance, we’re reminded that Hollywood isn’t slowing its conquest anytime soon. Can they learn from their consistent mistakes of bad actors, worse plotlines and laughable special effects? We hope so. Just in case, here’s a little reminder with our top 10 worst game-based movies. Cover your PlayStation’s eyes, for god’s sake.
10. Silent Hill (2006)
Director: Christophe Gans
Starring: Radha Mitchell, Laurie Holden, Sean Bean
Despite the success of the games, Silent Hill stumbled in its big-screen debut. It was visually impressive, but its story wandered around as much as its main character. Although the plot vaguely follows along with the game, it lacks the seriously creepy punch that makes the Silent Hill franchise so good. Still, it’s a movie that strangely gets better with repeated viewings—if you can make it past the first round.
9. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010)
Director: Mike Newell
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton, Ben Kingsley
With Disney at the helm, was it any surprise that the film adaptation of Prince of Persia turned out to be nothing more than a pretty face? The movie is full of great special effects with little else to back it up, not to mention the glaring inaccuracy of the lead casting choice. You’re great, Jake, but you’re not Persian. No, no, we know you got really tan and worked out. You’re still a white dude.
8. Max Payne (2008)
Director: John Moore
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Beau Bridges
Mark Wahlberg delivers what may be his worst performance ever to the beat of weird hallucinations and one of the most boring, poorly written revenge tales ever. Marky Mark would be ashamed of his future, Mr. Wahlberg. But hey, on the plus side, at least it didn’t feature a screaming baby for 10 minutes.
7. All Resident Evil Movies After the First (2004-2010)
Director: Alexander Witt (Apocalypse), Russell Mulcahy (Extinction), Paul W.S. Anderson (Afterlife)
Starring: Mila Jovovich
For many gamers, the Resident Evil franchise has become synonymous with the survival horror genre. For movie watchers, Resident Evil is closer to Mila Jovovich doing over-the-top stunts in weird outfits. While the first movie was passable, its many sequels quickly devolved into even more nonsensical plotlines, mesh tank tops and cheesy 3D. The filmmakers chose to reject any of the game’s major plotlines, but that didn’t stop them from borrowing various elements as they pleased. Well-loved characters became two-bit actors. In-game cinematics were shamelessly lifted for less impressive fight scenes. The movies are at best a bastardization of the series, but they wouldn’t let a little thing like that stop them, now would they