Pixels to Popcorn: Are video game adaptations Hollywood’s new favourite story engine? | – The Times of India

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For decades, Hollywood has drawn from the familiar to drive box office success. Classic novels were the first to receive the silver screen treatment, followed by the rise of comic book heroes who built cinematic empires. Even board games like Clue and Battleship had their moment in the spotlight. But as the entertainment industry evolves, the new powerhouse IP fueling the biggest hits is coming from the world of gaming. Video game adaptations are no longer a risky bet—they are proving to be Hollywood’s newest golden goose.
That reality was cemented this year when A Minecraft Movie delivered an impressive performance in its opening weekend. With families and kids on spring break and fans of the game eager to explore the pixelated world in live-action, the film pulled in a staggering $157 million in the US and Canada alone. Internationally, it added another $144 million, bringing its global debut to a jaw-dropping $301 million. It not only became 2025’s biggest opener but shattered the record for a video game adaptation, previously held by The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023), which opened to $146 million.
What’s more remarkable? Analysts had predicted an $80 million opening. Instead, Minecraft nearly doubled those expectations. In a year where Hollywood needed a major win, this film didn’t just deliver—it built a blockbuster, brick by digital brick.
The Top 10 Video Game Movies Dominating Global Box Office
The success of Minecraft is not an anomaly. Over the past decade, game-based films have become increasingly bankable. Here’s a look at the ten highest-grossing video game adaptations globally:

The Economics of Adaptation
Video game adaptations are not just creatively viable—they’re proving to be financially rewarding as well. The Super Mario Bros. Movie was made for approximately $100 million and earned $1.35 billion, netting over $1.25 billion in profits. The same yardstick can be held for Sonic the Hedgehog 3, with a budget of $120 million, eventually grossing nearly $491 million. A Minecraft Movie is already profitable just days into release, having cost about $120 million to produce and bringing in close to $344 million.
Across the top 10 films, Hollywood has pocketed over $4.67 billion in estimated net revenue, proving that adapting beloved games is not only a safe bet, but a strategically brilliant one.
The Appeal of Video Game Adaptations
As video game adaptations continue to redefine blockbuster cinema, it is also paving the way for premium streaming. The rise of video game adaptations isn’t a fluke. At the heart of this trend is the built-in fanbase: millions of gamers around the world who already have a deep emotional connection to these stories and characters. Unlike traditional film protagonists who audiences meet for the first time, video game characters like Joel and Ellie, Geralt, Lucy MacLean or Lara Croft arrive on screen with history, depth and a survivor’s story that fans root for.
Technological advancements over the years with cutting-edge VFX allow creators to faithfully recreate the game worlds with stunning realism for their live-action screen remakes. In an age of streaming where platforms like Netflix, HBO, and Prime Video are shelling out the big bucks to constantly seek high-quality visuals, engagement and franchise-ready content, video games offer IPs with both cultural relevance and multiple seasons worth of content.
Why Do Video Games Work So Well on Screen?
Kaitlyn Dever on The Last of Us: “The storytelling just goes on”
Speaking on her role as Abby in HBO’s The Last of Us: Season 2, actress Kaitlyn Dever shared with ETimes a personal perspective on why video games are such rich source material for television. She explains, “It just allows for the storytelling to go on… The Last of Us was one of the biggest games ever made. Fans have fallen in love with these characters, and the show gives us a chance to explore them in a deeper way. I was a fan of the game before the show, and even my dad, a huge gamer, is obsessed with it.”
Jack Black on the Cultural Weight of Minecraft: “It’s generational”
Comedian and actor Jack Black, who stars in A Minecraft Movie, reflected on the game’s far-reaching influence. “I can feel it out there,” Black said in a statement and added, “All the Minecrafters excited about this. When I posted about joining the movie, it blew up. It’s generational. Kids grew up with this game. Now they have their own families. It’s part of our world.”
Jonathan Nolan on Fallout: “Games like these are about world-building”
Known for his work on Westworld, Interstellar, and The Dark Knight trilogy, director Jonathan Nolan made his video game adaptation debut with Fallout for Prime Video. For Nolan, the challenge wasn’t just bringing a game to life—it was recreating the feeling of playing it. In an interview with ETimes, he said, “Games like Fallout are about world-building. The player interacts with every detail. We had to replicate that sense of exploration. So, we shot on location—New York City, Namibia’s Skeleton Coast, the Salt Desert in Utah—to make it feel real.”
Nolan also noted the unexpected tonal challenge of balancing drama with comedy, and said, “It was the closest I’ve come to making a comedy too, which was a creative twist.”
Jared Hess on Directing Minecraft: “We took a choose-your-own-adventure approach”
Jared Hess, best known for Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre, took a playful approach to directing A Minecraft Movie. Recognising the game’s limitless creativity, Hess said in a statement, “Minecraft is the most absurd place I’ve ever been to. It’s full of adventure and creativity. We took a choose-your-own-adventure approach to this film, just like players do in the game.”
Whether it’s the emotional weight of The Last of Us, the expansive lore of Fallout, or the boundless creativity of Minecraft, these adaptations offer both nostalgia and novelty to fans old and new.
Upcoming movies and web series based on video games
The Last of Us: Season 2 – Release Date: April 13, 2025

The Witcher: Seasons 4 & 5 – Release Dates: TBA

Until Dawn – Release Date: April 25, 2025

Fallout: Season 2 – Release Date: TBA
The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2 – Release Date: April 3, 2026

The Angry Birds Movie 3 – Release Date: January 29, 2027

Sonic the Hedgehog 4 – Release Date: March 19, 2027
Video game adaptations are no longer second-tier entertainment. They’re leading the pack, financially and culturally. From the heartfelt storytelling in The Last of Us, to the whimsical exploration of Minecraft, to the gritty retro-futurism of Fallout, each title, with its rich narrative ecosystems, makes it clear that this is more than a trend. With their box office performances and studio backing, it could just set a new benchmark for how stories are told and sold. Hollywood may have unlocked a new level of storytelling and this game is only just getting started.