A selection of the very worst video game to movie crossovers

Video games and movies have always paired well together. Some games have even been created off the back of successful movie productions. For example, numerous hit Marvel films led to the creation of a selection of Marvel-themed games. It can happen the other way around, too, with movies being created off the back of a hit gaming release. These titles don’t always hit the mark, though.

Of course, while we’re focussing on the worst of the worst here, there have been some seriously good games that have graced this particular genre of gaming. Likewise, we’ve seen a number of solid games that have come to fruition following the notable rise of a particular movie, be it the series of Mad Max games, classic options like GoldenEye 007, and even modern-day products like the Ace Ventura slot game, a title that is based on the much-loved comedy that features a private detective who specialises in finding missing animals.

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While some of the aforementioned games that are based on movies have recorded notable success, there have been a number of poor video game movies over the years. Some releases fail to capture the essence of a specific game, while others appear to be nothing more than cash grabs. Sometimes, a game doesn’t need to be expanded into a movie production. It’s that simple. Let’s take a look at a few classic examples of this.

Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)

Released in 2020 following a year’s delay due to the backlash over Sonic’s poor design, Sonic the Hedgehog eventually hit cinemas in 2020, only to be somewhat of a letdown for millions of people who went to see it. While the movie was visually pleasing and had a number of memorable moments, overall the script was poor, Sonic’s jokes were terrible, and it’s not a movie you’ll want to run back in a few years. For people who adore the Sonic games, Sonic the Hedgehog promised so much but delivered very little.

The Angry Birds Movie (2016)

If there’s an example of a movie being created purely for money-making purposes off the back of a smash-hit gaming release, then The Angry Birds Movie is definitely it. Given the impact made by the game, a movie was probably inevitable, but was it really necessary? Judging by the horrific reviews, it certainly wasn’t, with the movie offering absolutely no comical value whatsoever and providing a depressingly limited amount of similarities to the games. The Angry Birds Movie is definitely one to avoid.

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Need for Speed (2014)

This inclusion might divide opinion, but it’s hardly like Need for Speed is an undoubted classic, is it? In fact, there is a strong argument to suggest that when you strip away the inevitable action scenes and high-speed cars, the movie offers nothing in terms of an engaging plot, while the characters could do with a bit of work. With a score of 23% on Rotten Tomatoes, something was evidently not right with Need for Speed. The games are great, though!

Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997)

Given the popularity of the gaming franchise, it certainly came as no surprise to see yet another Mortal Kombat movie being made. Mortal Kombat: Annihilation definitely didn’t hit the mark, though, as movie lovers and gamers alike struggled to warm to the second movie associated with the franchise. From its poor plot to the lack of excitement throughout, it didn’t serve up the all-action affair that many Mortal Kombat admirers were hoping for.

Special mention must also go to Alone in the Dark (2005), House of the Dead (2003), and Silent Hill: Revelation 3D (2012).