These Video Games Deserve to Be the Next Big Hollywood Hits

In modern pop culture, a general overlap exists between movie and video game fans, and for good reason. Many game developers (primarily studios such as Rockstar and Remedy) design their games to be highly cinematic and immersive. Although many gamers enjoy these aspects of single-player games, others wish they could see these stories fully realized on the big screen. Today, I would like to share some games that I believe deserve the Hollywood treatment!

THE POPULAR CHOICE: RED DEAD REDEMPTION

Truthfully, I have never actually played either of the Red Dead Redemption games (bar an hour or so of Red Dead Online, which was not the most enjoyable experience solo). I’d love to give the series a REAL chance, but I haven’t felt “in the mood” to sink dozens of hours into it. However, despite my limited knowledge from watching others play, I can certainly see how Red Dead could make for a great film (potentially even a franchise if done well!). Rockstar has always had a knack for cinematic gameplay, even in the early GTA III days. Additionally, their focus on character development and world-building has always been impressive, especially for the video game medium. It would be a no-brainer to adapt the screenplays of the Red Dead saga into films (or even a TV show!). Directors such as the Coen Brothers or James Mangold would likely make this franchise into a big Hollywood hit.

Although I based this choice on general popularity, my personal pick is something completely different.

MY CHOICE: FINAL FANTASY 7

Arguably one of the influential and acclaimed RPGs of its time, Final Fantasy 7 is a game that needs no introduction. My experience with the game began with Remake, but I can still appreciate what the original 7 accomplished in terms of graphical fidelity, world-building, and expansive gameplay. Most fans would agree that FF7 is perfect for an animated movie or TV show. However, this type of adaptation would work only if it remained respectful to the source material. Although some might argue for a live-action FF7 film, the whimsical/fantastical tone of the game would be extremely difficult (at best) to adapt well with real actors. Conversely, Japanese animation studios such as Ufotable or Madhouse (who actually masterfully animated an FF7 anime many years ago) could deliver beautiful animation mixed with accurate and respectful storytelling. Of course, having Tetsura Nomura (the director of the new FF7 Remake series) as a supervisor would increase the chances of this adaptation’s success.

As more and more movie studios use video games as a form of inspiration, it is inevitable that these types of adaptations will flood theaters. Are there any video games that YOU think deserve the Hollywood treatment? Let me know in the comments!