Movies based on video games have a bad image. But keep in mind that many of the bad ones were made by the same person in the 2000s. Now, brands are pickier about who they sell their properties to, which has led to a rise in the number of video games being turned into high-quality movies. Awards are being given to HBO’s version of The Last of Us. Arcane is getting people to play League of Legends, which they probably wouldn’t have before. And by god, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will be live-action in December. Folks put down the mouse and get some popcorn. Here are some of the best TV shows and movies based on video games, listed in release date order, that you can watch right now.

Warcraft (June 10, 2016)

Warcraft is based on the extremely popular MMORPG World of Warcraft, released by Blizzard Entertainment in 2004. This game has captivated millions of players around the world with its rich history and vast universe. The game is famous for a lot of different activities, from farming the World of Warcraft gold to fighting difficult bosses who are trying to destroy all life in Azeroth. Despite mixed reviews from critics, the film resonated with large audiences, grossing over $439 million worldwide. This success has left fervent fans eagerly awaiting the sequel, hoping to see even more of their favorite characters and storylines come to life.

Werewolves Within (June 25, 2021)

Werewolves Within is a 2021 comedy-horror film directed by Josh Ruben, based on the VR game of the same name developed by Red Storm Entertainment and published by Ubisoft. The game is a social deduction game where players must identify the werewolf hidden among them. Set in a small, snow-covered town, the movie follows a forest ranger and a postal worker who team up to solve the mystery of a series of attacks and deaths. As tensions rise, the townsfolk begin to suspect each other, leading to humorous and suspenseful situations. The film effectively captures the game’s premise of paranoia and mistrust, translating it into a quirky and entertaining whodunit.

The Last of Us (January 15, 2023)

The hit HBO show The Last of Us is not a movie because it is a TV show. But after one season, both millions of watchers and critics are ready to put it in the same league as the best video game adaptations. This is because the story is just as exciting as the origin game, and Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey give flawless and convincing performances. The fact that it won the Best Adaptation award at The Game Awards 2023 makes this very clear.

Pascal plays Joel, who just barely makes it through the end of the world because of a deadly fungus illness that turns people who get it into dangerous fungal beasts. Years later, Joel is in charge of driving Ellie (Ramsey), a young girl, through dangerous areas because she can’t get sick. Just a simple trip story with a big beating heart of a father-daughter bond that grows. In British Columbia, filming for the second season began in February 2024 and will go on until August. HBO will air the first episode of the second season in 2025. While we all wait, let’s take a look back at this amazing show.

Tetris (15 March, 2023)

People from earlier times may remember happily playing a game where little colored blocks snapped into place next to each other for hours after school. It may not seem like nostalgia for a game with no story is enough, but in 2023, they managed to make that 8-bit memory into a really fun movie.

Instead of giving the blocks names, Jon S. Baird’s movie tells the crazy true story of how the game came to be. Taron Egerton, who has a crazy mustache, plays the Dutch creator Henk Rogers, and Nikita Yefremov plays Alexey Pajitnov, the Russian author of the game. Against all chances, this strange group of people got the famous video game out from behind the Iron Curtain (the Soviet Union) and into arcades, home consoles, and the GameBoy, which was a big deal at the time.

Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (March 31, 2023)

Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is a fun adventure movie. They finally got it right with the fourth Dungeons & Dragons movie. This big-budget adventure from comedy writers Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley that you won’t want to miss. It has the kind of otherworldly magic that the series has become known for, and it’s great for both diehard fans of the five-decade-old role-playing game and people who have never played it before. Chris Pine shines as a charming thief, and Hugh Grant plays a devilish thief in the other corner. Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Justice Smith, and Sophia Lillis also do great work as shape-shifters, wizards, and other characters.

Now You Have What to Watch

From the digital implementation to the silver screen, video game adaptations are undergoing a renaissance. Fueled by better storytelling and heightened brand guardianship, these films and shows are captivating audiences worldwide. With successes like “The Last of Us” earning critical acclaim and anticipation for sequels, and innovative titles like “Werewolves Within” expanding the genre, it’s clear that the era of quality game adaptations is upon us. So grab your controller or remote, sit back, and enjoy the evolution of gaming narratives in cinematic form.