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From Tron to Super Mario, how video games shaped our movie world
With the recent Launch of Apple’s Vision Pro spatial computing headset, there has been a resurgence in discussions about virtual reality and its future.
I recently re-watched “Ready Player One,” Steven Spielberg’s 2018 film about a future where people escape a bleak reality by immersing themselves in a vast virtual, digital world. The future timeline presented in the film, such as the year 2025, will soon become our present day. It’s interesting to see which technological advances are coming true, such as the evolution of virtual reality technology in our daily lives.
Games have often been used as a central element of storytelling, offering unique opportunities to immerse audiences in imaginative narratives. The story arcs can follow a variety of paths:
- Games play with the idea of the balance between a real world and a game world, often acting as a portal between the two
- As in the Hero’s Journey, the characters start in the real world, enter the game world for some reason, and then at the end of the film return to their real-world changed
- In the reverse way, sometime characters are inside the game world and pulled out to the real world to achieve something and change
Over the last four decades, many films have incorporated the concept of games, gaming, or gamers into their plots, each with its distinct twist. Sometimes the films are a direct translation of the game into animation or live action, while other times it’s the impact of a game or evolving technology.
In this post I compiled 18 films where games play a pivotal role in shaping memorable stories.
Director: Steven Lisberger
“Tron” takes us deep into the world of computer programming, where a programmer is transported into a digital realm, resembling a giant video game. The film’s pioneering use of computer-generated imagery (CGI) creates an otherworldly gaming experience, emphasizing the relationship between humans and technology. There was an additional film produced 2010 on the same theme.
Director: John Badham
In “WarGames,” a teenage computer whiz inadvertently hacks into a military supercomputer, believing it to be a video game. Unbeknownst to him, he triggers a series of events that nearly lead to global thermonuclear war. This film explores the potential dangers of gaming and technology, raising questions about the responsibility of those who create and play games: something you think is a game has real-world impacts.
Director: Nick Castle
“The Last Starfighter” takes the concept of gaming to the stars. A young arcade gamer, Alex, discovers that his high scores have earned him the role of a real-life starfighter in an intergalactic war. The film combines the allure of video games with a space adventure, emphasizing the power of dreams and rewards for mastering gaming skills.
Director: Paul Michael Glaser
“The Running Man” envisions a dystopian game show where convicted criminals must fight for their lives. This satirical take on reality TV and extreme sports illustrates the dangers of media manipulation and the dehumanizing effects of turning life into a game. Interestingly, this film is set in 2019 and has some foreshadowing of “The Hunger Games” films produced decades later.
Director: Joe Johnston
“Jumanji” introduces us to a mystical board game that unleashes a jungle adventure in the real world. Players must navigate treacherous challenges and creatures until they finish the game and return to the real world.. The film showcases the transformative power of games, blurring the line between reality and fantasy. There were additional films produced in 2017 and 2019, that instead used a video game instead of a board game as the updated portal.
Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
“Mortal Kombat” follows Earth’s defenders as they participate in a martial arts tournament to save their world from the evil sorcerer Shang Tsung. The film closely aligns with the tournament premise of the “Mortal Kombat” video game in live action. There were additional films produced in 1997 and 2021 on the same theme.
Director: David Cronenberg
“eXistenZ” is a sci-fi thriller where players immerse themselves in a virtual reality game that blurs the lines between reality and the game world. The story follows a game designer, Allegra Geller, pursued by those who want to disrupt her virtual creation. She is on the run from assassins and must play her latest virtual reality creation to determine if the game has been damaged. The film explores themes of reality, identity, and the nature of gaming, reflecting the immersive and sometimes ambiguous experiences found in video games.
Director: Mamoru Oshii
“Avalon” is a Polish-language sci-fi film set in a dystopian future where a female player named Ash participates in an illegal virtual reality war game, searching for the elusive level known as Avalon, hoping to find meaning in her world. The film delves into the psychological aspects of gaming, questioning the boundaries between the real world and the virtual, much like the immersive and sometimes isolating nature of video games.
Director: Simon West
“Lara Croft Tomb Raider,” starring Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft, follows her quest to find two halves of an ancient artifact, the Triangle of Light, with the power to control time. “Tomb Raider” games center around Lara Croft’s archaeological adventures, and the film reflects the character’s exploration and puzzle-solving, key elements of the video game on which the film is based. There were additional films produced in 2003 and 2018 on the same theme.
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)
Director: Edgar Wright
“Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” immerses us in a world where video game aesthetics blend seamlessly with reality. Scott must defeat his girlfriend’s seven evil exes, each battle feeling like a boss fight in a video game. The film is a love letter to gaming culture, packed with references and visually stunning sequences.
Director: Duncan Jones
“Source Code” offers a unique blend of science fiction and gaming. A soldier repeatedly relives a train bombing through a simulation, akin to a video game, in a bid to uncover the bomber’s identity. This film explores the convergence of technology, memory, and gaming in a gripping and mind-bending narrative.
Director: Gary Ross
In the dystopian world of “The Hunger Games,” a deadly televised competition is orchestrated as a means of control. While not a traditional game, it underscores how power can manipulate entertainment for political purposes. The film challenges us to contemplate the morality of such “games” and their impact on society. The characters are the pawns in a game that someone else has created, and they must play to survive. There were additional films produced in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2023 on the same theme.
Directors: Rich Moore
“Wreck-It Ralph” invites us into the world of arcade games, where the villain, Ralph, longs to be a hero. The film explores themes of identity and self-acceptance within the context of a gaming universe. The characters are in a game and don’t know it. There was an additional film produced in 2018 on the same theme.
Director: Gavin Hood
“Ender’s Game” introduces us to a future where children are trained to become military strategists through advanced simulations. The film explores themes of strategy, leadership, and morality within a virtual battlefield, making us question the consequences of blurring the lines between play and warfare, similar to the plot of “The Last Starfighter.”
Director: Steven Spielberg
“Ready Player One” presents a future where people escape a bleak reality by immersing themselves almost continuously in a vast virtual world called the OASIS. The film celebrates gaming nostalgia while exploring themes of corporate control and the quest for hidden treasures. It is packed with references about 80s culture in games, film, and fashion. A key feature of the film is the story behind the first “easter egg” that was planted in the Atari game “Adventure.” The film also uses an actual 360 degree treadmill that was available in 2018.
Director: Jeff Fowler
“Sonic the Hedgehog” is a live-action/CGI film where Sonic, a speedy blue hedgehog, teams up with a small-town sheriff to stop the evil Dr. Robotnik. Inspired by Sega’s iconic video game character, the film captures Sonic’s fast-paced adventures, rings, and the conflict with the game’s villain.
Director: Shawn Levy
“Free Guy” flips the script by placing an NPC (Non-Player Character) in the spotlight. Guy, a bank teller, becomes self-aware in a chaotic open-world video game, leading to hilarious and action-packed adventures. The film celebrates the potential for change and heroism, even for the unlikeliest of characters.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)
Director: Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic
“Super Mario” is a 2023 American computer-animated adventure comedy film based on Nintendo’s Mario video game franchise, with the original movie made in 1993. In a parallel dimension, Mario and Luigi must rescue Princess Daisy from an evil reptilian dictator named Koopa in a live-action adaptation of the classic game. The new film was loosely based on the “Super Mario” series and takes creative liberties with the source material.
Films spanning several decades have leveraged the concept of games to captivate audiences and explore a wide range of themes, from adventure and escapism to the consequences of technology and power. Whether through board games, video games, or virtual worlds, these movies have demonstrated the enduring appeal of gaming in the world of cinema, leaving an indelible mark on our imaginations and culture.