Video game adaptations represent one of the most unique genres in all of Hollywood, and to say that the genre has a spotty history is putting it mildly. Many of these films don’t work, and while some get people excited, many go on to simply disappoint. Despite this, studios still try their best to make them work.

At one point, an iconic video game franchise was close to having a blockbuster flick of its own, and it was going to have a ton of talent behind the camera. Things, however, unraveled quickly, and the fans are still waiting for something to happen down the line.

Let’s see which franchise just missed out on getting its own movie.

Many Video Games Adaptations Struggle

Super Mario Bros Movie
Via syfy.com

Before diving in to see which classic franchise nearly got a blockbuster flick made, we need to take a look at the history of video game adaptations. There is a reason that there was a stigma around these movies for years, and even now, a stigma still exists, to a degree. Quite frankly, many video game movies have been bad. Really bad.

During the 90s, there seemed to be an insistence on making this genre work, and we have to give studios credit for trying their best. Video games, after all, were becoming more popular than ever, and it was clear that kids were going to have an interest in seeing these characters jump out of the arcade and onto the big screen. This, however, gave way to some pretty bad movies.

Super Mario Bros. is usually the example that people use for video game movies, as it was a disaster. Yes, many loved it for how silly it was, but it was almost unrecognizable to what fans had played through, and the film was crushed by critics.

Even as time went on, many of these movies were poorly made, and they underwhelmed at the box office. BloodRayneDoom, Wing Commander, and DOA are just a few examples of studios dropping the ball on these projects. Despite these bombs hitting theaters, there have been some success stories, though.

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There Have Been Some Successes

Sonic movie
Via theguardian.com

The video game genre is one that has stuck around because every once in a while, these movies can find success with the fans. Just last year, Sonic the Hedgehog wound up being a box office success that was even popular enough to have a sequel film get put into production shortly thereafter.

2019’s Detective Pikachu marked another recent success for the genre, and it was a huge win for the Pokémon franchise. This year, Mortal Kombat found success on HBO Max and on the big screen with its unique launch, and this helped make up for the terrible Mortal Kombat: Annihilation from the 90s.

Clearly, making these movies is a tough task, but when done right, they can be successful. Studios know to work on the biggest titles and franchises in the world of gaming, as these are the ones that have the biggest fan bases. At one point, it looked as though a massive franchise was getting a movie treatment, but things fell apart before the ball really got rolling.

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BioShock Came Close To Being Made

BioShock Game
Via nme.com

Gamers are all too familiar with the popular BioShock franchise, as it has been a monumental success since its launch years ago. At one point, the franchise was going to be adapted for fans to watch on the big screen, and the project could have done something unique with the genre.

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Gore Verbinski, who has worked on the Pirates of the Caribbean films, was going to man the project, giving it a ton of talent behind the scenes. Verbisnki had some huge plans, but the studio wasn’t on board.

“It was talked about as one movie. And it was strange, my first meeting at Universal on Bioshock was sitting in a room and saying, 'Hey guys, this is a $200 million R rated movie.' And it was silent. I remember my agent going, 'Why did you say that?' I'm like, because it is. Why just even trying to kill a movie you haven't even started? That's before getting a scripted before anything. I'm just I just want to be clear. And I think everybody at the studio was well, yeah, okay, maybe. Wow, no. It's big, we know,” said the filmmaker.

Ultimately, this project would never see the light of day. Verbinski seems lukewarm about picking it up again, but if it does happen, then expect the fans to be on board and hit theaters without hesitation.

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