Summary
- Borderlands movie fell short of expectations, but these 10 video game movies offer better viewing options post-Borderlands.
- Mortal Kombat, Resident Evil, and Sonic the Hedgehog stand out among great video game movie adaptations with fan approval.
- Ratchet & Clank and Gran Turismo provide unique adaptations of video games, appealing to fans looking for faithful adaptations.
The Borderlands movie is out now, and while it may not have been what fans of the franchise were expecting, these 10 great video game movies are still available to watch after Borderlands. The Borderlands adaptation had been in development for a long time, with fans of the beloved shooter video game franchise crossing their fingers that the film would be a success. Now that the video game movie curse has been broken, there was a real possibility that Borderlands could be great, with it having the potential to be comparable to these 10 other video game movies.
Unfortunately, reviews for the Borderlands movie were less than stellar, with it getting panned by fans of the franchise and newcomers alike. Although it did seem to be a faithful adaptation of the games, it simply didn’t work as a movie, with the characters, storylines, and humor getting pointed out as big problems. While it is unfortunate that the Borderlands movie was a box office and critical failure, the world of video game movies in the modern day has made this the exception rather than the rule. So, here are 10 great video game movies to watch after Borderlands.
10 Mortal Kombat
55% On Rotten Tomatoes
Mortal Kombat (2021) RActionFantasyAdventure Where to Watch
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In this 2021 adaptation of the classic video game franchise, Mortal Kombat follows MMA fighter Cole Young, who finds himself targeted by Outworld’s Emperor Shang Tsung, who has sent his best warrior, Sub-Zero, an otherworldly Cryomancer, to hunt him down. Learning of his heritage, he finds himself joining the likes of special forces members Sonya Blade, Jackson “Jax” Briggs, and others as they discover they may be Earth’s last line of defense from a hellish invasion from another realm.
Director Simon McQuoid Release Date April 23, 2021 Studio(s) Atomic Monster Productions , Broken Road Productions , New Line Cinema Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Dave Callaham , Greg Russo Cast Jessica McNamee , Matilda Kimber , Mehcad Brooks , Lewis Tan , Sisi Stringer , Joe Taslim , Daniel Nelson , Hiroyuki Sanada , Chin Han , Max Huang , Laura Brent , Tadanobu Asano , Elissa Cadwell , Ludi Lin , Josh Lawson Runtime 110 minutes Franchise(s) Mortal Kombat Sequel(s) Mortal Kombat 2 Main Genre Action Expand
One of the best modern live-action video game movies is 2021’s Mortal Kombat. Based on the iconic fighting game series of the same name, the first movie in the modern Mortal Kombat series brings the wacky lore and graphic violence to the big screen, with the first movie being a big hit. Fans of the video game franchise have loved the adaptation, and with Mortal Kombat 2 releasing in 2025, now is the perfect time to catch up on the first one.
Borderlands is a mature video game franchise, which is why it is unfortunate that the movie toned down some of the series’ raunchier elements. Luckily, the Mortal Kombat movie embraced the R-rated nature of the video games, with the film not shying away from the gore that is inherent to the franchise. Thus, fans looking for a mature video game movie have no better place to turn.
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Related Borderlands Ending Explained: Lilith’s Transformation & The Franchise’s Future
The ending of Borderlands remixes the final stretch of the original game, empowering one of the leads and uniting the heroes for a firery conclusion.
9 Resident Evil: Welcome To Raccoon City
30% On Rotten Tomatoes
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Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City is an action/horror movie that returns to the origins of the massively popular Resident Evil franchise. Fan and filmmaker Johannes Roberts brings the games to life for a new generation of fans. The once booming home of pharmaceutical giant Umbrella Corporation, Raccoon City is now a dying Midwestern town. The company’s exodus left the city a wasteland…with great evil brewing below the surface. When that evil is unleashed, a group of survivors must work together to uncover the truth behind Umbrella and make it through the night.
Director Johannes Roberts Release Date November 24, 2021 Studio(s) Sony Distributor(s) Sony Writers Johannes Roberts Cast Neal McDonough , Lily Gao , Hannah John-Kamen , Tom Hopper , Kaya Scodelario , Avan Jogia , Donal Logue , Robbie Amell Runtime 107 minutes Franchise(s) Resident Evil prequel(s) Resident Evil , Resident Evil: Apocalypse , Resident Evil: Extinction , Resident Evil: Retribution , Resident Evil: The Final Chapter Budget 25 million Expand
There have been a lot of Resident Evil movies throughout the years, but to the surprise of many, the best one is the franchise revival from 2021. Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City is definitely a step up from the previous Resident Evil films, with it maintaining the horror of the franchise while also having the fun, campy tone that the series is known for. Although the film was a financial disappointment, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City is a hidden gem in the world of video game movies.
While Borderlands and Resident Evil are very different games, they share the DNA of a group of wacky characters walking around with guns in a world where danger is around every corner. Thus, it is possible that fans of Borderlands could find enjoyment in the 2021 film, even if they haven’t had the pleasure of getting into the Resident Evil video game series yet.
8 Sonic The Hedgehog
64% On Rotten Tomatoes
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*Availability in US Director Jeff Fowler Release Date February 12, 2020 Writers Worm Miller , Patrick Casey , Oren Uziel , Yuji Naka , Naoto Ohshima , Hirokazu Yasuhara Cast Jim Carrey , James Marsden , Neal McDonough , Tika Sumpter , Ben Schwartz , Adam Pally Runtime 99 minutes Budget $95 million Main Genre Animation Expand
The Sonic the Hedgehog movie is arguably the most successful live-action video game adaptation, as the series has garnered massive acclaim and commercial success throughout its time. Although the first Sonic the Hedgehog movie is obviously the place to start, things only get better as time goes on, with Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and the Knuckles spinoff show also being great pics. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is set to release in late 2024, meaning that now is the perfect time to get into the series.
Borderlands failed while attempting to stay faithful to the games, while Sonic the Hedgehog interestingly succeeded while making all kinds of changes to the games. While the film series tells a unique story with original characters in a new location, the Sonic the Hedgehog movies manage to recapture the spirit of the games, which is why it has been a success with fans and newcomers alike.
7 Werewolves Within
86% On Rotten Tomatoes
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Forest ranger Finn Wheeler arrives in Beaverfield, a town divided over a proposed pipeline. Amidst colorful locals like mail carrier Cecily and couple Trisha and Pete, a blizzard strikes, plunging the town into chaos. When mysterious deaths occur, tensions escalate, and suspicions rise. As the situation spirals out of control, Finn uncovers hidden agendas and a deadly secret lurking within Beaverfield. With danger lurking around every corner, Finn must navigate the treacherous landscape to uncover the truth before it’s too late.
Director Josh Ruben Release Date June 25, 2021 Writers Mishna Wolff Cast Sam Richardson , Rebecca Henderson , George Basil , Michaela Watkins , Cheyenne Jackson , Catherine Curtin , Milana Vayntrub , Harvey Guillen , Michael Chernus , Glenn Fleshler , Wayne Duvall , Sarah Burns Runtime 97 minutes Main Genre Horror Expand
One of the most critically successful video game movies of all time has actually slid under the radar of many, with that being the 2021 film Werewolves Within. Based on the multiplayer VR game, Werewolves Within follows a group of wacky characters who become trapped in a small town, with them being tasked with deducing which member of the group is secretly a werewolf. While the movie is arguably more popular than the game it is based on, the film was a big hit with critics and those who saw it, and it will hopefully find a wider audience one day.
Much like Borderlands, Werewolves Within was a box office failure, with the film making a little under $1 million on a budget of $6.5 million. This is a shame, as Werewolves Within is a truly great movie that could be a big hit with fans of comedy, horror, or mystery movies in the same vein as The Thing.
6 Warcraft
29% On Rotten Tomatoes
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*Availability in US Director Duncan Jones Release Date May 25, 2016 Writers Duncan Jones , Alex Rocco Cast Travis Fimmel , Daniel Wu , Toby Kebbell , Paula Patton , Ben Foster , Dominic Cooper Runtime 123 minutes Main Genre Fantasy Expand
Based on the iconic MMO World of Warcraft, the 2016 film Warcraft was tasked with the seemingly impossible feat of bringing the franchise’s massive universe to the big screen. Although Warcraft was initially met with harsh reviews from critics, the film has managed to gain a cult following in recent years, with it being treated far more positively upon reassessment.
Since the world of Borderlands is so densely populated with characters, locations, and stories, it may have been hard for the writers to decide what to adapt for the movie. The Warcraft film undoubtedly also had this problem, as the long-lasting MMO has evolved so much over the years that fans want to see all kinds of elements adapted. Luckily, Warcraft was able to find the right balance, and a lot more stories could have been explored if the film had gotten a sequel.
Related Borderlands’ New Box Office Record Is Better (& Worse) Than Last Year’s $291 Million Video Game Movie
The Borderlands movie’s newest box office record is somehow both better and worse than a somewhat comparable video game adaptation from 2023.
5 Rampage
51% On Rotten Tomatoes
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Based loosely on the video game series of the same name, Rampage stars Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as Davis Okoye, a former Special Forces soldier and primatologist. When a gorilla that Okoye is working with, George, is exposed to an experimental pathogen, he grows much larger and more aggressive. It’s up to Okoye to bring George home safely, saving his friend and countless lives before it’s too late.
Director Brad Peyton Release Date April 13, 2018 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Carlton Cuse , Ryan Condal Cast Joe Manganiello , Malin Akerman , Dwayne Johnson , Matt Gerald , Will Yun Lee , Jeffrey Dean Morgan , Naomie Harris Runtime 1h 47m Budget 120 million Expand
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson made his video game movie debut in the DOOM movie, which is often considered to be one of the worst video game movies of all time. Luckily, this didn’t make him swear off the practice entirely, as he returned for the 2018 adaptation of the beloved arcade game Rampage. Pitting The Rock against a giant gorilla, lizard, and wolf may sound dumb, but Rampage takes the concept and turns it into a lot of fun.
Comparing Borderlands and Rampage is interesting, as it reveals a truth about making video game movies. While Borderlands may have seemed like a surefire success due to brand recognition, the often-forgotten arcade game made for a much more successful movie, highlighting the importance of making sure that the adaptation is still a great movie.
4 Ratchet & Clank
22% On Rotten Tomatoes
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PGAnimationAdventureAction Director Kevin Munroe , Jericca Cleland Release Date April 29, 2016 Writers T.J. Fixman Cast Jim Ward , Sylvester Stallone , Lee Tockar , Paul Giamatti , David Kaye , Alessandro Juliani , Rosario Dawson , James Arnold Taylor , Armin Shimerman , John Goodman , Bella Thorne
Almost all of the aforementioned video game movies on this list have made significant changes to the source material. However, this isn’t the case for the 2016 Ratchet and Clank movie, which was released to coincide with the franchise reboot video game. The film is so faithful that clips from the movie were used as cutscenes in the video game, highlighting how close the movie is to the video game that it is based on.
While Ratchet and Clank does have its detractors, fans who are already bought into the world of the series can have a great time with Ratchet and Clank. Much like Borderlands, the franchise is known for its raunchy humor and wacky weaponry, which is why it is a great pick after seeing the Borderlands movie.
3 Gran Turismo
65% On Rotten Tomatoes
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Based on the video game franchise and the true story surrounding it, Gran Turismo is a film adaptation arriving in 2023 from PlayStation Productions. The story will center around a teenage Gran Turismo player whose consistent winning streak in the games put him through a series of Nissan competitions, where he eventually became a real-life professional driver.
Director Neill Blomkamp Release Date August 25, 2023 Studio(s) Columbia Pictures , PlayStation Productions , Trigger Street Productions , 2.0 Entertainment Distributor(s) Sony Pictures Releasing Writers Jason Hall , Zach Baylin Cast Archie Madekwe , David Harbour , Orlando Bloom , Darren Barnet , Geri Halliwell Horner , Djimon Hounsou Runtime 135 Minutes Franchise(s) Gran Turismo Budget $100 Million Main Genre Racing Expand
Although the film didn’t seem all that exciting ahead of its release, the 2023 Gran Turismo movie turned out to be a big hit, with it finding an even bigger audience upon its streaming release. The movie is based on the racing video game franchise of the same name, and while it isn’t a direct adaptation of the story of these games, the film received generally positive reviews upon its release.
While Borderlands attempted to directly adapt the story of the first game, Gran Turismo took an interesting approach, making the film about a character who was great at the Gran Turismo video game. This interesting spin is what allowed the movie to stand out, with it even working for viewers who had not previously played the racing video games.
2 Detective Pikachu
68% On Rotten Tomatoes
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A loose adaptation of the video game of the same name, Detective Pikachu follows former Pokémon trainer Tim Goodman (Justice Smith) and Detective Pikachu (Ryan Reynolds) as they set out to investigate the mysterious disappearance of Tim’s father, Harry. Tim’s investigation takes him and Detective Pikachu into the heart of a conspiracy that threatens to shake their native Ryme City – and the entire Pokémon world – to its very foundation.
Director Rob Letterman Release Date May 10, 2019 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Rob Letterman , Nicole Perlman Cast Ryan Reynolds , Suki Waterhouse , Bill Nighy , Chris Geere , Omar Chaparro , Ken Watanabe , Kadiff Kirwan , Justice Smith , Kathryn Newton , Rita Ora , Bernardo Santos Runtime 104 minutes Franchise(s) Pokemon Budget 150million Expand
2019’s Detective Pikachu was one of the earliest major video game movie successes, with it getting positive reviews across the board. A live-action Pokemon movie was inevitable, and while there were all kinds of theories regarding how it would be done ahead of time, almost nobody guessed that there would be an adaptation of the spinoff game Detective Pikachu.
However, using this weird spinoff turned out to be the perfect way to bring the vast world of Pokemon to the big screen. Detective Pikachu proved that sometimes the best way to adapt a massive world is to be hyper-focused on one specific corner of it, something that the Borderlands movie could have learned from.
Related How Cate Blanchett’s Casting As Lilith Started A Chain Of Problems For The Borderlands Movie
Although Oscar winner Cate Blanchett was clearly committed to bringing Lilith to life, her casting started a series of problems for Borderlands.
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1 The Super Mario Bros. Movie
59% On Rotten Tomatoes
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Mario jumps to the big screen in The Super Mario Bros Film, directed by Teen Titans Go! Collaborators Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic. Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Bowser, and more appear in this animated comedy that will pit the characters in an all-new adventure set in the Mushroom Kingdom and beyond.
Director Aaron Horvath , Michael Jelenic Release Date April 7, 2023 Writers Matthew Fogel Cast Chris Pratt2 , Anya Taylor-Joy , Charlie Day , Jack Black , Keegan-Michael Key , Seth Rogen , Fred Armisen , Kevin Michael Richardson , Sebastian Maniscalco Main Genre Animation Expand
When recommending great video game movies, it would be a crime not to mention the highest-grossing video game movie of all time, The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The film managed to bring the iconic mascot of video gaming to the big screen, with the animated world perfectly bringing to life the Mushroom Kingdom and beyond.
The two films at first couldn’t seem more different, as Borderlands was a box office bomb aimed at adults, while The Super Mario Bros. Movie was a box office hit aimed at younger audiences. However, fans of video game history need to see the iconic plumber’s big screen success, as it is very interesting to compare and contrast with the Borderlands movie.
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Based on the video game franchise, Borderlands is a sci-fi action-comedy film that follows Cate Blanchett as Lilith, a treasure hunter who returns to her home planet, Pandora, to find a tycoon’s missing daughter. Together with a group of unlikely allies, such as a soldier, a teenaged demolitions expert, a wise-cracking robot, and an eccentric scientist, the group will work together to save the girl – all while learning to deal with each other’s unyielding quirks.
Director Eli Roth Release Date August 9, 2024 Studio(s) Arad Productions , Picturestart Distributor(s) Lionsgate Writers Eli Roth , Joe Crombie Cast Cate Blanchett , Kevin Hart , Jack Black , Ariana Greenblatt , Florian Munteanu , Jamie Lee Curtis , Edgar Ramirez , Gina Gershon Runtime 102 Minutes Franchise(s) Borderlands Main Genre Sci-Fi Expand