The Next Most Popular Hollywood Movies Might Just Be From Gaming

I’m sure we’ve all heard the headlines about the video gaming industry eclipsing Hollywood and the music industry, and the momentum doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon. Explaining this phenomenon is fairly simple: gaming is more modern, attracts a younger audience, and has many ways to monetize itself.

For years, Hollywood has tried to change its theme and tone by focusing more on superheroes and entertainment surrounding caped individuals, good and bad. But let’s be honest—superhero fatigue is setting in, and studios are struggling to recapture the excitement of the MCU’s golden era. And now, after the endless sequels, it’s no surprise that the next big gold rush in this space looks to be capitalizing on successful gaming IPs.

Gaming Went From Laughing Stock To Box Office Gold

It wasn’t always like this. For the longest time, video game movies were bad — like, “what were they thinking?” levels of bad. Super Mario Bros. (1993) was a bizarre cyberpunk fever dream that had nothing to do with the games. Street Fighter (1994) was pure camp (while still great in the so-bad-is-good genre), and Doom (2005) turned a first-person shooter into a forgettable sci-fi mess.

But things have changed. Hollywood has finally realized that respecting the source material is key, and now we’re getting adaptations that actually work. Movies like Sonic the Hedgehog and The Super Mario Bros. Movie proved that sticking to what fans love pays off. The former, of course, is a memorable example, where we witnessed a real-time example of how incorporating feedback from dedicated fans practically saved a dead movie.

Meanwhile, TV shows like The Last of Us and Fallout are redefining what video game storytelling can look like on screen. And if you’re itching to play the games that inspired these adaptations, grabbing Steam codes on Eneba is the perfect way to jump in.

A Sudden Yet Expected Change That Would Come Sooner Or Later

So why is this happening now? Simple – video games have evolved into rich, cinematic experiences that are practically ready-made for adaptation. Games like The Last of Us and God of War have storytelling that rivals any Oscar-winning film. They’ve already done the heavy lifting, creating worlds and characters that audiences care about.

Meanwhile, Hollywood is hungry for the next new thing generating millions of dollars, and video games are packed with untapped potential. Superhero movies are struggling to maintain their former dominance, leaving room for something new. And what better replacement is there than an industry that already rakes in more money than movies and music combined?

Can You Identify The Exact Moment Superhero Films Started To Fall Off In Popularity?
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Even now, you can argue that video game characters like Master Chief and Arthur Morgan hold more significance in pop culture than recent original Hollywood characters like the ensemble cast of Dune. Truth is, the film industry’s entire identity nowadays is creating live-action or animated series of established comic books or novels, so you can imagine why they’re looking for a change of pace.

This Can Be A Big Win For Everyone If The Right Moves Are Made

If Hollywood plays this right, we could be entering a golden age of video game adaptations. Resident Evil is getting another reboot, Ghost of Tsushima and Death Stranding is on the way, and even Five Nights at Freddy’s just proved that a horror game can crush it at the box office.

Imagine a Red Dead Redemption movie that gives The Hateful Eight a run for its money, or a Legend of Zelda film that captures the epic scale of The Lord of the Rings. The possibilities are endless, and for once, it feels like studios are finally treating video games with the respect they deserve.

Of course, while we wait for these adaptations to hit the big screen, the best way to experience these stories is still by playing them. Digital marketplaces like Eneba offer awesome deals on games, making it easy to dive into these worlds before Hollywood puts its own spin on them. Whether it’s revisiting classics or trying out the latest hits, I’m happy to say there’s probably no better time to be a gamer – or a moviegoer.