I used to get excited when my favorite games were turned into movies, but after a few really horrendous experiences, I just started to roll my eyes and shake my head in bemused despair each time I heard about another video game movie adaptation. I pretty much knew that I’d be disappointed.
For years, the silver screen has tried to capture the magic of video games, often missing the mark. From bad acting to cringe-worthy effects, video game movies have gained a reputation for being terrible. Gaming experts at Gamer Brain examined IMDb ratings for every video game movie adaptation to find the top 12 worst ones.
12. Wing Commander (1999)
With an IMDb rating of 4.3, Wing Commander comes in at twelfth. Despite involvement from the game creator Chris Roberts, the movie failed at the box office. Critics blamed its downfall on casting unknown actors, cutting key storyline elements, and overly ambitious visual effects.
11. Super Mario Bros. (1993)
Ranking eleventh with a 4.2 IMDb rating, Super Mario Bros. is infamous for pioneering video game movie adaptations and setting a bad precedent. Despite a talented cast and ambitious effects, the movie’s subversive humor, dystopian settings, and bizarre plot failed to capture the spirit of the game.
10. Street Fighter (1994)
Street Fighter ranks tenth with a 4.1 rating. The movie was criticized for its cheesy tone and poorly choreographed fight scenes, which failed to deliver the exciting combat fans expected. This left fans feeling disappointed and alienated.
9. Double Dragon (1994)
With a 3.9 IMDb rating, Double Dragon places ninth. The movie’s attempt to blend a post-apocalyptic setting with lighthearted themes didn’t work. Corny dialogue and a failure to capture the game’s action-packed brawls left critics feeling underwhelmed.
8. In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale (2007)
This film, starring Jason Statham, ranks eighth with a 3.8 IMDb rating. Despite a star-studded cast, the poor special effects, lackluster action scenes, and banal dialogue drew criticism. The movie failed to capture the imaginative fantasy of the Dungeon Siege games.
7. Mortal Kombat Annihilation (1997)
Tied for seventh place with a 3.7 IMDb rating, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation was a disappointing sequel with a confusing plot and poor effects. Fans of the first film were left feeling let down by this lackluster follow-up.
6. Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li (2009)
Another movie tied for eighth place with a 3.7 IMDb rating is Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li. The shallow plot and poor casting made it another letdown for fans of the video game series.
5. Far Cry (2008)
With a 3.2 IMDb rating, Far Cry is a critical disaster with a hollow plot and weak characters. Director Uwe Boll’s reputation for ruining beloved video game titles remained intact with this film.
4. Dead Trigger (2017)
Dead Trigger, also with a 3.2 IMDb rating, was blasted for its tired zombie narrative and low-budget visuals. Despite starring Dolph Lundgren, the movie’s poor performances and unconvincing effects sealed its fate.
3. BloodRayne (2005)
With a 3.0 IMDb rating, BloodRayne comes in third. Critics found its dialogue a disaster, switching between unintentionally funny and utterly ludicrous. Despite a big-name cast, shallow performances and clunky fight scenes doomed this film.
2. Alone in the Dark (2005)
Placing second with a 2.4 IMDb rating, Alone in the Dark was another flop by director Uwe Boll. Despite a hefty budget, the movie’s senseless plot and combination of ancient evil, government conspiracies, and childhood trauma left critics unimpressed.
1. House of the Dead (2003)
The worst video game movie adaptation with a 2.3 IMDb rating, House of the Dead tops our list. Terrible acting, a nonsensical plot, and outdated special effects contributed to its failure. Director Uwe Boll’s decision to incorporate footage from the video game only added to the movie’s strangeness.
Methodology
We used Gamer Brain’s list of all live-action video game movie adaptations and ranked them from worst to best based on their IMDb ratings.
Katy Willis is a writer, master herbalist, master gardener, and certified canine nutritionist who has been writing since 2002. She’s finds joy in learning new and interesting things, and finds history, science, and nature endlessly fascinating.
