Eli Roth's sci-fi action-comedy film, 'Borderlands', is based on the popular video game series of the same name.
It's quite interesting how the video game industry has taken over the world of entertainment in recent times. More than just high-tech graphics, modern-day games are into storytelling that provides you with an unparalleled experience. And hence, films and video games have crossed their paths multiple times over the years. Hollywood, in particular, has long been taking inspiration from games, bringing some of the popular series to the big screen. Eli Roth's 'Borderlands' is the latest addition to the list, which was released in the United States on August 9, 2024.
Cate Blanchett sports an action avatar in ‘Borderlands’
'Borderlands', starring Cate Blanchett as the lead, is based on the video game series of the same name. The series consists of seven games and has received both critical and commercial success from every corner of the world.
(Credit: entertainmentweekly)
But hold on, before you catch the film, how about watching (or revisiting) some of the iconic Hollywood films based on video game series?
Written and directed by Steven E. de Souza, the 1994 action film 'Street Fighter' is loosely based on the Japanese video game series of the same name. The first game in the series was released in 1987, followed by several other games, spin-offs, and more.
With total sales of 54 million units worldwide, 'Street Fighter' (the game) is one of the highest-grossing of all time. The film, on the other hand, was also a massive critical and commercial success. Starring Jean-Claude Van Damme and Raul Julia as the lead, it continues to remain a favorite of action lovers.
'Resident Evil', although a critical failure, is one of the highest-grossing film series based on a video game. The first installment in the film franchise, titled 'Resident Evil', was released in 2002, and was followed by 'Resident Evil: Apocalypse', 'Resident Evil: Extinction', 'Resident Evil: Afterlife', 'Resident Evil: Retribution', and 'Resident Evil: The Final Chapter'.
A still from ‘'Resident Evil: The Final Chapter'
The original Japanese video game series, known as 'Biohazard', is created by Capcom. It is popular for revolutionizing the 'survival horror' genre in video games and popularizing the "over-the-shoulder" third-person view.
'Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time' (2010) is an adaptation of the 2003 video game of the same name. Developed by Ubisoft Montreal, the game series follows a Prince "whose father sacks an ancient city at the instigation of a traitorous Vizier". It’s a widely popular game and has been recognized by many as one of the greatest ever.
Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time (2010) pic.twitter.com/32wQww8V7t
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(Credit: Mena Visuals)
Speaking about the film; it's directed by Mike Newell, and stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Ben Kingsley, Gemma Arterton, and Alfred Molina. Made on a budget of $150–200 million, the film grossed over $336.4 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing video game film adaptation at that time.
'Warcraft' is a 2016 action fantasy film based on the video game series of the same name. Directed by Duncan Jones, the film stars an ensemble cast including Travis Fimmel, Paula Patton, Ben Foster, Dominic Cooper, Toby Kebbell, Ben Schnetzer, Robert Kazinsky, and Daniel Wu. And interestingly, with a worldwide collection of $439.1 million, it became the first video game film to cross $400 million in ticket sales.
The video game series consists of six games: Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness, Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, and Warcraft Rumble. All of these are set in the fantasy world of Azeroth, and known for their sleek visuals and intricate plot twists.
(Credit: Legendary)
Besides these films, the list also includes 'Need for Speed', 'House of the Dead', 'Max Payne', etc.
