As a longtime fan of both cinema and video games, I must say, it’s always a thrill to see these two worlds collide. However, the tales of these cinematic adaptations often read like cautionary tales for filmmakers. The stories of “In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale” and “Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within” are no exceptions.
2024 saw “Borderlands” struggle at the box office, earning a spot among the year’s notable flops in the realm of video game adaptations. This genre has been associated with underperforming films due to what was once considered a cinematic jinx known as the video game adaptation curse. However, the success of “Sonic the Hedgehog” and “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” seemed to challenge this supposed curse – albeit not completely, based on “Borderlands’ ” performance.
In terms of monetary losses in the video game movie genre, “Borderlands” might become one of the biggest financial flops yet, as it’s estimated to have cost its investors nearly $100 million (without accounting for advertising and promotion expenses). Other video game adaptations have also been infamous for losing similar amounts, equivalent to a small nation’s GDP. Notably, director Uwe Boll is associated with several of these films, yet he couldn’t help but jest about the “Borderlands” catastrophe.
Let’s examine some well-known video game adaptations that failed to recoup their production costs. In retrospect, many of these would have been better off sticking with their console or computer platforms, as their cinematic ventures turned out to be largely unmemorable.
Doom
Andrzej Bartkowiak’s “Doom” is reminiscent of James Cameron’s “Aliens,” but it’s set within the “Doom” universe. A team of Space Marines, under the command of the colossal Sarge (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson), respond to a distress signal from a research facility, where they face deformed nightmares and unthinkable horrors. The movie offers an exhilarating tribute to fans with a memorable first-person scene featuring Karl Urban’s Reaper blasting through corridors, leaving nothing but rubble and vanquished monstrosities in his wake.
Back in the day, I thought “Doom” was a slam dunk, but boy, was I wrong! The deluge of poor reviews swept through faster than the blast radius of the BFG9000, and soon it became clear that this sci-fi action flick was more suited for cozy home viewings on DVD. As time went by, even the director himself, Johnson, confessed that “Doom” missed the mark – it lacked that special charm to ignite our excitement. In the end, the film failed to recoup its massive $60 million production budget, with a box office take of just around $58 million.
Although “Doom” reached its end in 2005, it remains infinitely superior to the disappointing direct-to-video film titled “Doom: Annihilation”. In fact, the original version seems like a masterpiece next to the latter, which is reminiscent of “The Godfather” in quality.
Ratchet and Clank
The “Ratchet and Clank” video game series remains well-liked due to its visually stunning settings, creative arsenals, and endearing main characters: The feline-like Ratchet and the adorable robot named Clank. Transforming this into an animated movie was a logical decision considering the existing fanbase and the fact that the games’ cutscenes provide a blueprint for such productions.
2016’s “Ratchet and Clank,” helmed by director Kevin Munroe, known for his work on “TMNT,” boasts a star-studded cast including James Arnold Taylor, David Kaye, Sylvester Stallone, Paul Giamatti, Rosario Dawson, and John Goodman. Despite high expectations, the film didn’t quite capture the imagination of audiences or establish itself as the next big thing. Critics mainly focused on the film’s animation style and its unremarkable portrayal of the original source material.
The movie “Ratchet and Clank” didn’t do well at the box office, earning just $14.4 million compared to its production budget of $20 million. This poor performance was a significant blow to Focus Features’ production label, Gramercy Pictures, causing it to shut down for good after only a year of revival. Essentially, “Ratchet and Clank” marked the end of Gramercy Pictures.
Alone in the Dark
Similar to “Resident Evil,” the “Alone in the Dark” series is cherished by fans of survival horror video games. In 2005, German director Uwe Boll, frequently labeled as one of the poorest filmmakers ever, translated the exploits of private investigator Edward Carnby from screen to reality. However, true to form for Boll, he chose to loosely base the movie on the original story and carve his own path instead.
Regardless of whether the choice was wise or not, it’s hard to recall the storyline of this movie. However, the film boasted a strong ensemble, with Christian Slater portraying Carnby, Tara Reid as Aline Cedrac, and Stephen Dorff stepping into the role of Commander Richard Burke.
The movie “Alone in the Dark” was criticized as the worst film ever made by some, while others found it hilarious. However, regardless of its varied opinions, it didn’t gain widespread affection as a faithful adaptation of the well-known video game series. On Rotten Tomatoes, it earned an incredibly low 1% approval rating from critics. Additionally, financially speaking, it was a flop, grossing only $10.4 million globally against a production budget of $20 million. Interestingly, a sequel to the film, “Alone in the Dark II,” was released in 2008, but it wasn’t directed by Boll and didn’t bring back the original cast members.
Super Mario Bros.
Long before 2023’s “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” blew everyone away at the box office, another film about the world’s favorite plumbers existed. Released in 1993, the live-action “Super Mario Bros.” features the talents of Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo as Mario Mario and Luigi Mario respectively, while Dennis Hopper stars as King Koopa. But rather than embrace the bright and colorful palettes of the Mushroom Kingdom, it decides to go full-on bleak dystopian chic, looking like a gonzo prequel to Alex Proyas’ “Dark City.” The film failed in every department, as even the late Hoskins admitted it was the most woeful and regrettable movie of his illustrious career.
In a consensus among spectators and reviewers, this wasn’t your typical “Wahoo” kind of film, rather, it bore a stronger resemblance to “Mamma Mia”. However, after its debut, it amassed a dedicated fanbase, thanks largely to the dancing Goombas in an elevator scene. Despite not being as successful in the ’90s, it wasn’t the most financially disappointing video game adaptation ever made. The film carried a production budget of $50 million, but managed to gross $40 million worldwide. While the accountants may have shed a few tears over the financial shortfall, things could have been much more dire.
Postal
Greetings, Uwe Boll! It’s intriguing to bump into another project of yours once more. “Postal,” released in 2007, was marketed as an unconventional blend of action and comedy. Critics likened it to a real-life version of “South Park.” Based on the second game in the series, “Postal” features Zack Ward as the gun-wielding Postal Dude, with Osama bin Laden and George W. Bush also appearing in a contentious narrative. Additionally, J.K. Simmons, Rick Hoffman, and yourself are among the cast members here.
Similar to many of Boll’s films, “Postal” was met with harsh criticism from the majority, yet some argue it’s his finest work and effectively employs satire. Boll asserted that American theater distributors refused to show “Postal,” leading to a limited release that flopped at the box office upon its debut. The film also failed to make a significant impact globally, earning just $146,741 from a budget of $15 million.
Years later, Boll attempted to produce “Postal 2” via a Kickstarter campaign. Unfortunately, the project was scrapped as fans only managed to pledge slightly less than $30,000, while Boll required $500,000 for its production.
Monster Hunter
Mark Paul W.S. Anderson’s movie, “Monster Hunter,” with an asterisk. Despite costing $60 million to make, it barely surpassed the $42 million mark in worldwide earnings at the box office. It’s crucial to note that this film was released in December 2020, a time when the world was dealing heavily with the COVID-19 pandemic. People were mostly confined to their homes as countries enforced lockdowns or strict restrictions to contain the virus spread. Consequently, “Monster Hunter” wasn’t the only movie affected financially during this unusual period.
To put it simply, the movie adaptation of the Capcom video game series, where hunters fight monsters, didn’t manage to impress everyone when it came to popularity. Instead, it sparked debate among both critics and fans. This isn’t surprising for the film’s director or Milla Jovovich, who starred in “Monster Hunter”, as they experienced similar controversy with their past ventures into video game movies through the “Resident Evil” series. Unlike the “Resident Evil” films, however, which were commercially successful, this new movie didn’t fare as well at the box office.
BloodRayne
For over two decades, the “BloodRayne” series has been a significant influence on pop culture. This franchise is based on a video game series where the character Rayne, who is both half-vampire and half-human, defends humanity against various ghouls and monsters. In 2005, a live-action film adaptation of “BloodRayne” was released, directed by Uwe Boll, who continues to make an appearance on this list as one of the rare filmmakers whose entire body of work is critically panned. Kristanna Loken, known for her role in “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines,” stars as Rayne in this movie. She’s joined by Michael Madsen, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Rodriguez, Billy Zane, and Meat Loaf in this supernatural film that takes inspiration from the game series.
As a die-hard fan, I must admit that the star-studded film “BloodRayne” failed to live up to expectations, receiving harsh criticism from both critics and fans alike. This disappointment was further validated with six nominations at the Razzie Awards. Unfortunately, the box office didn’t offer much respite either, as the $25 million production managed to earn only a paltry $3.7 million worldwide.
Despite facing unfavorable criticisms and disappointing ticket sales, Boll was given a chance to develop two additional “BloodRayne” sequels following this movie. Unfortunately, these projects were released directly on DVD, with actor Natassia Malthe taking over the role of Rayne from Loken in their place.
DOA: Dead or Alive
The “Dead or Alive” fighting game series may not be as highly regarded as “Street Fighter,” “Mortal Kombat,” or “Tekken” within the genre, but it still has a dedicated and enthusiastic fanbase that warrants a live-action version. Regarding the 2007 film, “DOA: Dead or Alive,” it’s not the worst video game movie ever made; in fact, it incorporates some of the franchise’s inherent absurdity. Moreover, the chemistry between the cast is palpable, with notable performances from Jaime Pressly, Devon Aoki, Eric Roberts, and Kevin Nash that enliven an outlandish plot.
Despite facing stiff competition from major releases like “Ocean’s Thirteen,” “Surf’s Up,” “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer,” and “Live Free or Die Hard,” the movie unfortunately failed to make a significant impact at the global box office, earning just $7.8 million against its $30 million budget. In hindsight, it seems as though the film would have been more appropriately titled “DOA: Dead on Arrival,” as that was indeed its fate.
Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li
Steven E. de Souza’s movie adaptation of “Street Fighter” might not be celebrated as a cinematic masterpiece, but its dedicated acting and hilariously enjoyable dialogue have earned it a unique position in video game film history. Notably, it was Raul Julia’s final film appearance before his passing, where he delivered an exceptional acting lesson as M. Bison. Instead of creating a sequel to a movie that had modest box office success ($99.4 million on a $33 million budget), a reboot titled “Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li” was released in 2009.
In the film “The Legend of Chun-Li,” directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak, known for his work on “Doom,” we find familiar faces like Kristin Kreuk as Chun-Li, Michael Clarke Duncan as Balrog, Chris Klein as Charlie Nash, and Neal McDonough as M. Bison. While “Street Fighter” is filled with genuine excitement and amusement, “The Legend of Chun-Li” fails to live up to that standard, feeling more dull than Colonel Guile’s signature hairstyle. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has received only 3% approval from critics and 18% from audiences, suggesting a general dislike for this movie.
Despite a strong interest in seeing how poorly it fared, the movie adaptation of Chun-Li, which cost $50 million to produce, unfortunately only managed to earn $12.7 million globally. It can be concluded that the legend of Chun-Li (at least this version) met its end at that point.
In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale
2002 saw the highly successful launch of the role-playing game “Dungeon Siege,” which was met with widespread critical acclaim and massive sales. Its 2005 sequel continued this trend, further boosting the franchise’s popularity. Given the enthusiastic reception and an established fanbase, a live-action film adaptation seemed inevitable. However, it was announced that Uwe Boll would be directing the “Dungeon Siege” movie.
2007 saw the premiere of “In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale,” featuring Jason Statham, Claire Forlani, John Rhys-Davies, Ron Perlman, and Ray Liotta. Undoubtedly, there was no dearth of seasoned performers to bring this story to life. Moreover, the film boasted a substantial budget of $60 million, leading some to speculate if it would mark Uwe Boll’s first successful adaptation of a video game.
As a gamer, I was utterly disheartened when the reviews for this movie came in. Far from being the next epic like “Lord of the Rings”, it felt more like wading through a swarm of “Lord of the Houseflies”. Frankly, it was so bad that it didn’t even manage to smell up the theaters because hardly anyone bothered to watch it. By the time its theatrical run ended, “In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale” had made a paltry $13.1 million at the global box office. It was hard to believe, but after such a monumental flop, Boll still returned to direct two more sequels, “In the Name of the King: Two Worlds” and “In the Name of the King: The Last Mission”.
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
Guided by Hironobu Sakaguchi, the mastermind behind the “Final Fantasy” series, anticipation for the 2001 release of “Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within” reached unprecedented heights. With a creator who deeply grasped the franchise and cutting-edge animation that was impressive even for its time, coupled with a star-studded cast including Ming-Na Wen, Alec Baldwin, Donald Sutherland, and Ving Rhames, one would expect this to be a financial success, wouldn’t they? Unfortunately, that was not the case.
To start with, I must confess that the production of this movie took a staggering four years to come to fruition, swelling the budget to an astounding $137 million. In contrast, “The Matrix” had a production cost of just under half that amount ($63 million).
Borderlands
Eli Roth, the director, revealed that his idea for the “Borderlands” adaptation stemmed from an unusual source: watching his dog do its business. This oddly enough resonated with many viewers’ feelings upon seeing the initial trailer. The 2024 film boasts a star-studded cast featuring renowned and award-winning actors such as Cate Blanchett and Jamie Lee Curtis, but raised eyebrows when it took more than four years to be released after Roth was appointed director, hinting at potential issues with production.
After the disappointing Rotten Tomatoes reviews for “Borderlands”, it seemed almost certain that the movie would become a box office flop. The criticism was much worse than anyone had anticipated, suggesting that the film lacked the humor and fun found in the popular video games. Fans and critics alike felt that the movie failed to capture the essence of the first-person shooter series.
It’s said that the production cost of “Borderlands” was approximately between $110 and $120 million, with an extra $30 million spent on advertising. Unfortunately, the film failed to recoup its marketing expenses, earning less than $25 million globally. The true deserts were the cinemas that screened the movie, as very few people attended.
Interested in delving deeper into this genre? Take a look at every live-action video game movie, listed from worst to best for your perusal.
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2024-08-29 14:31