The series “One of us” (The Last of Us) shatters viewing records and has earned confirmation as the strongest video game adaptation to date. It is widely hailed as a landmark achievement in television, drawing praise for its faithfulness to the source material while expanding the story in cinematic scale. Yet after the third episode, questions began to surface, prompting a broader conversation about how game adaptations perform across platforms. This piece revisits notable film and television adaptations of video games on both large and small screens, presenting a curated list of standout examples. It emphasizes quality and impact, noting that if a title is missing from the list it simply means it did not resonate as strongly with this particular reviewer.
Mortal Kombat
- Year of release: 1995;
- Genre: action, fantasy, adventure;
- Format: feature film;
- Running time: 101 minutes;
- Rating on IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes/Kinopoisk: 5.8/45% from critics, 57% from viewers/7.6;
- Directed by: Paul W. S. Anderson;
- Budget: $18,000,000;
- Global earnings: $122,195,920;
- Age: 16+.
“Mortal Kombat” stood as a defining example of 90s action cinema and a high water mark for video game-based adaptations. Its memorable characters, kinetic fight sequences, and clear fan service captured attention and left a lasting imprint on the industry. The subsequent sequel, “Mortal Kombat 2: Annihilation,” failed to replicate that success and drew notably lower ratings from both critics and fans. Even with its cult status, the original still feels dated to modern viewers. Today it reads as a nostalgic artifact with a straightforward plot that may not hold a contemporary audience without some changes. Modern installments in the Mortal Kombat franchise show deeper storytelling and demand different kinds of adaptation work that speaks to current audiences and storytelling standards.
References and assessment presented here reflect a retrospective view of the period and its impact on genre filmmaking and game-to-film transitions. While the landscape has evolved, the original film remains a touchstone in conversations about how to translate interactive experiences into live action, with a legacy that continues to influence later projects.
Source: VG Times