From plumbers to hedgehogs, the box office is embracing gaming’s biggest icons! Remember when video game movies were the laughingstock of Hollywood? Yeah, we too. For decades, it seemed like filmmakers just couldn’t crack the code on how to transform our favorite interactive experiences into compelling cinema.

We all sat through those painful early adaptations and wondered if games were just meant to stay on our screens at home.

Jordan Fry in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) | Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures

But wow, how things have changed! In recent years, video game adaptations have undergone a remarkable transformation, morphing from critical and commercial disappointments into genuine box office powerhouses.

Studios have finally figured out that respecting the source material while making necessary cinematic adjustments is the secret sauce to success. Now these movies aren’t just making money—they’re launching franchises, winning over critics, and yes, even making gamers happy.