Publication date: April 3, 2024
Why live-action video game adaptations are overtaking superhero movies
By Movieguide® Contributor
After more than a decade of box office dominance, Hollywood is finally moving away from the superhero genre as video game adaptations take hold as the industry's next content.
2023 was a monumental year for video game adaptations. Content in this genre has been trickling in for a few years now, but his seven movies and his 19 TV shows based on video game IP exploded onto the scene. Total domestic ticket sales reached $712 million, up from $340 million in 2022, more than doubling the genre's overall box office revenue.
Superhero movies, on the other hand, saw a significant decline as almost all major productions underperformed or failed at the box office. Total domestic ticket sales were $1.02 billion, a far cry from 2022's $1.75 billion.
Super Mario Bros. MOVIE led the way in video game adaptations, finishing the year in second place at the box office and setting new records for animated films along the way. The film was a new twist on the popular IP that satisfied both children and adult audiences. The film is a family-friendly, moral, non-violent story that sets it apart from almost every superhero movie ever released. Super Mario Bros. MOVIE wins the Teddy Bear Award® for Best Family Movie of 2023.
Some Movieguide® reviews read:
Super Mario Bros. MOVIE (2023) has a strong moral message about brotherhood, sacrifice, and working together to overcome evil. The film has breathtaking animation that honors its iconic source material while breathing new life into a large cast of characters from both Mario video games and other Nintendo games in the same universe. For Mario and Luigi, their love for each other overcomes their deepest fears and helps them stand up to Bowser and his army of Koopalings, Goombas, and Piranha Plants. Due to the intense animated action and violence, Movieguide® advises caution with young children.
But the superhero genre often spews violence, and Marvel, under Disney's direction, often promotes an immoral agenda unsuitable for children. Viewers are also fed up with the amount of superhero content that has been produced relentlessly for over a decade.
For the average fan, superhero stories are often a daunting task to understand, as they require watching numerous movies and TV shows to fully understand the characters and their relationships. is common.
Video games often have deep lore, but filmmakers choose to follow less detailed plots while also including homages to deeper stories for fans looking for Easter eggs.
In addition to the relentless cascade of superhero content, the genre has become so corporate that many projects feel like soulless money grabs. Video game movies, on the other hand, are now produced by passionate fans who want to bring their favorite stories to the big screen. It also focuses on stories of good conquering evil, a popular theme among moviegoers.
With large audiences and passionate filmmakers, today's video game adaptations feel like the early stages of the superhero boom of the late 2000s and early 2010s. As video games become Hollywood's next big thing, fans can only hope that their projects maintain their passion and morals rather than following superheroes down the corporate path.
Movieguide® previously reported:
It's no secret that Marvel has struggled to maintain its huge popularity ever since Endgame was released in 2019. Executive producer Brad Winderbaum explained why the series has been struggling lately and how he plans to fix the problem.
“We learned a lot. We produced a lot of content very quickly, and we're primarily a film production company,” Winderbaum told ComicBook. “So you can see that our first show has a very cinematic structure. By the end, the characters are drawn. It feels like a standalone limited series.”
The MCU has also flooded the market with new series and movies released almost every month for years. This reduced the quality of the work, took an enormous amount of time to keep track of all the branching stories, and caused fan burnout.
“Marvel's main contribution was simply being a standard setter, and sometimes guilty of rushing things too quickly in a way that ended up being inconsistent and less resonant.” Forbes reported.
Now more than ever, we are exposed to the dark side of media, film, and television. Movieguide® has been fighting back to promote uplifting, positive content within Hollywood for nearly 40 years. We are proud to have worked with some of the top players in the industry to influence and redeem Yes entertainment. Still, you are the most influential person in Hollywood. The person who sees it.
There is power in what you hear, see, and read. Movieguide® wants to provide resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can't do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference for just $7. It only takes a moment. If you are able, please consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever, we are exposed to the dark side of media, film, and television. Movieguide® has been fighting back to promote uplifting, positive content within Hollywood for nearly 40 years. We are proud to have worked with some of the top players in the industry to influence and redeem Yes entertainment. Still, you are the most influential person in Hollywood. The person who sees it.
There is power in what you hear, see, and read. Movieguide® wants to provide resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can't do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference for just $7. It only takes a moment. If you are able, please consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
