North Hollywood Producing Better Movie-Adaptations of Video Games after Filmmakers Change their Approach
Gaming and filmmaking have a long history, and it has not always been a positive one. Video game adaptations have a notorious reputation for being bad due to a combination of poor production and writing. Because of this, filmmakers have been reluctant to do any further film adaptations about them, especially production houses based in North Hollywood. However, recent changes to the approach of adapting games have significantly improved the quality of the movies, which gaming communities have thoroughly enjoyed.
Studios also know the potential market generated by the gaming community. Video game fans are interested in more than just farming currencies like OSRS gold pieces or leveling up their Valorant accounts. Gamers are also avid fans of high-quality productions based on their favorite games. By producing better adaptations, filmmakers can create a larger market and followership from the gaming community.
North Hollywood’s History with Adaptations of Video Games
North Hollywood has a rich history with video-game adaptations, as most of these movies were produced or distributed in that region. These films were mainly based on titles that were popular at some point in time. Here are some of the most notable movie games made or distributed in North Hollywood:
- Mortal Kombat (1995)
- Tomb Raider (2001)
- Doom (2005)
- Resident Evil (2002)
- Max Payne (2008)
- Warcraft (2016)
- Assassin’s Creed (2016)
- Rampage (2018)
- Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)
- Detective Pikachu (2019)
- Uncharted (2022)
Hollywood’s reputation with the gaming community is not generally positive, as there have been several films that have botched their attempts at adapting several games. The most notable being Doom, Max Payne, Assassin’s Creed, and Warcraft. These movies were seen as box office failures, bad adaptations due to horrible writing and production, or completely removed from the game. Because of this, many in the gaming community have a pre-conceived that any movie games coming out from Hollywood will always be wrong.
However, Hollywood has started proving gamers wrong, with many being either positively reviewed, box office successes, or both. Some of these adaptations have been popular enough to launch entire media franchises. Recent Success of Move Game Adaptations in North Hollywood
Despite the notoriety, production companies and film distributors in North Hollywood have recently done an excellent job in releasing highly-rated movies. Recently shown titles such as Sonic the Hedgehog, Detective Pikachu, and Uncharted are all box-office successes and well-received by critics. They also have a generally positive reception from the gaming community.
The success of these movies resulted from several changes in how Hollywood approaches these types of films. One of the most evident ones is how producers try to take the gaming community’s temperature regarding an upcoming project. Feedback from the public has been essential in the development, which was the case for Sonic the Hedgehog. The design for Sonic was revamped and improved after fans’ outcry with the original one, which resulted in better imagery and ultimately a better reception.
Another leading factor is how North Hollywood agencies are now willing to put in more money in developing these movies. Filmmakers have noted how viral good game teasers and trailers are and want to emulate this success in film production. Popular titles are now seen as excellent potential prospects for producing quality movies.
Aside from money, studios are now willing to invite more prominent names to work on the game adaptations. Top talents are being brought in for these projects because these films can earn prestige in the movie and gaming industry, which is a contrast from the not-so-distant past, where primetime actors typically shied away from video game adaptations. The involvement of great casts improves the quality of these movies even further. Examples are Jim Carrey in Sonic the Hedgehog and Tom Holland in Uncharted.
One of the most fundamental changes studios have made is to capture the spirit or essence of the game rather than making literal adaptations. Games tend to have more customized or sandbox progression, while movies need to be linear. As a result, films tend to have rushed developments or unclear plots. By focusing on the essence of the game or lore instead of just imitating the story, filmmakers can make adaptations that are more appropriate for the movie industry without removing themselves from their source material.
Game Adaptations are Extremely Lucrative and Profitable
It is still being determined how much game adaptations generate, but we can surmise it is a lot. Studios do not disclose their total profit, but the potential numbers can be estimated by looking at the recent box office success of some films. Here are some examples of the profit generated by North Hollywood movies about games:
- Sonic the Hedgehog – $319 Million Worldwide
- Uncharted – $401 Million Worldwide
These are just two adaptations, and they have already generated almost half a billion dollars. There are other box office successes like Detective Pikachu and Rampage, meaning the value could go up to billions. Aside from prestige, profitability is another driving force for producers to step up their game in making game adaptations.