Summary
- Video game movies are highly anticipated after recent successes, leading to the adaptation of popular IP and franchises by Hollywood.
- Ghost of Tsushima, Street Fighter, and The Legend of Zelda are among the upcoming highly anticipated video game movie adaptations.
- Sequels such as Five Nights at Freddy's 2, Detective Pikachu 2, Sonic The Hedgehog 3, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2 are expected to continue their success.
The video game industry has flourished throughout the 21st century, surpassing Hollywood in revenue and profits, making gaming one of the most popular and thriving entertainment mediums. The success of video games has led Hollywood and big studios to look at the medium, with the movie industry beginning to adapt several popular IPs and franchises, allowing for many high-profile gaming icons such as Mario and Sonic to continue their success through cinema.
Even though some video game adaptations have been poorly received by audiences, the success of recent video game movies has accelerated Hollywood's production of popular franchises. In doing so, many become highly anticipated by video game fans, especially for those hoping to see cherished characters being faithfully adapted. There are many video game movies on the way, but some are more highly anticipated than others.
8 Five Nights At Freddy's 2
The First Movie's Success Has Resulted In Many Fans Anticipating The Sequel
- Release Date: December 5, 2025
Since the first Five Nights at Freddy's game was released in 2014, the horror franchise has developed and cultivated a hardcore fandom. Due to the popularity of the ever-growing franchise, Five Nights at Freddy's was released in 2023, with the movie being panned critically.
Nevertheless, on a $20 million budget, the movie was able to rake in $300m at the global box office thanks in part to its vocal and committed fanbase, which helped generate fanfare and notoriety online through the use of meme culture, resulting in audiences arriving in droves. With the return of Bonnie, Chica, Freddy Fazbear, and Foxy, Five Nights at Freddy's 2 is bound to be highly publicized and anticipated by its engaging fandom that has had an active hand in pushing the franchise to mainstream success.
7 Ghost Of Tsushima
A Samurai Epic That Is Sure To Look Beautiful On The Big Screen
- Release Date: TBA
With the success of recent PlayStation adaptations such as The Last of Us and Twisted Metal, Ghost of Tsushima is looking to be the next successful PlayStation story, with the potential live-action adaptation set to release in 2026.
Attached to the project is John Wick director Chad Stahelski, famed for his incredible action sequences coming from his experiences as a former stuntman, with the story of the heroic Jin Sakai set to be placed in the director's hands. Like the video game, audiences will hope to see a luscious and vibrant Japan as the setting for high-octane samurai action that establishes Ghost of Tsushima as a household franchise in cinema.
6 Street Fighter
Fighting Icons Ryu & Chun-Li Are Set To Come To Life In A Live-Action Adaptation
- Release Date: March 20, 2026
Since the late 80s, Capcom's Street Fighter has, as a video game franchise, ranked among the biggest fighting titles, competing with the likes of Mortal Kombat and Tekken, with its characters such as Ryu and Chun-Li making the franchise notable in the gaming space. Filled with a wide variety of differing characters who add personality and uniqueness to the franchise, it's only natural that a Street Fighter movie would eventually come to pass.
Most fans will be hoping the new Street Fighter movie will be of higher quality than the 1994 version of the same, which received much hate and backlash despite the franchise being in its infancy at the time of release.
5 Detective Pikachu 2
A Sequel To The Ryan Reynolds-Voiced Pikachu Movie
- Release Date: TBA
The video game and entertainment industry's biggest franchise, Pokemon, has diversified its content heavily in the last decade, moving on from being a console game to becoming a phenomenon in other mediums. The movie release of Detective Pikachu saw Ryan Reynolds voice the iconic Pokemon, Pikachu, with the film being received well by audiences, amassing $450m globally.
Although the Nintendo franchise's sequel has yet to be assigned an official release date, development is underway. It has yet to be confirmed whether Reynolds is returning or not, but it is almost guaranteed that more fan-favorite Pokemon will make an appearance in Detective Pikachu 2.
4 A Minecraft Movie
A Jason Momoa-Led Movie That Sees Jack Black Star As Steve
- Release Date: April 4, 2025
Since its release, Minecraft has ruled the video game industry, becoming one of the biggest franchises in the world, even outside of gaming. Minecraft's high player base and coverage through online content and memes have kept the game in the pop culture zeitgeist, with iconic characters such as Steve and Creepers becoming household names.
The newly released A Minecraft Movie trailer featuring Jason Momoa and Jack Black as Steve received a lukewarm response from most. However, a younger generation of Minecraft fans will be sure to be looking forward to the live-action adaptation of the child-friendly creative sandbox game.
3 Sonic The Hedgehog 3
Speedy Hedgehog Returns In Third Outing To Fight Shadow
- Release Date: December 20, 2024
To complete the trilogy, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 releases at the end of the year, with the famous hedgehog returning to take on Shadow, Sonic's iconic rival, along with the help of his colorful companions, Knuckles and Tails. Since Sonic the Hedgehog was released, the franchise has amassed over $700m, with the movies following iconic video game characters as they are placed in the real world.
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However, the Sonic the Hedgehog movies' biggest factor in its commercial and critical success has been the creation of a product that is both enjoyable for young moviegoers and older fans of the iconic Sonic franchise. Along with its high-profile cast, such as Keanu Reeves, Idris Elba, and Jim Carrey, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is set to be appreciated by fans and critics alike based on the performance of its predecessors.
2 The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2
The Iconic Italian Plumber Returns After The Success Of His First Encounter With Bowser
- Release Date: April 3, 2026
The return of Mario, Luigi, Peach, and many more is sure to be highly anticipated by fans of the ever-iconic video game behemoth that is the Mario franchise. The Super Mario Bros. Movie's release in 2023 was marked with much apprehension. However, the overwhelming fan approval and popularity led to the movie grossing $1.3 billion at the global box office, finishing only behind Barbie.
With Jack Black's entertaining and the popular Bowser potentially returning, fans eagerly await the next edition of Mario's adventures, with character additions such as Yoshi only contributing to the sequel's hype.
1 The Legend Of Zelda
Nintendo's Link And Zelda Will Soon Feature In A Live-Action Adaptation
- Release Date: TBA
In all of gaming, no franchise has achieved more critical acclaim than The Legend of Zelda, featuring the iconic hero Link, who aims to save Princess Zelda and Hyrule from the clutches of ghastly villains such as Ganondorf. The news of a live-action The Legend of Zelda movie has set the gaming community alight, with Link and Zelda fan castings going viral as the anticipation and hype builds.
With games such as Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask potentially being adapted to the big screen, fans of the blonde-haired, green-outfitted hero of Hyrule are eager to see Link and these acclaimed stories depicted in a different medium.