‘Mortal Kombat’: Is the new movie the best video game movie of all-time?
The 2021 Mortal Kombat film landed with a modest critical reception, sitting at 55 percent on the Tomatometer, yet it still sparked the familiar debate about whether any video game adaptation can truly rise above the pack. The movie delivered the expected tournament fights and signature fatalities, even if its script and one-liners kept it from elite status. That conversation has only grown more crowded since then, with new theatrical hits and prestige television entries reshaping what counts as a strong adaptation. The question remains whether the 2021 entry deserves the top spot, or whether stronger contenders have since claimed it.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)
The Super Mario Bros. Movie arrived in 2023 and immediately reset expectations for the genre. Directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, the animated feature grossed more than 1.36 billion dollars worldwide while earning praise for balancing fan service with accessible humor. Reviewers noted its colorful Mushroom Kingdom visuals and brisk pacing as key strengths. The film showed that a video game property could succeed both commercially and critically without leaning on grimdark tone or watered-down plotting. Its performance placed fresh pressure on live-action entries like Mortal Kombat to justify their own rankings.
Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)
The 2020 Sonic the Hedgehog film introduced the Sega speedster to mainstream audiences after a much-discussed redesign fixed the early trailer complaints. Jeff Fowler directed a story that placed Sonic on Earth, where he teams with a local sheriff to outmaneuver Dr. Robotnik before the villain can harness the hedgehog’s power. The cast included James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, and Ben Schwartz voicing Sonic, with Jim Carrey chewing scenery as the egg-shaped antagonist. The movie’s solid box office led to sequels that extended the franchise’s reach. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 arrived in 2022 and collected 405 million dollars globally, while Sonic the Hedgehog 3 followed in December 2024, keeping the series in active conversation about reliable video game adaptations.
Tomb Raider (2018)
Alicia Vikander’s 2018 take on Lara Croft updated the character for a younger audience while retaining the globe-trotting adventure tone. The plot follows Lara as she investigates her missing father, traveling to a mysterious island tomb that holds answers about his disappearance. Walton Goggins, Dominic West, Nick Frost, and Daniel Wu rounded out the supporting cast. The film was widely viewed as an improvement over the 2001 original. Plans for a direct sequel were cancelled in 2022 after rights complications, yet a new reboot is now in development at Amazon MGM Studios, signaling continued studio interest in the property.
Pokemon Detective Pikachu
The 2019 Detective Pikachu film leaned into nostalgia while crafting a self-contained mystery set in a live-action Ryme City. Ryan Reynolds voiced the wisecracking Pikachu who partners with Justice Smith’s Tim Goodman to locate his missing father. The movie preserved the visual language of the games without demanding deep franchise knowledge from casual viewers. A sequel has remained in development for years, though no release date has been confirmed as of 2026. The project continues to represent one of the more affectionate game adaptations even without a follow-up locked in.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024)
The third Sonic installment built directly on the momentum of its predecessors, expanding the roster with new characters and escalating stakes. Released in December 2024, the film kept the blend of slapstick energy and earnest friendship themes that defined the earlier entries. Its placement in the release calendar underscored how the Sonic series has become one of the more consistent theatrical franchises drawn from video games. The continued output also illustrates how studios can sustain audience interest across multiple chapters when the core tone lands correctly from the start.
The Last of Us (HBO Series)
The HBO adaptation of The Last of Us shifted the discussion beyond theatrical releases by delivering two critically lauded seasons that many viewers and reviewers consider among the strongest game adaptations in any medium. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey anchored the post-apocalyptic father-daughter journey with performances that translated the game’s emotional weight to television. The series demonstrated that prestige formatting can honor source material without sacrificing narrative scope or production values. Its success prompted fresh questions about whether the best video game stories might ultimately belong on the small screen rather than competing for multiplex space.
Upcoming 2026 Releases
The 2026 slate includes Mortal Kombat II alongside a Resident Evil reboot and a new Street Fighter project. Each film enters a market that now measures success against both The Super Mario Bros. Movie and the HBO prestige benchmark. Early casting and creative team announcements suggest studios are still willing to invest in the genre, yet the bar for critical approval and audience turnout has clearly risen. How these upcoming titles perform will likely influence whether the 2021 Mortal Kombat retains any claim to the upper tier or simply becomes another chapter in an expanding catalog.
