With yet another Resident Evil movie heading to theaters in September 2026, it's time to ask: does Hollywood really need to keep returning to the same gaming franchises? Director Zach Cregger's upcoming reboot marks the eighth film in the series and while we're cautiously optimistic about his fresh take, there's an entire universe of incredible video games waiting for their big-screen moment.
Don't get us wrong. We're not saying the new Resident Evil movie will be bad. Cregger has proven himself a talented horror director with Barbarian and Weapons, and a movie taking place parallel to the events of Resident Evil 2 while following an original character could be exactly what the franchise needs.
But Hollywood's tendency to return to the same wells repeatedly means amazing stories go untold. The video game industry has evolved tremendously over the past two decades, producing narratives that rival prestige television and award-winning films. It's time for adaptations to reflect that diversity.
Here are 15 video game adaptations we'd love to see before Hollywood gives us Resident Evil number nine.
- 1. BioShock
- 2. Mass Effect
- 3. The Legend of Zelda
- 4. God of War
- 5. Metroid
- 6. Red Dead Redemption
- 7. Portal
- 8. Dead Space
- 9. Horizon Zero Dawn
- 10. Dishonored
- 11. Batman: Arkham Series
- 12. Bloodborne
- 13. Alan Wake
- 14. Ghost of Tsushima
- 15. Spec Ops: The Line
1. BioShock
The underwater city of Rapture deserves a cinematic treatment. This philosophical horror game has everything with a dystopian setting, complex moral choices, unforgettable characters like Andrew Ryan, and those creepy Big Daddies.
The game's exploration of objectivism and free will would translate beautifully to film, offering something deeper than your typical action movie. Plus, the 1960s art deco aesthetic would look stunning on the big screen. The "Would you kindly" twist is one of gaming's most memorable moments and would work brilliantly in film.
Netflix is actually developing a BioShock movie with Francis Lawrence attached to direct, though it's been stuck in development for years.
2. Mass Effect
With its rich universe, compelling characters and epic space opera storytelling, Mass Effect is basically begging for a prestige TV adaptation. The story of Commander Shepard uniting the galaxy against an ancient alien threat has the scope of Star Wars with the character depth of Game of Thrones.
The diverse alien species, political intrigue and moral choices would give writers plenty of material for multiple seasons. Prime Video is reportedly moving forward with a Mass Effect series with showrunner Doug Jung attached. The Reapers alone would make for terrifying antagonists, and the relationships between crew members could drive fantastic emotional storylines between action sequences.
3. The Legend of Zelda
Link's adventures in Hyrule have been rumored for years, and honestly, it's shocking this hasn't happened yet. The franchise has everything you need for a fantasy epic. AÂ hero's journey, magical artifacts, memorable villains, and stunning world-building. Whether you adapt Ocarina of Time, Breath of the Wild, or create an original story, the material is gold.
Nintendo and Sony Pictures are actually in the works for a live-action Zelda film directed by Wes Ball. The first-look images show Bo Bragason as Zelda and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link in impressively accurate costumes.
4. God of War
The recent soft reboot of God of War proved this series has serious dramatic potential beyond just action. Kratos's journey through Norse mythology with his son Atreus is just the right kind of powerful father-son story wrapped in epic monster battles.
The emotional depth combined with spectacular action sequences would make for a compelling film or limited series. Prime Video has ordered two seasons with Ronald D. Moore as showrunner and Ryan Hurst as Kratos. The dynamic between a god trying to teach his son to be better than he was is perfect for serialized television.
5. Metroid
Samus Aran is one of gaming's most iconic characters, yet she's never gotten the Hollywood treatment. Her story as a bounty hunter exploring alien worlds while uncovering her mysterious past would work perfectly as a sci-fi thriller. Think Alien meets The Mandalorian, with a badass female protagonist who rarely needs to speak to command the screen.
The reveal of Samus being a woman was groundbreaking in 1986, and a modern adaptation could explore her tragic backstory with the Space Pirates and her relationship with the baby Metroid. The Power Suit's abilities alone would create spectacular action sequences.
6. Red Dead Redemption
The golden age of Westerns might be behind us, but Red Dead Redemption 2 proved there's still powerful storytelling to be found in the Old West. Arthur Morgan's story of loyalty and the death of the outlaw era would make for a stunning prestige drama.
The game already plays like a Cormac McCarthy novel. Just add cameras. Jack Black has publicly called for a Red Dead adaptation, saying it has a story as good as The Last of Us. The Van der Linde gang's slow dissolution as civilization closes in would be so great for rich character drama alongside the gunfights.
7. Portal
This mind-bending puzzle game starring GLaDOS, the passive-aggressive AI, would make for a unique sci-fi comedy-thriller. Chell's escape from the Aperture Science facility, armed only with a portal gun, offers endless visual possibilities. The dark humor and clever writing would translate perfectly, giving audiences something completely different from typical game adaptations.
GLaDOS's sarcastic commentary throughout the game is iconic, and Ellen McLain's voice performance should absolutely be preserved. The portal mechanics would allow for mind-bending action sequences we've never seen in cinema.
8. Dead Space
Before you say it's too similar to Alien, hear us out. Dead Space's claustrophobic horror aboard the USG Ishimura, combined with its religious cult angle and the terrifying Necromorphs, offers something fresh. Isaac Clarke's desperate fight for survival while investigating his missing girlfriend would work as either a film or series.
The strategic dismemberment gameplay could inspire genuinely innovative horror sequences. The Marker and the Church of Unitology add layers of psychological and religious horror that set it apart from standard space monster movies. The game's use of silence and industrial sound design creates atmosphere that would translate brilliantly to film.
9. Horizon Zero Dawn
Giant robot dinosaurs in a post-post-apocalyptic world where nature has reclaimed civilization? Yes, please. Aloy's journey to uncover the truth about the ancient past while hunting mechanical beasts is visually spectacular and narratively rich. The blend of primitive and futuristic technology would bring a unique aesthetic we haven't seen in mainstream cinema for so long.
The mystery of what happened to the old world and how the machines came to dominate is room for compelling sci-fi storytelling. Aloy herself is a strong protagonist whose journey from outcast to savior would work perfectly as either a film trilogy or prestige series.
10. Dishonored
This steampunk assassination game set in the plague-ridden city of Dunwall has serious cinematic potential. The story of Corvo Attano, falsely accused of murder and seeking revenge, combines political intrigue with supernatural powers.
The Victorian-era aesthetic and morally gray choices would work beautifully as a dark fantasy thriller. The Outsider's mystical marks granting supernatural abilities create opportunities for spectacular action sequences. The whale-oil powered technology and plague doctor imagery give Dishonored a distinctive visual identity that would stand out in the fantasy genre.
11. Batman: Arkham Series
We've had plenty of Batman movies, but none have captured the detective work and psychological depth of the Arkham games (and I will die on that hill). An adaptation focusing on Batman's one long night investigating a conspiracy at Arkham Asylum, facing off against his entire rogues' gallery, would be intense. Make it dark, make it claustrophobic and let it be the detective story Batman deserves.
The games proved Batman works best when he's using his brain as much as his fists, reconstructing crime scenes and psychological profiling. An R-rated limited series set entirely within Arkham Asylum over one night could be the definitive Batman adaptation.
12. Bloodborne
From Software's gothic horror masterpiece set in the Victorian city of Yharnam is dripping with atmosphere. A hunter investigating a city consumed by a mysterious plague that transforms people into beasts? That's premium horror material.
The Lovecraftian cosmic horror elements and intricate lore would reward careful adaptation. The slow reveal that the beast plague is connected to eldritch Old Ones creates layers of horror. The dream-like nightmare sequences and the haunting soundtrack would translate into deeply unsettling cinema if handled by the right horror director.
13. Alan Wake
This psychological horror about a writer whose fiction becomes reality practically adapts itself. The meta-narrative, Twin Peaks-style small town mystery, and genuinely creepy shadow enemies would translate well to a limited series.
With recent games bringing Alan Wake back into the spotlight, now's the perfect time. The episodic structure mirrors television perfectly with each chapter ending on a cliffhanger. The manuscript pages that predict future events have a unique storytelling device that would work brilliantly in visual media.
14. Ghost of Tsushima
Samurai films are a classic genre, and Ghost of Tsushima offers a visually stunning and emotionally powerful story. Jin Sakai's transformation from honorable samurai to the "Ghost" during the Mongol invasion of Tsushima is epic in scope while remaining intimate and personal.Â
The game's cinematography already looks like a Kurosawa film. The moral conflict between fighting with honor versus doing what's necessary to save your people provides genuine dramatic weight. The standoff duels and the relationship with Jin's uncle Lord Shimura are grounds for both spectacular action and emotional stakes.
15. Spec Ops: The Line
This military shooter turned psychological horror story offers a devastating deconstruction of war and video game violence. Captain Walker's descent into madness in a sandstorm-ravaged Dubai is basically Apocalypse Now for the modern era. It's dark and would make for an incredible film if done with courage and honesty.
The white phosphorus scene is one of gaming's most disturbing moments, forcing players to confront the horrors of modern warfare. The unreliable narrator structure and PTSD-fueled hallucinations create a film that could actually say something meaningful about war rather than glorifying it.
These 15 games are of different genres, tones and storytelling approaches. Some would work as blockbuster films, others as intimate character studies, and still others as prestige TV series. What they all have in common is rich source material that deserves a chance.
So yes, we'll watch the new Resident Evil movie when it hits theaters in September. But we'll also be hoping that its success inspires studios to take risks on something new. The world of gaming has so much more to offer than zombies and umbrella corporations, as great as those can be.
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