Film and Television Adaptations of Popular Video Games: Featuring The Last of Us and Beyond
The Last of Us, Five Nights at Freddy’s, and Super Mario Bros are just a few examples of popular video games that have made their way into television and film adaptations over the years.
In January 2023, HBO transformed The Last of Us from the acclaimed video game into a series, featuring Pedro Pascal as Joel and Bella Ramsey as Ellie. The show depicts their journey across a post-apocalyptic America, two decades after a zombie-like fungus devastated society. Ellie, however, possesses immunity to the infection, making her integral to developing a potential cure.
The Last of Us quickly achieved critical and commercial success, earning a renewal for a second season shortly after its debut. The upcoming season will draw from both the original game and its 2020 sequel, which continues the narrative of Joel and Ellie, now with a time leap involved.
On the other hand, Five Nights at Freddy’s encompasses nine video games that take place in a fictional family pizza restaurant chain known as Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. The 2023 film adaptation condenses the various storylines, centering on four animatronic mascots who serve as the primary antagonists.
“Our goal was to make this appealing to a younger audience, as there are many young fans of the franchise. We also aimed to replicate some of the jump scares that players experience in the game. The atmosphere and the sense of unease are what lingered with me the most,” director Emma Tammi shared with SlashFilm in October 2023. “Naturally, we’ve included the iconic jump scares that are frightening, but largely, it’s about creating that unsettling ambiance.”
Continue reading to discover more video games that have been adapted into other media:
