tech
April 14, 2026
Beyond Super Mario Galaxy: 5 Lesser-Known Video Game Adaptations for Fans of the Genre
Critics called it a "big disappointment" and said "watching it is torture," but fans didn't care. Super Mario Galaxy: The Movie grossed nearly $373 million worldwide during its opening weekend, becoming Hollywood's best premiere of 2026.
TL;DR
- Super Mario Galaxy: The Movie achieved the best Hollywood premiere of 2026, grossing $373 million worldwide in its opening weekend, despite harsh critical reception.
- Video game adaptations are a consolidating trend in Hollywood, offering reliable material with established audiences and commercial potential.
- Lesser-known adaptations like Exit 8 (2025), Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (2022), Werewolves Within (2021), Persona 4: The Animation (2011), and Wing Commander (1999) are highlighted.
- Exit 8 is a minimalist Japanese horror film based on a game about detecting anomalies in an endless subway station.
- Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is a critically acclaimed Netflix anime series set before the Cyberpunk 2077 video game, praised for its love story and social critique.
- Werewolves Within is a low-budget horror-comedy based on a VR game, set in a snowbound Vermont town where villagers suspect a werewolf among them.
- Persona 4: The Animation is an anime adaptation of a cult RPG, following high school students investigating mysterious murders.
- Wing Commander (1999) is a science fiction film that, despite a poor box office performance, is noted for Mark Hamill reprising his video game role and has been viewed more favorably over time.