Slowly but surely, games are overtaking movies, TV and music to become the most popular form of entertainment in the world. As Wi-Fi and mobile data connections continue to roll out across new areas of the globe – and mobile gaming becomes more and more popular – the pastime is accessible to a greater number of people than ever before. And there’s a type of game to suit everybody.
Whilst we’re keen to indulge our love of gaming with fellow fans at any chance we get, movies and TV shows still hold a special place in our heart. And that’s especially true when they happen to be about games and gaming! So, we’ve put together a list of our top movies about the subject, covering everything from the absolute classics to brand new favorites.
21 and Rain Man // Blackjack
It is commonly believed that blackjack originated in France around the year 1700, although the game quickly traveled the world, becoming popular in the USA during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. These days, you’re more likely to access a game of blackjack using an online platform like PokerStars rather than in a brick-and-mortar casino. Modern online platforms let players choose from several different variants such as classic to high roller so that they can try their hand at different styles.
The two great movies we recommend here, however, both feature some nail-biting card playing action on the Las Vegas strip itself. 1988’s Rain Man sees Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman play a pair of mismatched brothers attempting to use Hoffman’s character’s special skills to beat the dealer as they re-establish their brotherly bond. 2008’s 21 follows the story of six MIT students who take on the Vegas casinos and win, but not without causing plenty of drama away from the tables as they do so.
Jumanji and Clue // Board Games
Although based on a fictional board game, the fascination with Jumanji continues to this day. So much so, that two more movies have recently been released based on the same premise. Back in 1995, however, it was a brand-new concept and one which gave plenty of people more than a few sleepless nights.
The plot of the movie revolves around a group of friends attempting to escape from the terrifying consequences of unearthing the Jumanji board, all whilst trying to finish the game they have started. This is one of Robin Williams’ most poignant and memorable roles in a long career of great performances, so it’s definitely worth watching.
Clue, meanwhile, is pitched somewhere between comedy and mystery. A host of real-life characters are invited to a strange mansion one evening, where they take on the notorious roles from the infamous board game Cluedo. Their goal is to uncover the murderer among them before becoming victims themselves. This movie is guaranteed to get everybody laughing and boasts a stellar cast of 80s movie stars.
Black Mirror: Bandersnatch // Video Game Development
This feature-length episode of Netflix’s disturbing drama Black Mirror is certainly one to remember. It centers on the video game development industry during the 1980s and follows the progress of one programmer as he tries to bring his latest project to fruition. The twist is that the viewer can influence the plot at various points along the way; not only are there different endings to the story to unlock, but numerous different twists and turns you can take to get there.
The fate of Stefan is in your hands, which makes this an even more unnerving watch than the program’s usual fare and brings the experience closer to that of playing a video game. It’s been reported that there are over “a trillion permutations of the story” available, so you can watch this again and again but never see the same story twice.
Tomb Raider and Uncharted // Action-Adventure Games
In the world of action-adventure games, the Tomb Raider and Uncharted franchises stand out as two of the biggest success stories. They have both made valuable contributions to the genre as well as simply providing enjoyable games to play. However, Lara Croft and Nathan Drake have now both received the Hollywood treatment, with high profile movies being made based on the backstories of the characters.
The early 2000s famously saw Angelina Jolie take the role of Croft and the movies starring her were met with both critical and popular acclaim. For many, Jolie still remains the IRL archetype of that character, and these films still hold up to a rewatch. However, 2018 saw Alicia Vikander step up for a grittier and ultimately less camp telling of Lara’s story. This film may have received more praise from the critics, but has not received as much long-lasting love from fans as its earlier counterpart does.
2022, meanwhile, was the first time we saw Nathan Drake portrayed by an actor on our screens, and it seemed to go down well with fans of the video game franchise. Tom Holland’s Drake hasn’t made quite the impact that Jolie’s Croft did 20 years ago, but the movie is still well worth a watch, whether you’re a fan of the franchise or simply of the action-adventure genre in general.
