Theme: Games

Games are very similar to Sports – both are competitive in nature, can be played solo or in teams, involve a series of rules regarding play and crown a winner at the end. The principal difference as far as dictionary definitions seems to be that sports are more physical and competitive, whereas games are more often played seated and for fun. However there are plenty of examples where this is not the case.

This listing concerns itself with ways in which games appear in fantastic cinema. Games included here cover card, board, gambling and role-playing games. Videogames get their own entry under Films About Videogames.

Card games turn up with regularity in various settings, most notedly in the various adaptations of Alice in Wonderland (1865). Chess seems to be a game favoured by serial killers. There have been a surprise number of horror films centred around deadly versions of party games.

Both board and role-playing games have a habit of spilling over into reality or unleashing demonic forces. There are some films centred around games that might be played in the future.

For occasions on which actual games such as Battleship and Dungeons & Dragons have been adapted into films see Films Based on Toys and Games.