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The Science Fiction Horror and Fantasy Film Review

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Theme: Videogames


Videogames refers to games that are played on a video or computer with the user interacting with action that is happening on the screen. The first videogames appeared in the 1970s and expanded into arcades in the 1980s and then the home computer and game box to more recently mobile phone apps.

There have been films about videogames since the 1980s variously depicting people sucked inside game environments and Virtual Reality games, or stories where game characters step into the outside world. An increasingly popular trope is the twist where characters discover that they are characters inside a game.

For films that have been adapted from videogames see Videogame Adaptations.


Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie (2014)

4 September 201527 August 2019

Rating: ★

Videogame Reviewer’s Quest/Deliberately Bad Film

Director: Kevin Finn, James Rolfe
Actors: James Rolfe, Jeremy Suarez, Sarah Glendening, Stephen Mendel, …
Category: Science Fiction

Arcade (1994)

14 June 200221 January 2020

Rating: ★

Malevolent Virtual Reality Game

Director: Albert Pyun
Actors: Megan Ward, John DeLancie, Peter Billingsley, Norbert Weisser, …
Category: Science Fiction

Assault Girls (2009)

24 July 201121 November 2021

Rating: ★★

Virtual Reality Videogaming

Director: Mamoru Oshii
Category: Science Fiction

Avalon (2001)

3 July 200327 November 2019

Rating: ★★★★

Virtual Reality

Director: Mamoru Oshii
Category: Science Fiction

Beta Test (2016)

10 February 201710 March 2025

Rating: ★

Live-Action Videogaming/Mind Control

Director: Nicholas Gyeney
Actors: Manu Bennett, Larenz Tate, Linden Ashby, Bill Sorice
Category: Science Fiction

Brainscan (1994)

25 August 200220 July 2022

Rating: ★★½

Deadly Virtual Reality Game

Director: John Flynn
Actors: Edward Furlong, Frank Langella, Amy Hargreaves
Category: Science Fiction

The Call Up (2016)

6 October 201728 April 2023

Rating: ★★

Deadly Live-Action Videogame

Director: Charles Barker
Actors: Max Deacon, Morfydd Clark, Tom Benedict Knight, Ali Cook, …
Category: Science Fiction

Choose or Die (2022)

11 December 202311 December 2023

Rating: ★

Cursed Videogame

Director: Toby Meakins
Actors: Iola Evans, Asa Butterfield, Eddie Marsan, Angela Griffin, …
Category: Horror

Cybertech P.D. (1995)

12 April 20032 June 2020

Rating: ★★★

Cyberpunk

Director: Rick King
Actors: Lorenzo Lamas, Kari Wuhrer, Chris Sarandon, Peter Coyote, …
Category: Science Fiction

Ender’s Game (2013)

2 November 201327 March 2020

Rating: ★★

Space Military Recruits in Training

Director: Gavin Hood
Actors: Asa Butterfield, Harrison Ford, Ben Kingsley, Abigail Breslin, …
Category: Science Fiction

eXistenZ (1999)

22 May 19991 July 2022

Rating: ★★½

Virtual Reality

Director: David Cronenberg
Actors: Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jude Law, Willem Dafoe, Ian Holm, …
Category: Science Fiction

Free Guy (2021)

2 October 202112 October 2024

Rating: ★★★★

Man Discovers He is a Videogame Character

Director: Shawn Levy
Actors: Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Comer, Taika Waititi, Joe Kerry, …
Category: Science Fiction

Game Over (2019)

19 July 202119 July 2021

Rating: ★★

Bollywood Horror

Director: Ashwin Saravanan
Actors: Taapsee Pannu, Vinodhini, Anish Kuruvilla, Ramya, …
Category: Horror

Gamer (2009)

30 January 201015 October 2024

Rating: ★★

Future Live-Action Videogames

Director: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor
Actors: Gerard Butler, Michael C. Hall, Amber Valletta, Logan Lerman, …
Category: Science Fiction

Ghost Machine (2009)

14 April 20133 May 2021

Rating: ★

Malevolent Spirit Manifests Inside Virtual Reality

Director: Chris Hartwill
Actors: Sean Faris, Rachael Taylor, Luke Ford, Richard Dormer, …
Category: Science Fiction

Haphead (2015)

17 March 201710 December 2024

Rating: ★★★

Life in a Post-Cyberpunk World

Director: Tate Young
Actors: Elysia White, David Straus, Joanne Jansen, Kwame Kyei-Boateng, …
Category: Science Fiction

Hellraiser: Hellworld (2005)

8 September 202011 October 2022

Rating: ★

Sadomasochistic Demons

Director: Rick Bota
Actors: Lance Henriksen, Doug Bradley, Henry Cavill, Khary Payton, …
Category: Horror

How to Make a Monster (2001)

16 October 20012 September 2021

Rating: ★★

Cyborg Suit Amok

Director: George Huang
Actors: Clea DuVall, Steven Culp, Jason Marsden, Tyler Mane, …
Category: Science Fiction

Jumanji: The Next Level (2019)

7 March 202027 December 2024

Rating: ★★

Trapped Inside a Videogame

Director: Jake Kasdan
Actors: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Jack Black, …
Category: Fantasy

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)

25 March 201825 December 2024

Rating: ★★

Trapped Inside a Jungle-Themed Videogame

Director: Jake Kasdan
Actors: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Karen Gillan, …
Category: Fantasy

The Last Starfighter (1984)

20 June 200226 December 2024

Rating: ★

Videogame Junkie Joins Intergalactic War

Director: Nick Castle
Actors: Lance Guest, Dan O'Herlihy, Robert Preston, Catherine Mary Stewart, …
Category: Science Fiction

Level Five (1996)

12 December 200425 October 2019

Rating: ★★

Virtual Reality Game/World War II Documentary

Director: Chris Marker
Actors: Catherine Belkhodja
Category: Science Fiction

Max Reload and the Nether Blasters (2020)

20 February 2022

Rating: ★★★

Videogamers vs Unleashed Demonic Entity

Director: Scott Conditt, Jeremy Tremp
Actors: Tom Plumley, Greg Grunberg, Kevin Smith, Hassie Harrison, …
Category: Fantasy

The Midnight Club (2022)

21 October 20229 November 2023

Rating: ★★★

Teenagers Tell Horror Stories

Director: Mike Flanagan, Michael Fimognari, Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour Jr, Axelle Carolyn, …
Actors: Iman Benson, Igby Rigney, Ruth Codd, William Chris Sumpter, …
Category: Horror

Never Say Never Again (1983)

25 August 20028 October 2024

Rating: ★★★★

James Bond Film

Director: Irvin Kershner
Actors: Sean Connery, Kim Basinger, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Barbara Carrera, …
Category: Science Fiction

Nirvana (1997)

23 September 200721 September 2024

Rating: ★★★★

Cyberpunk

Director: Gabriele Salvatores
Actors: Christopher Lambert, Stefania Rocca, Emmanuelle Seigner, Sergio Rubini
Category: Science Fiction

Pixels (2015)

25 July 201522 May 2020

Rating: ★★

Alien Invaders Bring Classic Videogames to Life

Director: Chris Columbus
Actors: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Michelle Monaghan, Peter Dinklage, …
Category: Science Fiction

Ra. One (2011)

17 June 20122 October 2021

Rating: ★★

Bollywood Film/Superhero Emerges From a Videogame

Director: Anubhav Sinha
Actors: Shah Rukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Tom Wu, Shahana Goswami, …
Category: Science Fiction

Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018)

12 May 201920 February 2020

Rating: ★★★

Disney Animation/Videogame Characters Venture Onto the Internet

Director: Phil Johnston, Rich Moore
Actors: John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Gal Gadot, Taraji P. Henson, …
Category: Fantasy

Ready Player One (2018)

29 September 201810 June 2025

Rating: ★★½

Virtual Treasure Hunt Through 1980s Pop Trivia

Director: Steven Spielberg
Actors: Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Mark Rylance, …
Category: Science Fiction

Relaxer (2018)

19 October 202126 March 2023

Rating: ★★★★

Slacker Plays a Videogame Amid Surreal Happenings

Director: Joel Potrykus
Actors: Joshua Burge, David Dastmalchian, Andre Hyland, Adina Howard, …
Category: Fantasy, Science Fiction

Rise of the Fellowship (2013)

6 August 20159 July 2019

Rating: ★★

Lord of the Rings Gaming Nerds on a Road Trip

Director: Ron Newcomb
Actors: Justin Moe, Jayme Bell, Cole Matson, Emma Earnest, …
Category: Fantasy

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)

15 August 201023 July 2024

Rating: ★★½

Teenage Nerd Romance/Gonzo Superheroics

Director: Edgar Wright
Actors: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin, Mark Webber, …
Category: Fantasy

Serenity (2019)

27 November 20202 October 2021

Rating: ★

Romantic Thriller/Reality Bender

Director: Steven Knight
Actors: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jason Clarke, Diane Lane, …
Category: Fantasy

Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021)

24 July 20217 June 2025

Rating: ★★

Toon Basketball Game

Director: Malcolm D. Lee
Actors: LeBron James, Don Cheadle, Sonequa Martin-Green, Cedric Joe, …
Category: Fantasy

Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003)

13 January 20045 October 2023

Rating: ★★

Adventures Inside a Videogame

Director: Robert Rodriguez
Actors: Daryl Sabara, Sylvester Stallone, Ricardo Montalban, Alexa Vega, …
Category: Science Fiction

Spy Kids: Armageddon (2023)

7 October 20237 October 2023

Rating: ★★½

Juvenile Spy Adventures

Director: Robert Rodriguez
Actors: Zachary Levi, Gina Rodriguez, Connor Esterson, Everly Carganilla, …
Category: Science Fiction

Stay Alive (2006)

19 January 20086 December 2021

Rating: ★

Countess Bathory Inside a Computer Game

Director: William Brent Bell
Actors: Jon Foster, Frankie Muniz, Samaire Armstrong, Sophia Bush, …
Category: Horror

The Thirteenth Floor (1999)

16 June 199926 October 2019

Rating: ★★

Virtual Reality

Director: Josef Rusnak
Actors: Craig Bierko, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Gretchen Mol, Vincent D'Onofrio, …
Category: Science Fiction

Toys (1992)

18 February 20026 May 2025

Rating: ★★★★

Toy-Maker Wars/Gonzo Fantasy

Director: Barry Levinson
Actors: Robin Williams, Michael Gambon, Joan Cusack, Robin Wright, …
Category: Fantasy

Tron (1982)

18 December 20022 October 2021

Rating: ★★★★

Journey into Cyberspace

Director: Steven Lisberger
Actors: Jeff Bridges, David Warner, Bruce Boxleitner, Cindy Morgan, …
Category: Science Fiction

Virtual Combat (1995)

5 May 200121 January 2020

Rating: 0­

Virtual Characters Come to Life/Action

Director: Andrew Stevens
Actors: Don 'The Dragon' Wilson, Athena Massey, Michael Dorn, Turhan Bey, …
Category: Science Fiction

WarGames (1983)

25 August 200213 February 2020

Rating: ★★★½

Teen Hacker Accidentally Triggers Nuclear War

Director: John Badham
Actors: Matthew Broderick, Ally Sheedy, John Wood, Dabney Coleman, …
Category: Science Fiction

WarGames: The Dead Code (2006)

13 August 20095 June 2025

Rating: ★

Teen Hacker Thriller/Amok A.I.

Director: Stuart Gillard
Actors: Matt Lanter, Amanda Walsh, Colm Feore, Chuck Shamata, …
Category: Science Fiction

The Warriors Gate (2016)

2 October 201725 December 2023

Rating: 0­

Videogamer Transported to Ancient China

Director: Matthias Hoene
Actors: Uriah Shelton, Mark Chao, Ni Ni, Dave Bautista, …
Category: Fantasy

Wreck-It Ralph (2012)

31 October 201226 January 2020

Rating: ★★★★

Disney Animation/The Secret Lives of Videogame Characters

Director: Rich Moore
Actors: John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch, …
Category: Fantasy

Zombieworld (2015)

15 February 201819 June 2025

Rating: ★★★

Anthology of Zombie Short Films

Director: Peter Horn, Jared Marshall, Adrian Cardona, David Munoz, …
Actors: Bill Oberst Jr.
Category: Horror

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Contact Moria

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Theme Essays

  • Films About Atlantis
  • Werewolf Films
  • Virtual Reality
  • Imprisonment Thrillers
  • Films Depicting NASA and the Space Program
  • Human Bloodsports and Death Games
  • Animals Attack Films
  • Films About Plague and Pandemic
  • Disaster Movies
  • Steampunk Films
  • Documentaries
  • Films About Halloween
  • Films About Prophecy
  • Magicians and Sorcerers
  • Secret Societies
  • Real-Life People in Fiction
  • Techno-Thrillers
  • Twins in Fantastic Cinema
  • Asylums
  • Possession Films
  • Films About Imaginary and Magical Lands
  • Religion in Fantastic Cinema
  • Romantic Comedies
  • Film Noir
  • Spy Films
  • Jekyll and Hyde Films
  • Films That Make Dubious Claims to Being True Stories
  • Coming of Age Stories in Fantastic Cinema
  • Films About Cryogenics and Suspended Animation
  • Alternate History Films
  • Disturbed Psychology as Portrayed on Film
  • Law Enforcement in Fantastic Cinema
  • Weird Westerns
∧

Copyright Richard Scheib 1999-2025

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