Throughout history, video games across the globe have evolved tremendously. Not only have they made their way off of cardboard playing boards and onto computer screens, but they have also managed to headline movie theaters worldwide with their popular film adaptations. Video game film adaptations such as “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” have become some of the highest grossing movies in history, breaking box office records and changing the course of Hollywood filmmaking forever.

Although the success of these film adaptations is undeniable and impressive, the underlying question of just how they have suddenly become so popular remains. Super Mario Bros. has always been an extremely well known and admired game, so why the sudden fuss over it to be on the big screen? Despite the fact that there will never be a true answer to this recurring question, people have made speculations, including researchers like MIDia and Rolling Stone.

“The appeal of these projects is clear: adapting an existing video game can establish a built-in audience for a new show or film,” said MIDia Research. “When done well, they not only generate their own revenue but also drive interest and sales back to the original property.”

The players of these video games were already invested in the adventures and stories that the games offered them well before the movie adaptations of them came out, and because these games have been around for so long, the overall development of “movie” versions of them were not necessarily difficult to produce.

“The truth is that video games have had narratives for as long as technology and have been able to support them,” Rolling Stone said. “Video games are uniquely qualified to tell stories in ways that completely immerse the player.”

Not only is this basis more efficient for the movies to be produced, but it also leaves little room for criticism from fans, because of the fact that the stories of the characters have already existed for years.

This new era of film adaptation and directing has brought video game characters to life for fans who have adored them for years through visuals and computer-generated imagery, allowing for the fan bases for these video games to double. Hollywood is and will continue to be transformed by this age of movie adaptations, empowering for more to be created in the future and increasing the amount of people tuning into them for generations to come.