Some Video Game Related Movies to Start the New Year
TL;DR
It’s the start of a new year and you want to fit some quality movies into your entertainment rotation. But does the thought of missing video game time get you down? Check out my 3 suggestions for Video Game related movies to dive into.
Let’s All Go to the Movies
Though our shared love for video games is undeniable, it can be refreshing to occasionally step away from the console and immerse ourselves in a more passive form of media. That may take the form of a good book. Sometimes, perhaps we’d prefer to complete what we started in a single sitting, making movies a great option. Yet, we crave to remain in a video game related space.
These are my top 3 recommendations for video game related movies to watch in 2025, presented in no particular order. Please note that these movies are not new for 2025 and have been out for varying amounts of time. Similar to my post suggesting some book options, the expectation is not to surprise with a new movie you have never heard of, though that may occur. My goal is to highlight a fantastic movie you might have overlooked when it was first released, but which could now serve as the perfect gateway into 2025 movie watching.
Tetris
Directed by Jon S. Baird
Tetris, the all-time classic video game that has led to countless iterations and clones, needs no introduction. Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, the easy to play but difficult to master game has been published on more than 65 platforms since release. You may also be familiar with its creator Alexey Pajitnov, the computer programmer from Moscow who conceived of the addictive gameplay while recalling childhood memories of playing with pentominoes, later bringing Tetris to life on archaic Soviet era computers.
But were you aware of the international intrigue, sabotage and risk to life and limb involved with its export from the former Soviet Union? The Tetris movie takes shape as a biographical thriller, following the tale of Pajitnov and future partner Henk Rogers in the latter’s quest to bring Tetris to the West. While certainly dramatized, as biopics are, it doesn’t matter. If this isn’t exactly how history played out, then it’s certainly how this gamer believes it should have. Pajitnov and Rogers, played by Nikita Efremov and Taron Egerton respectively, portray tense Cold War interactions flawlessly. Just as impressive, the pair’s budding friendship is communicated to the viewer in heartwarming fashion. One-part Bourne Identity, one-part Rush Hour, I found Tetris to be a great watch.
Tetris is currently available on Apple TV+.
Console Wars
Directed by Jonah Tulis
& Blake J. Harris
If you prefer watching a more straightforward documentary, then this would be the choice for you. Based on the book by the same name, Console Wars dives into the behind-the-scenes battles and strategies employed by David and Goliath companies as they vied for dominance in a rapidly expanding video game market. Consider this a great watch for anyone with an appreciation for history, or of video games as an industry. While particularly applicable for any who remember the schoolyard ‘Nintendo vs Sega’ battles of yesteryear, it’s just as true for those simply wishing to learn more about that golden age.
While the narrative centers around Tom Kalinske, former Sega of America CEO, the movie hosts a wide cast of players from across both companies. Throughout the movie, we watch as they explore the high stakes and deeply personal battles that played, as it turns out, not just in schoolyards but across boardrooms and up through the halls of Congress. Yet more than just a corporate saga, Console Wars celebrates innovation and perseverance while providing a look at the personalities and decisions that shaped a generation of video gamers.
Console Wars is currently available on Paramount+.
Hundreds of Beavers
Directed by Mike Cheslik
Jean Kayak, a successful applejack maker circa the 1800’s, loses his orchard to a tragic beaver-related accident. Facing a harsh winter, he must learn to survive through his ingenuity and perseverance. Can Jean learn from his mistakes and triumph over folly to master a new trade, win love and find redemption? A silent, slapstick comedy, it would be difficult to see why Hundreds of Beavers would be on this list. What about this movie could possibly link it with the world of Video Games? In fact, there are so many reasons!
At a high level, we see an aesthetic that calls to mind Cuphead and a merchant that pays homage to The Legend of Zelda. Dig deeper and we’re presented with scene after scene depicting Jean working through problems logically in way that will look familiar to any video gamer who has ever tried to capture some mythical creature or escape a dungeon. Add to this a story that both made me laugh and saw me invested in seeing our protagonist finally come out on top, and you have a great movie to watch. Don’t let the silent movie aspect of this one give you pause. Hundreds of Beavers uses this to its advantage in much the same way The Artist did years earlier. Sometime the less said, the better.
Hundreds of Beavers is currently available on Amazon Prime streaming.
Leave a Reply