Published Feb 10, 2026, 10:00 AM EST
Kevin Pantoja is a writer and editor at Screen Rant based in New York City, where he brings deep expertise in blockbuster franchises ranging from Harry Potter and Spider‑Man to Succession and the MCU. A passionate storyteller with a creative writing degree (Valedictorian, Full Sail University), Kevin blends entertainment news, feature essays, and pop‑culture commentary into engaging, audience-first content
Films based on video games don't have the greatest reputation, but that's changing and 2026 is set to be a massive year for the genre. The earliest video game movies were misfires both critically and commercially, from Super Mario Bros. to Street Fighter to most of the Resident Evil franchise.
The tide has turned, with recent years giving us stronger video game movies like Sonic the Hedgehog and Detective Pikachu. 2026 is going to be an even bigger time for the genre and it's thanks to, oddly enough, new versions of those aforementioned bad video game movies.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Is Sure To Be A Hit
While the year got off to a rocky start with the lackluster reviews for Return to Silent Hill, things are set to turn around with The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. Arriving on April 1, 2026, this is the sequel to 2023's The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which was a massive hit that grossed over $1 billion.
The sequel is sure to be just as big, if not bigger. Even if the film isn't all that well-received, it's almost a guarantee to come in near $1 billion again or surpass it, making it one of the top hits for a video game movie ever. That makes it a success regardless of how critics feel about it.
That said, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie should do well critically. It was clear by the first installment that the filmmakers understand what works about this franchise and they seem to be doubling down this time around. The returning cast is a standout again, while Brie Larson joins as Rosalie.
Fans of the games are sure to love this and there are certainly plenty of fans of the Super Mario franchise.
Mortal Kombat II Should Build On A Solid First Film
In 1995, Mortal Kombat hit theaters and while it wasn't well-received by critics, fans loved it. To this day, they still watch it back and it's something of a cult classic. The sequel was one of the worst films of the '90s, shelving the franchise outside a solid string of animated releases.
2021 brought it back to the big screen and while it again wasn't beloved, it was a strong first entry. They established the world, gave us what we love about the games, and teased just enough of the actual titular tournament. Mortal Kombat II arrives on May 8, and will have the big tournament.
That means this film should build on the foundation that the first movie set up. That's what everyone wants and they're doing so by shifting the protagonist. Fans weren't too happy with an original character at the center of the 2021 film and though Cole Young is back, Johnny Cage is front and center.
Casting Karl Urban as Cage might seem out of left field but he brings a charisma to the role and is a popular actor for this kind of wacky property, evidenced by his work in The Boys. All signs point to Mortal Kombat II being something for video game fans to love.
Resident Evil Has A Great Director
The history of Resident Evil on the big screen isn't great. The movies have been met with a tepid response from critics, while fans of the games don't like how it's not true to the source material and feels nothing like the games they've played for years. Even 2021's mild reboot, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, was a misstep.
However, there's reason for excitement with the upcoming 2026 reboot, hitting theaters on September 18, because Zach Cregger is directing and co-writing (with Shay Hatten). He's the man behind Barbarian and Weapons, two of the best modern horror movies.
That sets the tone for Resident Evil to be a much better iteration of the franchise than we've seen before. The film also boasts a very strong cast with Austin Abrams (Euphoria), Paul Walter Hauser (Cobra Kai), Zach Cherry (Severance), and Kali Reis (True Detective), who have been great in recent roles.
Street Fighter Looks Absurd In The Best Way
The last big video game adaptation hitting theaters this year is Street Fighter, which comes out on October 16. Like the other movies listed here, we've seen a Street Fighter film in the past and it wasn't good. The 1994 film is only really fondly remembered for Raul Julia's portrayal of M. Bison and its campiness.
The new iteration looks to be just as campy and that's a good thing. Street Fighter is a basic concept at its core, yet it features goofy aspects like fighters beating up cars for points. The Street Fighter trailer lets us know that those things are coming to this adaptation, which should be a blast.
The cast is also outlandish. There are stars like Jason Momoa and great character actors like David Dastmalchian, yet they're out there with pro wrestlers (Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, Hirooki Goto), rappers (50 Cent), comedians (Eric André), and martial artists (Rayna Vallandingham). Street Fighter is sure to be a spectacle.
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Mortal Kombat II
Release Date May 8, 2026
Runtime 116 Minutes
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Jessica McNamee
Sonya Blade
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Josh Lawson
Revenant Kano
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Resident Evil
Release Date September 18, 2026
Director Zach Cregger
Writers Zach Cregger, Shay Hatten
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English (US) ·