Video game movies have a big stigma attached to them, though fans are hoping the success of recent films like Sonic the Hedgehog 2 might help change this. The common sentiment is that video game adaptations struggle to live up to the source material, often leaving fans disappointed. However, aside from adaptations, there's a whole other video game movie genre - those about playing games.

These kinds of movies actually have an expansive history. They go back into the '80s before the first mainstream video game film was even released in the '90s. These movies about playing games include some beloved cult classics. As for which of them is the best, fans on Ranker have voted for their top ten.

Note: Ranker lists are live and continue to accrue votes, so some rankings may have changed after this publishing.

Gamer (2009)

Gerard Butler in Gamer firing a gun.

Gamer has a somewhat unique premise. The idea is that there is a video game that uses nanites to control real people. While playing the game Slayers, Logan Lerman’s character is actually controlling Gerard Butler’s character in a real death match. The film was fourth during its opening weekend but did not receive a great response from critics.

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Many critics criticized the movie for lacking flair, and it was also criticized for taking too much from The Matrix. It’s considered a low point for director Mark Neveldine, which is surprising considering he also directed the second Ghost Rider. At least Gamer's unique concept was enough to beat out full-length commercial The Wizard for Ranker’s top ten.

Grandma's Boy (2006)

Two man and a monkey in a basement in Grandmas Boy

Grandma’s Boy is a stoner comedy movie about a game tester who gets evicted and must move in with his grandmother. It was handled by Happy Madison Productions, founded by Adam Sandler, so it didn't please critics. However, the audience reception was much more positive, and it even won a few Stony Awards.

Allen Covert plays the titular tester, Doris Roberts plays his grandmother, and Linda Cardellini plays his love-interest, Samantha. Video game testing takes up a good amount of the film’s runtime, including a scene where a monkey plays games. Developer Terminal Reality provided assets for the film’s game, but the game in question was never released.

Tron (1982)

Ram, TRON and Flynn from the original TRON

When it comes to cult classics, none have the same appeal as the '80s sci-fi epic Tron. This movie saw Jeff Bridges sucked into a game of his own design. The plot was criticized for being slow, but the visuals were something else, combining backlit animation with CGI for a distinct look.

The film was originally meant to be animated before Disney picked it up and it became live-action. The film received nominations for best costume design and sound, but weirdly not for visual effects. The film was only a modest hit but would make appearances in plenty of other Disney properties like Kingdom Hearts before finally getting a sequel in 2010.

Tron: Legacy (2010)

Two light cyclists in TRON Legacy

Tron: Legacy saw the return of actors and production staff from the original. With a soundtrack by Daft Punk and an animated series and tie-in video game, it was an attempt by Disney to reinvigorate the brand and franchise it. Unfortunately, the sequel received mixed reviews.

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The movie had moved away from the video game theming of the first in favor of a story about emergent AI. Certain character motivations were also changed entirely and Tron himself was barely featured. The movie was still financially successful but wasn’t the big break Disney was hoping for. A third in the franchise has been in development hell ever since (per Gizmodo).

The Last Starfighter (1984)

A young man next to an alien in The Last Starfighter

The Last Starfighter is pretty inseparable from early gaming. Many games of this era were flight simulators and the movie’s plot used this as Lance Guest is recruited as a pilot in a space war due to his gaming skill. The film also features Robert Preston in his last theatrical role.

Alongside Tron, this film was also one of the first to use CGI. Like Legacy, it also received a lot of extended media like video games and a musical theater version. It's still looked back fondly on and there have been attempts to bring it back. The Last Starfighter finds itself in good company among the most underrated action films of the '80s.

Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle (2017)

Jumanji Welcome to the Jungle

Welcome to the Jungle might be one of many jungle-themed action movies starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, but it's actually one of The Rock's best films. The original Jumanji board game has turned into a video game to fit with the times. The main characters get sucked into it and turn into the game’s avatar characters.

The original Jumanji was a Robin Williams classic, so audiences were understandably hesitant about the revival. While some did think it lost the original’s complexity, it serves its purposes as a very funny adventure-comedy. All the actors play well together and successfully embody their teen counterparts. The movie also fits in many video game tropes, much like the original did for board games.

WarGames  (1983)

Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy next to a computer in WarGames

In the early days of gaming, many films used the video game setting to critique warfare. In the 1983 flick WarGames, Matthew Broderick unwittingly accesses a United States supercomputer to play what he thinks is a game. Unfortunately, it turns out he is simulating and executing plans for nuclear war against the Soviet Union

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The film correctly predicts a lot of unsettling things about the future like video games being used by the military and drones. Perhaps most unsettling is how hacking and cybercrime are portrayed as major weapons in world conflict, as they are today. The movie is thought of as highly influential and saw a direct-to-DVD sequel in 2008.

Jumanji: The Next Level (2019)

The players looking off in the distance in Jumanji: The Next Level

The sequel to Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle bumps up the number of game references. It takes place two years after the events of the first with the same kids. Two elderly men, played by Danny DeVito and Danny Glover, also enter the mix, resulting in new avatar characters, including one played by Awkwafina.

The discovery of a magical pool of water that lets players switch avatars causes more complications. This leads to one of the avatars being a horse in a hilarious twist. It also leads to discussions about class systems and stats in video games. The movie ends with a cheerful moral about sharing what you love with who you love and a teaser for a possible fourth film.

Wreck-It Ralph (2012)

Vanellope standing on Ralph's shoulder in the candy cane forest in Wreck-it-Ralph.

Unlike the other movies of this type, Wreck-It Ralph does take place in a video game world, even more literally than one would expect, though. Litwak’s Arcade contains a central hub where all the game characters live. They interact with each other at night, but going to other games during the day is forbidden.

Of course, the main character Ralph does just that and gets stuck in many different genres. It’s a big part of why the film works, mixing its moral with video game references and cameos. The other big reason it works is how likable the characters in Wreck-It Ralph are.

Ready Player One (2018)

Ready Player One Main Character On his quest to find the clues to James Halliday's adventure

In the mid-to-late 2010s, Ready Player One was a phenomenon. The film and the book that inspired it were a massive crossover but also a story about humanity’s spirit. In the future, everyone is addicted to the OASIS, a massive VR world where they can be anyone. The rights to it are up for grabs to anyone who finds the developer’s secret, so the protagonists race to find it before the evil corporations.

Because of the nature of the OASIS, the avatars are often familiar characters that have been repurposed to be avatars in the game. This led to a show-stopping cameo by the Iron Giant among references to The Shining. It’s the metanarrative of the film that makes it such a great piece about gaming. The film is about people wearing their favorite games on their sleeves and banding together to stop the thing that brings them together from becoming too corporate.

NEXT: 10 Best Video Game Movies Of All Time, According To Ranker