Video games and movies have had a tumultuous relationship in the past, and that is putting it lightly. With the release of the movie “Warcraft,” based on the popular video game series of the same title by “Blizzard Entertainment,” the question of whether video games and movies will ever mesh well has been brought up again. If the negative reviews and the estimated U.S. opening of the movie standing at $25 million according to Variety are any indication, it seems not. Based on the strong response from the international sector and fan reactions though, there might be a chance.
As of writing this article, the movie stands at 24 percent at Rotten Tomatoes and the majority of reviews by major publications are clearly not impressed with it. However, international ticket sales over the weekend in just 19 countries have already yielded $19 million according to a MovieWeb article, making it a number one opener in nearly all of them. This was three days ago, and the movie has not even launched in the two biggest movie markets; China and the U.S.
More telling however, is the positive feedback from users based on an analysis by BoxOfficePro, which tracks social media reactions to movies. In the report, “Warcraft” is clearly generating a lot of buzz, though perhaps not as much as “The Conjuring 2” or “Now You See Me 2.”
In any case, perhaps a major driving force in the difference between critical reception and viewer reception with the “Warcraft” movie in particular is the fact that the reviewers have not played the game. As such, it’s much easier to simply continue with the narrative that video games don’t make good movies.
Breaking this cycle is actually one of the reasons for why Duncan Jones decided to take on the movie. Jones is the son of the late David Bowie and also an avid gamer.
"There's been a rough track record of movies based on video games," Jones said in an interview with Engadget. "I do like the challenge. I like the idea of maybe making a film which is way better than anyone expected it to be because I know the expectations are all over the place."


The quest to extend human life is both fascinating and fraught with moral peril
Trump to Pardon Reality Stars Todd and Julie Chrisley After Tax Fraud Conviction
Trump-Inspired Cantonese Opera Brings Laughter and Political Satire to Hong Kong
Disney Investors Demand Records Over Jimmy Kimmel Suspension Controversy
FCC Chair Brendan Carr to Face Senate Oversight After Controversy Over Jimmy Kimmel Show
Oscars 2025: who will likely win, who should win, and who barely deserves to be there
Disney’s ABC Pulls Jimmy Kimmel Live! After Controversial Remarks on Charlie Kirk Killing
The Mona Lisa is a vampire
Pulp are back and more wistfully Britpop than before
6 simple questions to tell if a ‘finfluencer’ is more flash than cash
Paramount Skydance Eyes Streamlined Merger with Warner Bros Discovery Amid $60 Billion Offer Rejection
Some ‘Star Wars’ stories have already become reality
George Clooney Criticizes Trump’s Tariff Threat, Calls for Film Tax Incentives 



