Netflix’s New Video Game Adaptation Can Avoid Repeating This $240M Flop (& 3 TV Shows Prove It)

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Netflix is facing a critical moment. With the first part of Stranger Things Season 5 now streaming, the show’s end is approaching, leaving a gap in their popular content. While shows like Wednesday and The Witcher can offer temporary relief, those options won’t last forever. Netflix needs to consistently deliver new hits to stay competitive while other streaming services continue to attract viewers.

Netflix consistently has promising projects in development, and right now, Greta Gerwig is directing The Magician’s Nephew, the first movie in a planned series based on The Chronicles of Narnia. While the previous Narnia films weren’t successful, this new adaptation has potential. Another Netflix series, based on Assassin’s Creed, is also aiming for success by learning from the mistakes of the earlier movie and benefiting from the positive reception of other recent video game adaptations.

The Assassin’s Creed Movie Is an Unmitigated Disaster

The idea for an Assassin’s Creed movie seemed promising. The popular video game series centers around a secret society protecting history, with modern-day descendants using technology to relive their ancestors’ memories. This group, known as the Brotherhood, is constantly battling the Templars, who want to control the past. The 2016 film throws us into this conflict, where Cal Lynch discovers his ancestor, Aguilar de Nerha, was charged with safeguarding a powerful artifact called the Apple of Eden – something that ensures humanity has free will – from the Templars. While Cal fights across different time periods, the movie focuses too much on one era, creating issues with the story.

The new Assassin’s Creed focuses more on current events than Cal dwelling on the past. He joins forces with his friends and battles the Templars, utilizing everything he learned from Aguilar. The movie ends with Cal successfully obtaining the Apple and walking off into the sunset, but despite the cheerful ending, something feels off, particularly because the action sequences weren’t very exciting. Ultimately, the movie seems geared more toward a broad audience than dedicated fans. Luckily, the upcoming Netflix series doesn’t need to follow the same path, as there’s a growing preference for content that caters to long-time fans.

Video Game Adaptations Aren’t Afraid to Be Themselves Anymore

The movie Assassin’s Creed wasn’t a success with critics or audiences because it didn’t fully commit to what made the game special. However, it’s understandable why those involved were hesitant. Early video game movies like Super Mario Bros. and Mortal Kombat: Annihilation were poorly received, creating a negative reputation for the genre. Assassin’s Creed tried to avoid a similar fate by being overly cautious, but ultimately, that didn’t work. Now, it seems adaptations succeed when they stay true to the source material.

With its second season coming to Prime Video, Fallout dives deep into the interesting details of its established story. Meanwhile, HBO’s The Last of Us improves on its source material by giving more depth to characters who weren’t fully developed in the games. And Arcane on Netflix is a standout, successfully transforming the world of League of Legends into something appealing to a broad audience. Now, Assassin’s Creed can learn from these shows as it begins its adaptation, and it should be able to find its footing. Adapting a video game isn’t easy, but these shows have paved the way, making the process a little smoother than it used to be.

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2025-12-04 23:43