Mortal Kombat II to Street Fighter: All Video Game Movies in 2026

New live-action video game movies are set to enter 2026, following a record-breaking 2025 that firmly established game-based films as reliable box-office drivers. Last year’s top performers included A Minecraft Movie, grossing $958 million USD, and Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, exceeding $220M on a moderate budget (~36M-51M). 

That momentum coincided with a broader theatrical rebound driven by younger audiences. According to industry analysis, Gen Z returned to movie theaters in 2025, drawn by IP-led films spanning video games, anime, and superhero franchises. 

Global Popularity Defines Video Game Movies Set to Release in 2026

Popular game franchises already have a pre-sold global awareness, thus video game movies attract movie enthusiasts and non-movie enthusiasts alike. The 2026 movie slate reflects this trend and features several franchise-led live-action video game adaptations scheduled for release throughout the year.

This list will provide a comprehensive understanding of video game movies releasing in 2026.

1) Return to Silent Hill

Based on the widely renowned Silent Hill franchise, the live-action adaptation Return to Silent Hill adapts Silent Hill 2, widely regarded as one of the most influential psychological horror games ever made. The movie will hit the theatres in January 2026. 

Return to Silent Hill is directed by Christophe Gans, who helmed the original 2006 Silent Hill, and stars famed actors such as Evie Templeton, Jeremy Irvine, and Hannah Emily Anderson. The 2006 film grossed over $100M globally. The 2026 reboot aims to capitalize on renewed interest driven by recent game remakes and horror’s strong theatrical performance.

2) The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

Following the historic success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023), Nintendo and Illumination are expanding the franchise with an interstellar narrative in the next movie, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. The film is reportedly inspired by Super Mario Galaxy and aims to repeat the $1.3B global success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

The movie is set to hit the theatres on April 3, 2026. The sequel retains the original voice cast and creative leadership from the 2023 movie.

3) Mortal Kombat II

Directed by Simon McQuoid, Mortal Kombat II continues Warner Bros.’ rebooted take on the long-running fighting franchise. It is a direct sequel to 2021’s Mortal Kombat, which had a modest run. The narrative expands the mythology around popular characters such as Earthrealm, Johnny Cage, and Shao Kahn.

The Mortal Kombat games have sold millions of copies globally, the sequel’s greenlight reflects confidence in the franchise’s long-term monetization through sequels, streaming, and merchandise rather than single-film performance alone. The movie will hit theatres on May 8, 2026.

4) Resident Evil

Sony’s Resident Evil reboot, directed by famed director Zach Cregger, marks another reinvention of Capcom’s flagship horror IP. Unlike prior action-heavy films, the new adaptation is expected to lean closer to survival horror roots with the hands of the director known for Barbarian and Weapons.

Resident Evil is one of the most commercially proven game-to-film properties, with 178M copies sold globally. Not only have the live-action adaptations been popular among gamers and non-gamers alike, a previous adaptation, Resident Evil: Afterlife grossed over $300M, underscoring the commercial potential of a well-made adaptation. The movie will be released on Sep 18, 2026.

5) Street Fighter

Directed by Kitao Sakurai, Street Fighter returns Capcom’s iconic fighting series to the big screen, decades after the cult-status 1994 adaptation. The Street Fighter franchise has sold over 58M game copies, with enduring relevance in esports and competitive gaming. The movie will be released on Oct 16, 2026.

Video Game Movies are the New Hollywood Trend

Apart from the 2026 movie slate, a lot of highly-anticipated movies are scheduled for 2027, including the sequel of A Minecraft Movie. 2027 is going to be more intense, with not only confirmed movies, but popular video game-based series such Fallout and The Last of Us will receive their next seasons.

While no TV series are yet confirmed for a 2026 release, Netflix’s Devil May Cry animated series will get its second season in 2026. After the criticism it faced during season, director Adi Shankar has already assured fans that Devil May Cry season 2 will follow the game's worldbuilding and narrative more closely.

The 2026 lineup of video game movies reflects a structural shift rather than a passing trend. With proven billion-dollar performers, reliable mid-budget hits, and Gen Z-led theatrical recovery, gaming IP now occupies a central role in studio strategies. Crucially, the success of game-adapted series such as The Last of Us and Arcane has further legitimized the category, reinforcing video games as one of Hollywood’s most durable narrative pipelines.