Movies Based Around Board and Puzzle Games

On this weeks Scary Monsters And Super Geeks Internet Radio Show, I reviewed  Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves. Also part of the same show my Shindig’s Feature list I created a list of Movies based on Board games and puzzle games. Dungeons & Dragons is a board game , in the list below many of the films will be obvious in what they are and some of the other you might have to think about. As ever this list is only a selection of those films on offer and not in any particular order.

Jumanji (1995)

The board game which the parts of the game come alive and the players are transported into this world, sometimes lost. Starring the late great Robin Williams as the grown up version of a the original owner of the game who escapes thanks to two kids played by Kirsten Dunst and Bradley Pierce. A true all round family movie that has action, adventure and everything inbetween which is one of the very few game movies that were a success.

Clue (1985)

Anyone for a game of Cluedo? This film has inspired many whodunnit films and The Knives Out films especially. Choosing your own adventure and a innovite game with iconic characters Miss Scarlet, Colonel Mustard and Professor Plum. Campy, darkly comedic that plays like an Agatha Christie Novel with a great cast that includes Tim Curry, Christopher Lloyd to name a few.

Ouija (2014)

The Ouija Board comes with a controversial reputation, a board that was made as an entertainment item to contact the spirit world. The controversy that surrounds the game is some believe the games opens a door to hell and not everything you may ‘speak’ to might be angelic. The film itself is a Blumhouse Production about a girl named Laine (Olivia Cooke) whose best friend recently died. She finds an old Ouija board and attempts to connect only to open a portal for evil supernatural entities. Predictable film which had a better sequel Ouija: Origin Of Evil.

Battleship (2012)

The classic warship board game reinvented as a epic sci-fi adventure directed by Peter Berg. This film plays a little like a May Bay clone of Transformers movie. Playing like a blockbuster movie that takes those strategy elements into something that’s like a war sci-fi. The crew must face an alien naval fleet in the name of humanity. Massive cast that include Rihanna in her debut actor role, a cheese fest that’s predictable and poorly executed film.

Hellraiser (1987)

Based on Clive Barker novella The Hellbound Heart which Barker would direct the first film. This is one option on the list that you would file under puzzle game. A puzzle box called the Lament Configuration, which the user must solve a number of puzzles. The final outcome after sloving those puzzles sees the Cenobites released who are devoted to exploring the limits of pleasure and pain. A cult British horror which was recently remade , very graphic, gory and disturbing.

Pokemon Detective Pikachu (2019)

Trading cards, video games and even animation, got to catch em all, aka Pokemon has been around since 1996, This may not be exactly the Japanese version it has all the characters especially Pikachu as a detective attempting to find the mystery the Pokemon trainer (D&D star Justice-Smith) father’s disappearance.

The Seventh Seal (1957)

Ingmar Bergman’s movie starring Max Von Sydow as a knight who is challenged to a game of Chess against Death (Bengt Ekerot). The movie explores themes such as the nature of faith, the existence of God, and the search for meaning in a world filled with suffering and death. It is considered a masterpiece of world cinema and has had a profound influence on the art of filmmaking. The film itself is essentially a game of Chess itself

Notables – Labyrinth, Game Night, Ready Or Not, Monopoly, Dungeons & Dragons (2000), Zathura: A Space Adventure, Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle, Jumanji: The Next Level

Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves will be in UK and Irish cinemas, 31st March | Read Our Review