GamesBeat Summit 2025: Why trust and authenticity are key to Hollywood adaptations

Video game adaptations continue to make a big splash in Hollywood. A Minecraft Movie has earned over $900 million across theaters worldwide. Season two of HBO’s The Last of Us garnered rave reviews, with a third season in the works. And more gaming-based films and TV shows — including the second season of Amazon’s Fallout and a sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie — are on the way.

According to the Hollywood and Games talk at GamesBeat Summit 2025 in Los Angeles, one thing that all these successful adaptations share is a commitment to authenticity. They capture the spirit of the franchise they’re based on and took time to understand what made those games so special in the first place.

“I think the thing that the top movies have done well is actually listening to the fan base,” said Baobab Studios CEO Maureen Fan at the panel. “In ...