WHEN Hollywood discovered video games in the 1990s, filmmakers started adapting them for the big screen with the zeal of Ms. Pac-Man in search of cherries. Since 1993’s “Super Mario Bros.,” some two dozen major video-game films – like “Mortal Kombat,” “Street Fighter” and “Final Fantasy” – took a stab at big-screen success.
Only one of them, 2001’s “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider,” made it big, raking in more than $130 million at the box office. Its sequel, “Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Cradle of Life,” quickly saw diminishing returns, pulling in just $65 million.
But the paltry performance of these movies hasn’t deterred producers one bit – they’re still churning out movies based on games, faster than you can say “Game Over.” Nearly 50 feature films based on PC and video games are in the works, all due before 2010.
Here’s a look at four films – and the games they’re based on – that’ll be gracing theatres soon.
Resident Evil: Extinction (out Friday)
Stars: Milla Jovovich as Alice, Ashanti as Nurse Betty
Plot: The third film in the series sees Alice trying to keep alive the few people who escaped contamination when the zombie-making T-Virus was released from Raccoon City.
Based on: Capcom’s survival horror series, in which humans kill hoards of mutated creatures.
Fun fact: The game was inspired by George A. Romero’s “Living Dead” movies.
Postal (out Oct. 12)
Stars: Zack Ward as the Postal Dude, Dave Foley as Uncle Dave
Plot: It follows two days in the life of the Postal Dude. When things hits rock bottom, he goes on a surprisingly funny, gun-filled rampage.
Based on: Running with Scissors’ controversial 1997 PC game, wherein the Postal Dude kills just about everyone in his town.
Fun fact: After six years, the U.S. Postal Service dropped its lawsuit against the game’s producers for copyright infringement.
Hitman (out Nov. 21)
Stars: Timothy Olyphant as Agent 47
Plot: Genetically engineered elite assassin Agent 47 faces an unexpected stirring of conscience and emotion set off by a mysterious Russian woman.
Based on: Eidos’ third-person shooter franchise, where Agent 47 kills specific targets using garrotes, rifles or lethal injections.
Fun fact: The game was inspired by Luc Besson’s “Nikita” and “The Professional,” Quentin Tarantino’s “Reservoir Dogs” and Hong Kong action flicks.
Far Cry (late spring 2008)
Stars: Til Schweiger as Jack Carver, Udo Kier as Dr. Kreiger
Plot: Ex-Special Forces operative Jack Carver helps a journalist find her mercenary uncle, leading to Dr. Kreiger’s island of experimented on human soldiers.
Based on: Ubisoft’s first-person shooter franchise, where Carver has to find his way home from an island full of mutants.
Fun fact: Stuttering Craig and Handsome Tom of ScrewAttack.com raised cash to buy roles as extras and were cast as “scientist” and “mercenary” in July.