Horizon Could Be PlayStation’s Big Movie Win if It Stays Faithful to the Games

Following the successful cinematic adaptation of Uncharted in 2022 and HBO's hit series The Last of Us, a film adaptation of Horizon Zero Dawn was inevitable. PlayStation Studios and Columbia Pictures have officially confirmed a movie is in development, bringing Aloy's origin story and the game's stunning, machine-filled world to the big screen. While still in early stages, this adaptation has the potential to be Sony's first major video game box office triumph—provided it stays true to the source material.

Recent years have witnessed numerous successful video game adaptations on both the big and small screens. The Super Mario Bros. and Sonic movies, both family-friendly hits, set a high bar for critical acclaim and box office success. On television, Sony's The Last of Us stands alongside Netflix's Arcane and Amazon Prime's Fallout as fan favorites. Even adaptations with mixed reviews have achieved box office success; the Tom Holland-led Uncharted film grossed over $400 million.

However, challenges remain. While the "video game curse" is largely a thing of the past, some adaptations still falter. Uncharted, while popular, wasn't the faithful adaptation fans hoped for. Last year's Borderlands film and Amazon's Like a Dragon: Yakuza series exemplify this, receiving poor critical and box office reception due to their significant departures from the source material's storylines, lore, and tone. They failed to capture the essence of the games that captivated their fans.

These failures highlight a broader issue with adaptations. Netflix's The Witcher, for example, took significant liberties with its source material, altering events, characters, and tone. While adaptations often require changes, these examples feel drastically different from their originals. This can deeply disappoint fans—the pre-built audience—and ultimately harm the project's success.

The announced Horizon movie isn't the first attempt at bringing the franchise to screens. Netflix previously announced a series in 2022, and rumors circulated about a "Horizon 2074" project set in the pre-apocalypse era. This idea proved divisive among fans, who desire a faithful adaptation of the story that made the original game a success, including its iconic robotic creatures, absent in a pre-apocalypse setting.

Fortunately, the Netflix project is no longer in development. The shift to a theatrical release is a smart move, as the larger budget allows for the necessary CGI to realize the game's stunning visuals and fully capture the story's potential on the big screen.

If the Horizon film emulates the success of The Last of Us, it could be PlayStation's first major cinematic win. The success of Fallout, Arcane, and The Last of Us demonstrates the importance of faithful adaptations. These projects were praised for their authenticity to the visuals, tone, and stories of their original franchises. Gamers value authentic storytelling. While The Last of Us introduced new storylines, it largely adhered to the game's narrative structure, resonating with both fans and newcomers. A similar approach for Horizon could yield similar results.

Faithful adaptation isn't solely about fan expectations. Horizon Zero Dawn won numerous awards for its narrative, highlighting its quality. The story, set in 31st-century North America, follows Aloy, a member of the Nora Tribe, as she unravels the mystery of her origins and its connection to the old-world scientist, Elisabet Sobeck, her doppelganger. Aloy, along with her allies Erend and Varl, are compelling characters, and their relationships are richly developed across both games. The narrative's exploration of past attempts to save Earth's climate, culminating in a rogue AI creating the robotic creatures, adds depth. The enigmatic Sylens further enriches the story.

The intricate detail of each community and settlement creates a unique and immersive world, perfect for a film franchise. Similar to how James Cameron's Avatar explored the Na'vi culture, a Horizon film could delve into the Nora Tribe and their survival strategies against the robotic creatures. The game's unique combat encounters, featuring creatures like Sawtooths, Tallnecks, and Stormbirds, offer visually stunning potential. Rival tribes and those loyal to the rogue AI Hades add layers of conflict and suspense, creating compelling challenges for Aloy and her allies in a film adaptation.

Horizon's compelling story, if adapted faithfully, has the potential for great cinematic success. Its unique world, timely themes, and cinematic aesthetic are key strengths. The nuances of the world and storytelling suggest a successful adaptation, both critically and commercially. The expansive story of Forbidden West provides a vast canvas for a long-term franchise, if handled carefully. This could create a film franchise matching the success of the games, captivating gamers worldwide.

Maintaining the elements that made the game successful is crucial. With more Sony titles slated for film and TV adaptations (Ghost of Tsushima, Helldivers 2), a successful Horizon adaptation would set a precedent for future projects. However, deviating from what made Horizon great could lead to negative fan reception and financial difficulties, as seen with Borderlands. Sony must recognize the potential of Horizon and create a faithful adaptation.