Forget Blockbuster Movies, Big Franchises Need To Focus on Video Games

The summer of 2026 was a difficult time for big-budget IP movies. From the disappointment of The Mandalorian and Grogu to the outright failure of Supergirl and Masters of the Universe, would-be blockbusters are dropping like flies during the months that meant big business once upon a time. On the contrary, bold original ideas like Backrooms and Obsession and nostalgic, non-IP plays like The Devil Wears Prada 2 have made huge waves with both critics and audiences, proving that we might just be experiencing a new dawn for the movie-making business. If audiences aren't showing up to the movie theater, it sends a loud and clear message. Many fans feel like they've been deceived by big, IP-driven movies (and subsequent TV shows), and they just aren't interested in more of the same. However, that shouldn't spell doom for these franchises, especially because there's a perfect medium to continue these stories beyond the possibilities of filmmaking: video games, of course. It's not like it's some wild idea coming out of nowhere — most major franchises like Star Wars and Harry Potter have their fair share of video games, many of which are genuinely incredible. However, all those projects have thus far been side dishes to the main course: movies. But with so many high-profile failures, it might be time for these franchises to give the movies a rest and focus exclusively on video games instead. Video Games Present New Opportunities for Expansion The medium of video games is rich, both visually and narratively. Some of the all-time best entries in the medium are widely recognized for their challenging, thought-provoking narratives — The Last of Us, Silent Hill 2, BioShock — and their stunning, immersive visuals — Ōkami, Concrete Genie, Alan Wake II. Thus, the realm should be a no-brainer for daring franchises like Harry Potter to truly go all-in. The 2023 hit Hogwarts Legacy already did wonders for the Wizarding World, expanding the lore and immersing viewers in the wonder of Hogwarts in a way that the movies simply never could. Moreover, video games are unconstrained by one of cinema's biggest limitations: runtime. Whereas a movie that's over two hours can become a true test of endurance, video games thrive the more time is spent experiencing them. Some surpass triple digits of playtime, but gamers never get tired, so long as the game provides enough quests, a compelling central story, and appealing visuals. The type of complex, intricate stories that great worldbuilding demands can only fully work in mediums where runtime isn't an issue; for centuries, these worlds existed in literature, but now, video games provide a new venue to create these daring, ambitious, and awe-inspiring realms. Think of how incredible it would be to explore the story of the Sith in a video game that truly goes in-depth to explore the nature of the Force, allowing you to experience the Dark Side firsthand. Hogwarts Legacy made you feel like an actual student at this incredible school, a childhood dream for many fans; how great would it be for a game that allowed you to be a working part of the Wizarding Community? Even better, it'd be great to experience the Wizarding World outside of the UK, the place where most of the franchise takes place. Especially, superheroes could greatly benefit from a video game to expand their lore and characters. Out of all the genres, superheroes get the most disrespect in cinema, deservedly so, as many high-profile movies settle for offering a simple formula that seldom experiments with itself. Yet, previous superhero video games have challenged these notions with intricate and memorable storylines that reveal more of the heroes and the world they inhabit. Batman and Spider-Man have had their fair share of great video games, but what about Superman or the Fantastic Four? The great comic book that is Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow would've worked a thousand times better in video game form than in a rushed, 108-minute movie with watered-down visuals and a basic misunderstanding of the source material. Big IPs Have Already Found Success in Video Games It's not like the suggestion that franchises should focus on video games is entirely radical. Indeed, and as previously mentioned, most have already found great success in the medium, to the point where some of their all-time best storylines originated in video games. Star Wars has Knights of the Old Republic, a masterpiece of worldbuilding and storytelling that is far better than nearly every movie or TV show that Disney produced in the last decade — except for Andor, of course. Then there's the recent games, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, which introduced the fan-favorite Cal Kestis, played by Cameron Monaghan. Kestis is among the most compelling and personable additions to modern Star Wars, far more than Pedro Pascal's Mando or Daisy Ridley's Rey. The Caped Crusader, too, has experienced some of his greatest storylines in video game format. The Arkham games are the peak of modern Batman narratives, surpassing the comic books and pretty much eclipsing anything cinema has made with the character in the last 16 years or so. Indeed, at a time when the future of Batman seemed uncertain on the big screen following the disappointing conclusion of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy, the Arkham games were a source of comfort for loyal fans. As for Potter, it wouldn't be an overstatement to say Hogwarts Legacy saved the franchise's reputation after the needlessly convoluted and outright terrible Fantastic Beasts trilogy nearly ruined it. What do all these titles have in common? Well, these video games are daring and willing to go places movies would never. It's virtually impossible to imagine the current version of Star Wars doing anything remotely as interesting or subversive as the now-iconic twist in KOTOR. Video games are also willing to use a character's catalog and lore to their full potential. Arkham Asylum, for example, features countless Batman villains, from Victor Szaz to Killer Croc to Poison Ivy and Scarecrow. Incredibly, it also does them justice, respecting their unique powers and traits while making them major players in the overall ensemble. It's hard to see James Gunn's family-friendly DCU or Matt Reeves' hyper-realistic take following suit with as much faithfulness. Video Games Are the Art Form of Today Fewer people are going to the movies, that much is true. If staying at home is many people's go-to choice now, franchises need to figure out a way to become part of that experience. Streaming movies often have a negative connotation attached to them, similarly to how straight-to-TV movies were perceived during the '90s and 2000s. Video games have none of those burdens. In fact, the medium is only earning more respect as the years go by. It's not a perfect industry by any means, and the constant issues with pricing and microtransactions are certainly a huge issue playing against it. And yet, I can't help but think just how high these franchises could go if they pivoted to video games. The advantages are there: the immersive aspect is just too good a hook to ignore, the non-canon quality allows for more experimental and daring storytelling, and the extended runtime provides a vast world of options to build something from scratch, to name a few. It's no surprise that many big IPs are making major moves in the video game space: James Bond recently released a critically acclaimed game, and everyone's favorite Canadian mutant is getting ready to make a splash come September. If anything, the question should be: why are these franchises not investing more in video games? The writing is certainly on the wall, and it's about time they realize it.