Film producers rarely leave any stone unturned when it comes to finding inspiration for movies. Just about any topic or theme you can imagine has been covered in films. In their quest for commercial success, filmmakers often attempt to tap into popular culture. This can result in films being based on other media such as comics or video games. But what about board games? Have there been any films based on board games, and are they any good?
Admittedly, the board game movie genre is rather a niche, but it has been attempted. Most notably back in 1985, the movie Clue was based on the board game Cluedo (known as Clue in North America). It marked the directorial debut of Englishman Jonathan Lynne who went on to score hits with My Cousin Vinny and The Whole Nine Yards. He also wrote the hit UK TV show Yes, Minister.
Cluedo was the most likely board game to get the video treatment. The murder mystery theme made it ripe for reproduction. So, there was no surprise when it spawned a movie and a TV series. There was also a Cluedo musical, several books, and various video games including the 1992 console game released on the SNES and the Sega Genesis and the Cluedo Mightyways slot game that can often be found on bingo and casino sites. Therefore, it’s clear to see that the board game has expanded into numerous other platforms, although not all of these forays have been successful.
The film starred Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, and Michael McKean of Spinal Tap and Better Call Saul fame. It was billed as a dark comedy and was filmed with three different endings. The different versions were sent out randomly. So, viewers in different movie theaters had different experiences. This gimmick helped the movie to receive some positive reviews. However, it was not a box office success and failed to break even. The multiple ending format has since been replicated, most notably in the Charlie Brooker movie Black Mirror: Bandersnatch.
Other films based on board games include Dungeons and Dragons (2000) and Battleship (2012). Neither made much of an impact. However, there are high hopes for an upcoming movie based on the most famous board game of all. Monopoly has been pencilled in for a 2027 release and is set to be directed by Tim Story, the man behind Barbershop, Fantastic Four, Think Like a Man and Ride Along. The former music video director is hoping to renew his working relationship with Kevin Hart, who has starred in several of his movies and TV shows.
The movie will be made by Lionsgate in collaboration with Hasbro, who have been planning a movie version for years. The game has been played by around 1 billion people in at least 114 countries. It is hoped that Andrew Niccol who wrote Gattaca and The Truman Show will write the script having already worked with Lionsgate on a previous Monopoly project, which was put on hold.
The plot is thought to focus on a character from Baltic Avenue, a modest neighborhood in the US version of the game, as he sets out on a quest to strike it rich – presumably in the property game. With the talent already rumored to be on board, Monopoly could become the first board game movie to pass go and become a smash hit.
