As the creative force behind the iconic action-adventure stealth franchise Metal Gear, the cult-classic interactive anime adventure Policenauts, and more recently the cinematic, post-apocalyptic epic Death Stranding (which ironically is being made into a film by indie studio A24), it’s no understatement to say that Japanese video game designer Hideo Kojima has an extraordinary mind for game design. Known for blending dense storytelling with experimental mechanics, Kojima has consistently challenged expectations and continues to push the creative boundaries of what video games can be.
Kojima’s passion for film is equally well known, particularly through his social media posts, where he regularly shares encapsulated movie reviews. These reactions can range from blunt, two-sentence takes such as “I recently saw [insert movie here]. Didn’t like it.” to longer impressions spread across multiple Twitter/X posts. One recent film he openly enjoyed was Predator: Badlands, which director Dan Trachtenberg has said was influenced by the colossal, beast-hunting action exploration classic Shadow of the Colossus from 2005. Kojima believes Predator: Badlands would translate naturally into video game form.
“A movie to adapt? Let me think,” Kojima said during a recent Tech Support video interview with Wired. “I recently saw Predator: Badlands. That felt quite game-like, traveling with Elle Fanning on your back.”
Kojima expressed his enjoyment for Predator: Badlands back in November on X, saying, “A few days ago, I threw out my back, so I wasn’t sure I’d make it through to the end watching a movie. But armed with my secret weapon—an inflatable lumbar pillow into the chair—I watched Predator: Badlands. A back-friendly 107 minutes! And it was great!”
Kojima reiterated Trachtenberg’s sentiment that Predator: Badlands had video game influences.
“The film also takes heavy visual inspiration from video games,” Kojima continued. “It represents a new direction for Hollywood entertainment led by a new generation of filmmakers who have inherited the global ‘memes’ of manga, anime, and gaming culture. I especially hope young anime fans who usually steer clear of live-action Western films will give this one a try.”
Kojima has also shared his enthusiasm for the most recent Alien film in the franchise, 2024’s Alien: Romulus.
“Saw “Alien: Romulus” in IMAX,” Kojima said on X. “The movie starts in space in total silence. Inside the spaceship, monitors, switches, and airlock doors. Analog design with no digital Ul or LCD monitors. Costumes, lighting, and worldview. The script and direction by Fede Alvarez recreates famous scenes that are reminiscent of the series. The facehuggers are vivid, and the xenomorphs are beautiful. This is the nostalgic, classic “Alien.” I remember the day I saw “Alien” 45 years ago at the OS Cinerama Theater. In a sense, this “back to basics” is the right thing to do, as the series had lost its way. However, I wondered if it was no longer possible to make something new under the “Alien” IP. When I watched the end credits, I saw that “LOGAN” led by Alex was also credited.”
Do you agree with the fact that Hideo Kojima says Predator: Badlands would make a great video game adaptation? What other movies do you think Kojima or other video game developers could turn into excellent video games?
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