Video game adaptations have spent the last several yearsimproving by leaps and boundsover their predecessors. A string of successes like Prime Video’sFallout, Netflix’sArcane, and Paramount’sSonic the Hedgehogmovies have proven that the medium can be translated well to the screen for all ages. Before these shows became more commonplace and generally good though, there were still filmmakers attempting to bring iconic franchises to the screen. One example from 2008 comes fromThe Omen(2006)andA Good Day to Die HarddirectorJohn Mooreand writerBeau Thornewith their neo-noir actionerMax PaynestarringMark Wahlberg. Now, the film is available to stream for free for those with a Vizio device as part of the WatchFree+ platform’s monthly slate of action-packed movies.
Max Payneis based on the series of games published byGrand Theft Automasterminds Rockstarand developed by Remedy Entertainment, who have an excellent track record that also includes theAlan Wakegames andControl. Wahlberg takes up the titular role of Max Payne, a maverick New York City police detective haunted by the death of his family and his former partner. With the feds suspecting him of murdering his colleagues, he becomes hell-bent on claiming his revenge against those responsible for ruining his life. Freelance Russian assassin Mona Sax teams up with him to dig into the criminal underworld for the answers he seeks as forces both worldly and supernatural seem to get in his way.
While the source material is well-loved and one of the earliest examples of “bullet time” used outside ofThe Matrix, Moore’s adaptation is not remembered fondly. It has a dismal 16% score from critics onRotten Tomatoeswith a better but still quite bad 29% from audiences. Despite the largely negative reception, moviegoers still came out enough to make it a modest success with a #1 opening at the box office and a worldwide total of $85.8 million against a budget of $35 million. Some critics also gave a bit of praise to the production design, and it managed to win IGN’s Best Video Game Adaptation award for 2008, albeit in a very bleak year. The film does have plenty of talent though, with Wahlberg, who’s since taken on another iconic game role asSully in theUnchartedmovie, joined byMila Kunis,Beau Bridges,Ludacris,Chris O’Donnell,Nelly Furtado,Donal Logue,Olga Kurylenko, and theoriginal voice of Max Payne himself,James McCaffrey.
Will There Ever Be Another ‘Max Payne’ Movie?
TheMax Paynefranchise is buzzing with more life than usual lately after Remedy announceda remake of both the original game and its sequel,The Fall of Max Payne, into a single game back in 2022. That same year, a reboot film was also announced under 20th Century Studios, but everything’s been quiet after that. Greater focus has since been placed on Remedy’s other titles, with Annapurna Pictures striking a groundbreaking partnership with the company earlier this year todevelop film and television projects aroundAlan WakeandControlas well as co-finance and co-produce the much-anticipatedControl 2.Max Paynehasn’t seen a new installment since 2012’sMax Payne 3, but with the coming reboots, there’s hope the franchise will have renewed energy that can finally bring the bitter, edgy detective back to screens.
Max Payneis now streaming for free on Vizio WatchFree+. Anyone with a Vizio Smart TV can pull up the application directly on their device or use a companion app on their phone to access the catalog from anywhere with a free account.
