Netflix Fantasy Adventure Epic Blockbuster Is One-Of-A-Kind Adaptation

The film, charting the dueling narratives of the Stormwind humans and Frostwolf orcs, centers around the orcs utilizing dark but powerful magic to save their Horde. Through said magic, a kind of fantasy, sacrifice-powered super-weapon, the orcs open a portal bridging their world to the humans. From there, the two camps wage an exhilarating, cross-dimensional battle. 

While the real-time strategy (RTS) games and the hugely popular massively multiplayer RPG game set in the Warcraft universe preceded it, the movie’s origins also predate its eventual theatrical debut. In 2006, Blizzard Entertainment and Legendary Pictures began a collaborative venture for a big-screen feature film—one greeted with global fanfare. 

Fanfare sank into disappointment and frustration, however, as die-hard fans watched the effort to turn the fantasy universe into a film endure a slew of delays and massive changes in direction, aka production hell. 

But progress was restored when acclaimed director Jones (fun fact alert: the son of musical legend David Bowie) took the helm. Jones, having won critical respect and sizable audiences with projects like the sci-fi darling Moon, readily rewrote the Warcraft script. He endeavored to reflect a balanced take on the conflict between humans and orcs, breaking away from the traditional good vs. evil trope. 

For those accustomed to and familiar with the games’ aesthetic—the eye-catching, enjoyable, and quintessential animation style popularized by the games—the film will probably not disappoint. Indeed, it’s a visual marvel, in which the colorful grandeur of Azeroth unfolds via effective special effects and strong CGI. Of particular noteworthiness are the battle scenes, enriched by intense choreography and striking visuals. 

Cast-wise in Warcraft, Travis Fimmel performs ably as the charismatic Anduin Lothar. Perhaps the film’s most memorable role belongs to Paula Patton as Garona, the she-orc who leads the orc charge through the inter-dimensional portal. 

The film premiered in Paris on May 24, 2016, before being released in the US less than a month later; Universal Pictures oversaw the US debut. The enormous fanbase for both the games and fictional universe, alongside a talented director’s noticeable visual flair and involvement, was not enough to secure the reviews the film’s producers hoped for. Reviews were decidedly mixed.

Currently, Rotten Tomatoes assigns Warcraft a suboptimal 29 percent, based on 232 reviews. Experts enjoyed Jones’ credible directorial talents and the project’s impactful style, recognizing the cinematic realization of the games’ aesthetic. But the plot struck many as plodding and unoriginal. 

Financially, the film, presently on the world’s most extensive streaming platform, also suffered, failing to exceed its break-even point of a staggering half a billion dollars. The budget was bloated due to extensive global marketing and distribution costs. Much of this international marketing and distribution effort was directed at China, where the film earned $225.5 million.

But between the nearly fifty million grossed statewide and the $439 million made worldwide, the end result was, sadly, a box-office bust. 

Nonetheless, for a unique and dedicated film adaption of the Warcraft universe, stream the film today.