Pixels
Pixels

Movie spotlight

Pixels

2015
Movie
106 min
English

Video game experts are recruited by the military to fight 1980s-era video game characters who've attacked New York.

Insights

IMDb5.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes17%
Metacritic27/100
Google Users51%
Director: Chris ColumbusGenres: Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi

Plot Summary

When aliens misunderstand video feeds of classic arcade games as a declaration of war, they attack Earth using the games as their models. A team of former arcade champions is recruited to play the games and save the planet from destruction. The team must overcome their own past failures and personal conflicts to defeat the intergalactic invaders.

Critical Reception

Pixels was widely panned by critics and audiences alike, with particular criticism directed at its uninspired plot, reliance on dated pop culture references, and weak humor. Despite a moderate box office performance, it is generally considered one of the weaker films of its release year.

What Reviewers Say

  • Relies heavily on nostalgia for classic video games but fails to deliver a compelling story.

  • The humor is often juvenile and predictable, falling flat for most viewers.

  • Despite a promising premise, the execution is messy and uninspired.

Google audience: Google users found the film to be a mixed bag, with many appreciating the nostalgic nod to classic arcade games. However, a significant portion of viewers expressed disappointment with the predictable plot, underdeveloped characters, and humor that didn't resonate. The special effects were sometimes praised, but overall, the film failed to impress a majority of the audience.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for two Golden Raspberry Awards: Worst Actor (Adam Sandler) and Worst Supporting Actor (Josh Gad).

Fun Fact

The film features cameos from several iconic video game characters, including Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and the Centipede. Many of these characters were brought to life using CGI, with some requiring extensive motion capture technology.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

3 reviews
The Movie Mob

The Movie Mob

**Pixels is another dumb, fun Adam Sandler film that doesn’t deserve all the hate. If you like Sandler movies, this is a good one.** I have seen this movie on so many “Worst of all time” lists, and it does not belong there. It’s an Adam ...

Reno

Reno

> I enjoyed it because it reminded me my childhood. There are plenty of movies related to the video games. The 80s movie 'Tron' was one of those first I have seen, followed by many. But the recent one 'Wreck-it Ralph' was the game change...

Frank Ochieng

Frank Ochieng

Nostalgia can be something to revisit as a decent form of escapism from one’s current worries. It feels so refreshing to turn back the hands of time and recall all the wonderful memories and perks of our younger days and, what is not to con...