Introduction
Final Fantasy is one of the most beloved and iconic franchises in gaming, with a wide array of titles ranging from RPGs to strategy games. It seems like the series has been around forever, with games and spinoffs set in confusing worlds, ambitious storylines and complex characters. It’s almost impossible to talk about RPGs without mentioning Final Fantasy. But it seems like most people don’t know that there have been six movies released in the series–although some of them are less remembered than others.
History of Final Fantasy Movies
The first Final Fantasy movie was released in 2001, and was directed by the famed Hironobu Sakaguchi. Entitled “Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within”, this movie was released to generally favorable reviews from critics, although box office earnings weren’t as high as expected. Following this, there were two more “Final Fantasy” movies – “Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children” released in 2005, and “Final Fantasy: The Last Order”, released in 2006. The next movie in the series was released in 2009, titled “Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within 2”. This was followed by “Final Fantasy: Kingsglaive” in 2016, and “Final Fantasy: Dissidia” in 2021. And lastly, the most recent movie in the series – “Final Fantasy XV: The Movie – Theatrhythm of Light” – was released in 2021.
What People Have to Say
Fans of Final Fantasy generally have a lot of opinions about the movies. Many feel that the movies are an enjoyable way to experience the world and characters of Final Fantasy, without the pressure of grinding through hours of gameplay. Others feel that the movies lack the nuance and complexity of the games, and prefer to experience the story through playing the games themselves. Speaking of the games, the “Final Fantasy VII Remake” was released in 2020 to great success, as was the highly anticipated “Final Fantasy XVI”, slated for a 2022 release. Both games have been positively received, giving fans a much more detailed look at the Final Fantasy lore.
Critical Reception
Critically speaking, the previous Final Fantasy movies have generally been well-received. “Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children” earned an 83% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while “Final Fantasy: The Last Order” earned a 79% rating. “Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within 2” and “Kingsglaive” also received favorable reviews, with the former earning an 83% score, and the latter receiving an 82%. The recently released “Final Fantasy XV: The Movie – Theatrhythm of Light” was also warmly received, earning an 86% rating. All in all, it seems like fans and critics have generally enjoyed the first six Final Fantasy movies, so we can only hope that the next one will be just as good.
The Future of Final Fantasy Movies
Considering the warm critical reception the Final Fantasy movies have received, there’s no doubt that we’ll be seeing more of them in the future. After all, the franchise continues to dominate the gaming world – and there’s no reason why its cinematic adventures should be any less successful. Furthermore, with the release of the incredibly popular “Final Fantasy VII Remake” and the upcoming “Final Fantasy XVI”, there’s a huge demand for more Final Fantasy content – so it’s likely we’ll be getting it sooner rather than later.
Adapting to Other Media
In recent years, the Final Fantasy franchise has also seen an increase in adaptations to other media. For example, the mobile game “Final Fantasy Brave Exvius” was released in 2016, and was very popular with fans. Not to mention, the wildly successful anime series “Final Fantasy VII: Remake The First Soldier” was released in 2021, as well as the upcoming live-action series “Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers”. Clearly, the franchise is expanding in all directions – so it’s no wonder there are several movies in the works.
Varying Degrees of Success
The success of the past Final Fantasy movies has varied – some have had blockbuster receptions, while others have been much lower-key. However, this doesn’t seem to have deterred the franchise’s enthusiasm for cinematic adventures. In fact, there are several Final Fantasy movies currently in development, and with the series continuing to bring in huge amounts of money, it’s safe to say that there will be a steady stream of Final Fantasy movies for years to come.
