5 Forgotten Arcade Games Based On Popular Movies

Some of the biggest and best arcade games are based on movies, including "Star Wars" and "Tron." But for every memorable arcade adaptation of a popular cinematic franchise, there are plenty that slip through the cracks of memory. This ranges from side-scrolling beat-'em-ups to on-rails shooters that were overshadowed by contemporary arcade and console games. In some cases, while fans may be aware of the console ports, the arcade counterpart remains shrouded in relative obscurity.

The popularity of a given movie is no guarantee of enduring success or even awareness for their movie tie-in games, certainly when it comes to arcade titles. Even during the American arcade scene's peak in the '80s, many movie-related games have fallen by the wayside. With that in mind, these are titles that are worth checking out, if only for the sake of curiosity. Here are five forgotten arcade games based on popular movies that stand as a blast from the past.

Just as "Willow" was a cult classic '80s fantasy movie, its Nintendo Entertainment System adaptation is a forgotten gem in the NES library that deserves a remake. But in addition to developing and publishing the NES title, Capcom also produced a completely separate "Willow" arcade game that was released in 1989. The game has players control both aspiring magician Willow Ufgood and the human warrior Madmartigan as they take on the evil Queen Bavmorda and her ruthless associate General Kael. Given their differing backgrounds and abilities, Willow relies primarily on projectile attacks while Madmartigan is a classic fantasy swordsman.

Whereas the better known NES game is an action RPG in the style of "The Legend of Zelda," the arcade game offers an entirely different gameplay experience. Instead, the arcade version is a side-scrolling action platformer featuring a much more technically impressive presentation that's possible because of its hardware. Closer in gameplay to Capcom's other fantasy arcade title "Ghosts 'n Goblins," the 1989 game also maintains its difficulty. While the NES "Willow" is an overlooked classic, its arcade counterpart deserves its own reappraisal too.

Like several titles in this article, "Michael Jackson's Moonwalker" is a property better known for its console game than its arcade one. Based on the 1988 musical "Moonwalker," the game has Michael Jackson set out to rescue kidnapped children from the notorious crime boss Mr. Big. The 1990 arcade game unfolds from an isometric perspective as Michael defeats gangsters with his magical attacks and dance moves. The cabinet can support up to three players, with each player controlling a version of Michael wearing a differently colored suit.

In addition to producing the arcade game, Sega also created separate console versions of "Michael Jackson's Moonwalker" for its Genesis and Master System. These versions of the game were completely different, featuring side-scrolling gameplay as Michael scoured stages for the children. In contrast, the arcade game is a beat-'em-up experience with its hardware offering a richer visual presentation and recreation of the King of Pop's hit songs. Definitely a product of its time, "Michael Jackson's Moonwalker" is an old-school game that current players probably won't understand or appreciate.

It wasn't until the "Lethal Weapon" buddy-cop series' third installment that the franchise got a gaming adventure. Recounting the events of the 1992 film, the game has Los Angeles police detectives Roger Murtaugh and Martin Riggs protect their friend Leo Getz. The duo battle crooks throughout the City of Angels before confronting the movie's big bad, former cop turned weapons smuggler Jack Travis. The game itself is a side-scroller, giving players the choice between progressing as Riggs or Murtaugh as they gun down enemies.

Titled simply "Lethal Weapon" to avoid confusion over the previous movies not getting their own games, the 1992 release was ported to many contemporary gaming platforms. But whereas most titles were their own original games separate from the arcade version, the Super Nintendo version was a relatively direct port. In addition to maintaining the same basic levels and gameplay style, the SNES port also retains the arcade game's high difficulty. "Lethal Weapon" wouldn't be actor Danny Glover's only representation in video games, with Glover later voicing a supporting character in the 2023 game "Crime Boss: Rockay City."

1995's "Batman Forever" revitalized DC's superhero property at the box office and spurred a whole merchandising machine around it. This includes video game adaptations of the movie, with an arcade game released in 1996, the year after the movie and its Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis tie-ins arrived. Like the preceding console games, the arcade title utilizes digitized actors for its side-scrolling beat-'em-up action, with a more straightforward level progression than the console versions. Players can choose between Batman and Robin as they fight goons through the streets of Gotham City before finally confronting Two-Face and the Riddler.

As far as most superhero games go, Batman has had a rich history of strong titles dating back to the NES era. That tradition of quality is not maintained by "Batman Forever" in either its console or arcade games, though the arcade title is marginally better. The variety of fighting moves available to players and technical presentation is improved, but still inferior to video games based on past Batman movies. This version of the game was eventually ported to the PlayStation, Sega Saturn, and PC, though hardly an improvement over the arcade experience.

A familiar sight in many '90s arcades were games based on the first two "Jurassic Park" movies. The first game, in particular, featured a recreation of the fictional theme park's Jeeps as players engaged in an on-rails shooter experience. While both games were successful, the franchise's 2001 sequel "Jurassic Park III" also got its own arcade game tie-in. Sega produced the first two "Jurassic Park" arcade games, with "Jurassic Park III" produced by Konami, though the broader light gun gameplay was retained.

2001 was a robust year for "Jurassic Park" games, including the canceled console game "Jurassic Park: Survival," but the arcade version of "Jurassic Park III" got lost in the shuffle within the franchise's resurgence. The game itself is fine but pales in comparison to the nostalgia and level design offered by its two predecessors. Since then, the game has fallen into complete obscurity, despite various revivals of the dino-fueled adventure series.