Summary
The perception of video games has evolved dramatically over the years. While debates continue about whether they qualify as art, there’s no denying the incredible artistic talent and creative storytelling behind many of them.
But how do we validate artistic talent? Some believe the answer lies in prestigious award shows — and none are more iconic than the Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars.
Surprisingly, video games and the Oscars have crossed paths more often than you might think. From significant milestones to unexpected moments, here are some of the most noteworthy and unexpected intersections between gaming and Hollywood’s biggest night.
Yes, we’re starting the list withCars: The Video Game. While the trailers for this 2006 game adaption of the firstCarsfilm fail to mention it, it does in fact include an Oscar-winning actor and salad-dressing legend - Paul Newman.
Newman, who won an Oscar in 1987 for the filmThe Color of Money, reprised his role as Doc Hudson from theCarsfranchise. The rest of the film’s cast also reprised their roles for the video game, which was a very common occurrence with2000s movie tie-ins.
Hans Zimmer is, to put it lightly, a big deal. The legendary composer boasts twelve Academy Award nominations and has won two Oscars forThe Lion KingandDune: Part One. Not content with conquering Hollywood, Zimmer eventually set his sights on the world of video games.
His first foray into gaming was withCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, where he composed the game’s iconic menu theme (while Lorne Balfe did everything else). Zimmer and Balfe later teamed up with Borislav Slavov and Tilman Sillescu to craft the incredible main theme forCrysis 2. As a bonus, he even collaborated with Vince Staples to remix the UEFA Champions League Anthem forFIFA 19.
Though likely just a small blip in Emma Stone’s impressive career,Sleeping Dogs(2012)was a hit among fanswhen it launched. In the open-world crime action game, Stone voiced Amanda Cartwright, an NPC players could take out for a date. She even lent her star power to the game’s promotional material, appearing in several trailers.
Ultimately, it’s a surprisingly brief cameo for the two-time Oscar winner (La La LandandPoor Things), but hey — who can blame her for snagging that sweet voice-acting paycheck?
An Academy Award-winning actor appearing in aMadden NFLgame sounds unlikely, but that’s exactly what Mahershala Ali did inMadden NFL 18. It should be noted that this was a full year before he won Best Supporting Actor forGreen Book.
Ali appeared in the game’s first-ever story mode, Longshot, where he played Cutter Wade, the father of protagonist and rising football star Devin Wade. As a fun side note, Ali also lent his voice to the less-prestigiousCSI: Fatal Conspiracy, a Telltale game.
Years before donning the ‘stache and prosthetic teeth for his Oscar-winning portrayal of Freddie Mercury inBohemian Rhapsody,Rami Malek appeared in 2016’sUntil Dawn. In this interactive, story-driven horror game, Malek provided both his voice and likeness to Josh Washington, a pivotal character whose fate is in the player’s hands.
Supermassive Games is no stranger to star power, withUntil Dawnalso featuring talents like Hayden Panettiere, Brett Dalton, and the forever-spooky Peter Stormare. Whether playerssave or doom these famous facesis entirely up to them.
Gary Oldman has been Count Dracula, Harry S. Truman, Winston Churchill (which earned him his Academy Award), and many more notable characters and people. His chameleon-like ability to vanish into roles continues to leave audiences shocked when his name appears in the credits.
One role he fully embraced — enough to return three times — was Ignitus inThe Legend of Spyrotrilogy. This reboot of the belovedSpyrofranchise also featured other big names, such as Elijah Wood and Mark Hamill. But Oldman’s video game credits don’t stop there. He’s a familiar voice in iconic franchises, having appeared in multipleCall of Dutytitles,Medal of Honor, and evenStar Citizen.
Most fans recognize J.K. Simmons for his iconic portrayal of the gruff, fast-talking J. Jonah Jameson in theSpider-Manfilms. However, it was his intense role as the drill sergeant jazz conductor inWhiplashthat earned him a Best Supporting Actor Oscar.
From voicing the tragic Santa inKlausto the brutal Omni-Man inInvincible, Simmons has proven his voice-acting range is second to none. But in the world of video games, he truly shined as Cave Johnson inPortal 2. The eccentric CEO of Aperture Science was a tour de force role, with Simmons nailing the balance between charisma and absurdity as the shouty, over-the-top 80s businessman.
One of the most iconic entries on this list isn’t even a full game — it’s a demo.P.T.was too good for this earth. Guillermo del Toro, the three-time Oscar-winning director and writer, teamed up with legendary game designer Hideo Kojima to create this critically acclaimed playable teaser for the ill-fatedSilent Hillsproject.
Fans have beenlamenting its cancellationever since, as the small morsel they received was both terrific and terrifying. If it’s any consolation, del Toro and Kojima reunited to collaborate onDeath Stranding, which became a critical success in its own right.
Trent Reznor isn’t just one half of Nine Inch Nails; he’s also an Academy Award-winning composer (The Social Network) and an avid gamer.
While he later composed and performed the theme forCall of Duty: Black Ops II, his work on theoriginalQuakecan not be ignored! Reznor created all the game’s original music and went so far as to help record sound effects and ambient audio. In a nod to his contributions, id Software placed the iconic NIN logo on nailgun ammunition boxes scattered throughout the game.
Academy Award-winning director and father of the blockbuster, Steven Spielberg, has never hidden his love for video games. At the height of his career, he co-founded DreamWorks Interactive, a game studio in partnership with Microsoft. After a few unsuccessful releases, the studio struck gold with 1999’sMedal of Honor. Spielberg is credited with shaping the story, effectively creating a spiritual successor to his filmSaving Private Ryan.
Not only did Spielberg revolutionize cinema, but he also laid the groundwork for historic war-based first-person shooters, paving the way for theCall of Dutyseries. The game also earns extra points for featuring a full orchestral score by Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino (Up).
