With entertainment, movies tend to be either a hit or miss. More often than not, people can't predict the kind of success that movies will achieve, even if the producers make predictions based on the source material's existing fanbase. Unfortunately, films based on video games are known to receive a lot of criticism, such as Super Mario Bros. and Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li.
Some video game movies, however, do get certain things right. Uncharted is based on the video game franchise of the same name. Although the film perpetuated certain clichés, viewers were also in for several pleasant surprises. Surprisingly, Uncharted got a lot of things right, which led to the film being a hit that earned nearly $230 million at the box office.
10 Incorporates A Strong Relationship In The Storyline
Nate decided to embark on this journey because of his older brother, Sam. In Uncharted's beginning, viewers see the close bond between Nate and Sam and how they had each other's backs when they were staying in an orphanage.
During that time, the brothers plotted to find some hidden treasure. When Nate eventually discovers that Sam passed away, he decided to continue searching for the treasure using Sam's clues. From then on, Uncharted further emphasizes the quest as a labor of love. By including an inherent emotional aspect of Nate honoring his brother's wish, viewers were left pleasantly surprised by this emotional storyline.
9 Cleverly Uses A Random Gift That Brings Out A Character's Good Side
Before Nate and Sully embark on their journey, Nate decided to give Sully a cat because he thought Sully seemed lonely. Initially, Sully is shocked and doesn't know what to do. But when they end up in Barcelona, Sully is concerned about the cat's well-being and reveals that he arranged to have someone look after it.
Being a shady person at this point in Uncharted, the audience is shown that Sully does have a good side. This minor, but amusing addition to the storyline allowed the audience to see who Sully really is.
8 Has Exciting Fights For The Protagonists
Many nail-biting, close-call moments in films are a result of good fight scenes. When Jo fought Sully, she temporarily hindered him from saving Nate and Chloe. Nate and Chloe would have drowned if Sully didn't beat Jo. When viewers watch adventure movies, the protagonists tend to have far superior fighting skills in comparison to the antagonists as well as their assistants/accomplices.
The protagonists in Uncharted typically outnumber their opponents but don't outfight. Though Nate did win the last brawl, it wasn't without difficulty and made the movie that much more exciting.
7 Keeps Viewers Engaged With Trickery
Although Uncharted has its fair share of action scenes, these don't overshadow the story. Many characters exhibit dishonesty and the characters need to keep their guards up because of the possibility that someone they're working with will turn on them. This uncertainty has viewers intrigued from beginning to end.
Sully, who knows Chloe well, warns Nate more than once about Chloe's intentions and says it's only a matter of time before she betrays them. Ultimately, this is what Chloe tries to do.
6 Allowed Tom Holland To Show A Different Dimension Of His Acting Skills
Tom Holland is known for playing Peter Parker/Spider-Man, who, despite being a Marvel superhero, shows signs of insecurity as a teen, particularly when trying to tell MJ how he feels in Spider-Man: Far From Home. In Uncharted as Nate, Tom Holland plays a much more confident character.
Viewers see Nate successfully carry out tricks while bartending, easily pickpocket a customer, and mention that he thinks Jo is flirting with him after catching her waving in their direction. It was nice seeing Tom Holland show another facet of his acting talent as a more confident man.
5 Has Satisfying Obstacles And Twists
When Nate and Chloe found themselves in a busy nightclub on their hunt for the treasure, they were confused. Chloe quickly notices where they must use one of the keys. After enduring several challenges, like nearly drowning, the characters find salt rather than gold in the storage room they're led to.
Buried underneath it, however, is a map showing them directions to the treasure. Combining a modern element by encountering the club with a hunt for treasure that's hundreds of years old makes these obstacles satisfying for viewers.
4 Created A Surprising Tactic Used By The Antagonist
Jo and her posse airlifted the ships, which added exhilaration to every character's circumstances as it made an already difficult fight for the gold in Uncharted's final scene an even more difficult fight. This is particularly true when Sully took over one of the helicopters.
When Jo was getting close to Nate as he made his way up to the helicopter, Sully dropped his backpack on Jo, and she fell into the water. Jo died after the boat that Sully's helicopter carried landed on top of her. Airlifting was an unexpected, large-scale tactic to keep viewers engaged, and it worked surprisingly well.
3 How Strategically It Uses Slow Motion
Sully was incredibly nervous when he had to fly the helicopter with one ship above the other. Luckily, the bottom of the ship just missed the second helicopter's propellors. It's at this breath-holding moment where everything is in slow motion.
This scene is the only time that slow motion is seen in Uncharted. Nevertheless, it's a suitable time, done well, and used very tastefully. In some cases, films use slow motion too much. Due to this unnecessary excessiveness, the effect begins losing its impact. Unlike those films, Uncharted strategically uses slow motion to great effect.
2 All The Jokes Land And Are Perfectly Delivered
Nate and Sully have a lot of funny dialogue. This includes many witty jokes at each other's expense. For example, Nate makes fun of Sully after discovering that he has Tinder on his phone and Sully implies that Nate isn't very tall.
Additionally, after Nate successfully gets into the helicopter, he gives Sully a compliment with a pun by saying: "You have a heart of gold." Delivery is just as important as the jokes themselves. Uncharted successfully plays into the comedic talent of the cast really well.
1 The Ending Left Viewers Wanting More
During the film's conclusion, Uncharted confirms everyone's suspicions as Sam is shown to be still alive but incarcerated. Following the end credits, Nate meets up with someone at a restaurant who he tries to strike a deal with.
It turns out that the man intended on tricking Nate and that the other people in the restaurant actually work for him. Sully comes in and the two successfully escape with what they need. Unfortunately, though, they are caught. This ending opened up many possibilities, including the brothers reuniting and having more adventures in the future.