Monster Hunter (film)
A film adaptation of the Monster Hunter video game series.
Monster Hunter is a 2020 monster film directed, written, and produced by Paul W. S. Anderson, adapted from Capcom's video game series of the same name. It marks Milla Jovovich's sixth collaboration with her husband, Anderson, and features a cast that includes Tony Jaa, T.I., Meagan Good, Diego Boneta, Josh Helman, MC Jin, and Ron Perlman. The plot centers on Artemis (Jovovich) and her soldiers, who are pulled into a strange realm where they must fight for survival against massive, superpowered monsters.
A film adaptation had been in the works since 2012, with Anderson at the helm. Capcom officially announced the project in October 2018, and production began that same month with Constantin Film. Principal photography ran from October 5 to December 19, 2018, in Cape Town, South Africa.
Released during the COVID-19 pandemic by Sony Pictures Releasing (excluding Germany, China, and Japan), the film opened in China on December 4, 2020, and in the United States on December 18, 2020. It was a box office bomb, earning $47.9 million worldwide against a $60 million budget. Reviews were mixed: critics praised the action, visual effects, and musical score but criticized the direction and editing. The film received a nomination at the 19th Visual Effects Society Awards for Outstanding Effects Simulations in a Photoreal Feature.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Paul W. S. Anderson
- Producer
- Jeremy Bolt / Paul W. S. Anderson / Dennis Berardi / Robert Kulzer / Martin Moszkowicz
- Starring
- Milla Jovovich / Tony Jaa / T.I. / Meagan Good / Diego Boneta / Josh Helman / MC Jin / Ron Perlman
- Music
- Paul Haslinger
- Cinematography
- Glen MacPherson
- Editing
- Doobie White
- Studio
- Constantin Film / Tencent Pictures / Toho / AB / 2 / Digital Pictures
- Distributor
- Sony Pictures Releasing (through Screen Gems; Worldwide) / Constantin Film Verleih / (Germany) / Tencent Pictures/Huaxia Film Distribution / (China) / Toho-Towa / (Japan)
- Released
- 4 December 2020 · China · 2020 · 12 · 18 · United States · 2021 · 3 · 26 · Japan · 2021 · 7 · 1 · Germany
- Runtime
- 103 minutes
- Country
- Germany / China / Japan / United States
- Language
- English
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
A film adaptation based on the series had been in conception since 2012 by director Paul W. S. Anderson. The film was formally announced by Capcom in October 2018, with production starting that month with Constantin Film. Principal photography began on October 5, 2018 and was completed on December 19, 2018, in Cape Town, South Africa. Anderson stated he had discovered the Monster Hunter series on travels to Japan around 2008 and became a fan, considering a film adaptation a 'passion project'.
Reader's Guide
Monster Hunter was released to theaters during the COVID-19 pandemic, opening in China on December 4, 2020, and in the United States on December 18, 2020. The film was a box office bomb, grossing $47.9 million worldwide against a production budget of $60 million. It received mixed reviews, with praise for its action sequences, visual effects, and musical score, but criticism for its direction and editing. The film received a nomination at the 19th Visual Effects Society Awards in the category Outstanding Effects Simulations in a Photoreal Feature. Anderson anticipated a series of Monster Hunter films, and the storyline was primarily based on a crossover event in the game Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker with Monster Hunter Freedom Unite.
Did You Know?
- The film stars Milla Jovovich in her sixth outing together with Anderson, her husband.
- The film's storyline is an original narrative inspired by the Monster Hunter video game series, not based on any specific crossover event.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who directed and created Monster Hunter (film)?
Paul W. S. Anderson served as director, screenwriter, and producer on the 2020 movie. The project also marked his sixth collaboration with his wife, Milla Jovovich.
What is the basic premise of Monster Hunter (film)?
The plot follows Artemis, played by Milla Jovovich, and her team of soldiers who are swept into an unfamiliar realm. There, they must fight for their lives against enormous, superpowered creatures.
How did Monster Hunter (film) perform financially?
Made on a $60 million budget, the film collected roughly $47.9 million in worldwide box-office receipts. Sony Pictures Releasing handled distribution in most territories, with Germany, China, and Japan excluded.
Why is Monster Hunter (film) significant to the franchise?
It brings Capcom's long-running video game series to the big screen as a live-action feature, a long-gestating project that had been in the works since 2012. Constantin Film and Capcom jointly produced the adaptation.
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