The live-action take on PlayStation’s top game “Uncharted” is a fast-paced adventure that blends flashy action with the fun of a buddy movie. Some longtime fans are split, but the film stands out for its exciting action scenes, Tom Holland’s athletic moves, and his sharp banter with Mark Wahlberg. Even if the story and puzzles feel a bit familiar, it’s still a thrilling movie that’s great for when you want to sit back and enjoy.
A decade-long project finally comes to fruition.
Indiana Jones, National Treasure, and The Mummy—a new adventure inheriting the legacy of these classic adventure films arrived in 2022. It’s the live-action adaptation of the popular “Uncharted” video game series, beloved worldwide since the first title launched on PlayStation in 2007.
This movie actually took more than ten years to make. At first, Mark Wahlberg was set to play Nathan Drake, but after several script changes and new directors, Tom Holland—famous for playing Spider-Man—was chosen for the lead. As a result, the story was changed to focus on a younger version of Nate and Sully.
While some game fans express concerns that “Tom Holland doesn’t fit the image,” did this live-action Uncharted successfully translate the game’s appeal to the screen? Having played the first three games myself before watching the film, I’ll share my review incorporating that perspective.
About the Original Games: The Appeal of a Playable Movie
First, let’s talk about the original “Uncharted” games. Created by Naughty Dog in 2007, the series is famous for its movie-like storytelling and direction, earning it the nickname “playable movie.”
What makes the original games so appealing is how they turn classic adventure movie moments, like those in Indiana Jones, into a game you can play. Exploring ruins, solving puzzles, gunfights, and exciting action scenes are all mixed to keep players interested. The second game, “The Golden Abyss,” and the third, “Atlantis: The Lost Empire,” are especially beloved and considered classics of gaming.
But this also shows why it’s hard to turn these games into movies. If the games already feel like movies, what can a film add that’s new? How the movie answers this question will shape how people see the adaptation.
Spectacular Action Sequences: Cinematic Grandiosity
The movie’s biggest highlight is definitely its action scenes. The transport plane sequences at the start and in the middle are truly memorable and stand out in movie history.
The movie starts with Nate being thrown into the air and trying to move between cargo hanging from a transport plane. He grabs onto a huge container with a parachute, and a dangerous fight breaks out in mid-air. This scene is based on the third game, and thanks to the latest visual effects, it looks so real that it feels like Tom Holland is actually thousands of meters up in the sky.
Starting the movie with this scene immediately draws viewers into the story. After that, the film flashes back to explain how things got to this point, just like the second game does—a nice touch for longtime fans.
The movie’s big finale is a fight on top of two old ships hanging from helicopters. It’s a bigger version of the first game’s ending and feels like a pirate ship battle from Pirates of the Caribbean, but this time it all happens in the air.
These action scenes alone make the movie worth seeing. You can relax and enjoy the excitement, almost like you’re on a theme park ride. That’s probably what makes the film so appealing.
The Birth of the Ultimate Buddy Team: Nate, Like Peter Pan, and the Professional Sally
Tom Holland’s New Territory
Tom Holland is famous worldwide for playing Spider-Man in the Marvel movies. In this film, he brings his usual energy and athletic skills to the role.
One standout moment is when he plays a bartender at the start of the movie. He spins bottles and mixes drinks with real skill. Tom Holland even worked at a bar to prepare for the role, and it really shows.
His background in dance and acrobatics really stands out in the action scenes. Whether he’s falling from a plane, running up buildings, or fighting, he moves so smoothly that it’s almost like watching Peter Pan. There’s even a funny moment when Mark Wahlberg’s Sully calls him “Jack Sparrow” while he’s steering an old ship.
Still, Tom Holland’s take on Nathan Drake is different from the game’s version. In the games, Nate is a seasoned adventurer in his thirties, but here, he’s a young and innocent guy in his early twenties. Even when he shows off his muscles, he still has a certain cuteness. That’s part of his charm, but it might seem odd to fans of the original.
The Perfect Buddy Chemistry with Mark Wahlberg
Another big draw is the pairing of Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg. In the games, Sully is like a father to Nate, but in the movie—since it’s set before they become a team—he comes across as a bit shady and unpredictable.
Mark Wahlberg’s Sully is an experienced treasure hunter, but he’s also a bit unreliable and tries to use Nate for his own benefit. Still, the movie shows how their relationship grows as they go on adventures together, and by the end, they really become partners. It’s a classic but touching story.
Their back-and-forth is sharp and full of memorable jokes. Even when things get tense, their calm conversations feel like the best buddy movies, like Indiana Jones or Lethal Weapon.
Interestingly, Sully and Nate sometimes seem more like brothers than mentor and apprentice. Even though there’s an age gap, their similar energy and looks make them feel like siblings. Since Nate is also looking for his missing brother Sam, it’s easy to joke, “Is that guy next to him his brother?”
The Presence of Female Characters
In this film, Sofia Ali plays Chloe Fraser, a rival treasure hunter, while Tati Gabrielle portrays Joe Braddock, the leader of the enemy’s strike force.
Sofia Ali’s Chloe is a fan favorite from the games. In the movie, she’s shown as someone who might help or betray Nate and Sully. Her acting is fine, but she ends up feeling a bit like a toned-down Bond girl and doesn’t quite capture Chloe’s full charm. Even in a scene that could have turned romantic, the film avoids that route, which feels modern but also a bit unsatisfying.
Tati Gabrielle’s Braddock is a real standout in the movie. She’s a direct and formidable female villain, which you don’t see often in big Hollywood films. Every time she’s on screen, there’s real tension, and her showdown with Mark Wahlberg is especially gripping. The fact that she used to work with Sully also adds more depth to the story.
Story Structure Issues: Oversimplified Plot and Predictable Puzzles
The action scenes are exciting, but the story itself has some problems.
To start, the story is pretty simple. The plot about a 500-year-old treasure hunt has already been done in movies like Indiana Jones, National Treasure, and The Mummy, so it doesn’t feel new. The story also follows a predictable path, without many surprises.
Also, the puzzle-solving, which is a big part of the games, doesn’t get much attention in the movie. There’s a puzzle scene in Barcelona’s catacombs, but it uses tricks we’ve seen in lots of other films. In the games, solving giant ancient puzzles is a big deal, but the movie makes it feel much smaller.
The game’s famous “climbing on impossible surfaces” is also mostly missing. In the games, there are lots of exciting moments where you climb crumbling buildings or cliffs, but that’s hard to do in a live-action movie. There is one building-climbing scene with Chloe, but honestly, I wanted to see more big climbing moments.
The Legacy of Adventure Films
When discussing this film, comparisons to the Indiana Jones series are unavoidable.
Indiana Jones, especially the original trilogy, is the gold standard for adventure movies. Spielberg’s direction made every moment exciting, from the rat scene in the catacombs to the mine cart chase and the showdown on the bridge. Even if you could guess what would happen, the movies never got boring.
So why did Spielberg pull this off, and why haven’t movies like Uncharted reached the same level?
One reason is the characters. Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones is complex—smart and wild, brave and scared, funny and serious. Everything he does feels real, so it’s easy for the audience to connect with him.
Nate in this movie is interesting too, but he’s still growing as a character and isn’t as fully developed as Indy. Hopefully, future sequels will work on this.
Another reason could be pacing. Spielberg’s movies balanced quiet, tense moments with big action scenes. This film, on the other hand, jumps quickly from one action scene to the next and doesn’t have as much emotional depth.
Still, Uncharted is far from a failure. It’s actually one of the better adventure movies to come out recently. Compared to remakes like The Mummy or King Arthur, it’s a lot more fun to watch.
Ruben Fleischer’s Cinematography and Direction
Director Ruben Fleischer is known for Zombieland and Venom. Those movies mixed action and comedy well, but Uncharted is his most significant and most ambitious project so far.
The Spanish locations really stand out in the movie. The streets of Barcelona, the blue Mediterranean, and the ancient ruins were all filmed on location, not on sets, which makes everything feel more real and impressive.
The visual effects are also top-notch. The scenes with Faure and the ship being carried by helicopter look so real that it’s hard to tell what’s CGI and what’s not. Some background effects are a bit rough, though, and could have used a little more work.
The music doesn’t have a standout central theme, but it does a good job of making the action scenes more exciting. The movie also uses familiar songs in a few places to add energy when things slow down.
The camera work does a good job of showing the action’s intensity. It might have helped to use wider shots to make the scenes more straightforward, though. Some action movies move the camera so much that it’s hard to follow, but this film keeps things pretty balanced.
A nod to fans: Nolan North’s cameo
Fans of the original games get a fun surprise with a cameo from Nolan North.
Nolan North, who voiced Nathan Drake in the games, is a massive part of Uncharted’s success. In the movie, he appears as a minor character on a beach and has a brief chat with Tom Holland.
This scene drew a collective laugh from the audience at the screening I attended. While it might seem like just another scene to viewers unfamiliar with the source material, for fans, it’s a profoundly moving gesture of fan service. The “real Nate” and the “new Nate” sharing the screen—could there be a greater show of respect?
Furthermore, the film is sprinkled with other homages to the games. Specific phrasing of lines, camera angles, and the aforementioned transport plane scene—elements that will make original fans grin are scattered throughout.
Summary: The Beginning of a New Era of Adventure, Maximizing Entertainment Value
Some longtime fans have said the movie “Uncharted” isn’t exactly what they hoped for, but I really enjoyed it.
Indeed, the story isn’t intense, the puzzles are familiar, and Tom Holland’s Nate is different from the original. But the movie has a charm that makes up for these flaws.
The movie’s charm is all about pure entertainment. Don’t overthink it—enjoy the action, laugh at the jokes, and get swept up in the adventure. It’s that kind of fun movie experience.
It’s inspiring to see Tom Holland create a new kind of action hero. He proves he can do more than play Spider-Man—he shines in adventure movies like this, even when he’s flying through the air.
