Why the 2016 Ratchet & Clank film struggled to translate its gaming success to cinema

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Despite a dedicated fan base and direct involvement from the game's creators, the 2016 Ratchet & Clank film failed to find its footing. It became a box-office bomb, struggling against stiff competition and receiving largely negative reviews that questioned whether the series' signature charm could survive the transition to the big screen.

Released on April 29, 2016, the animated adaptation of the popular Insomniac Games series was directed by Kevin Munroe. The production involved a collaboration between Rainmaker Entertainment and Insomniac, with the latter providing character development and animation assets. The story, written by Munroe, Gerry Swallow, and T.J. Fixman, attempted to blend elements from the 2002 original game with later entries in the franchise. Despite the inclusion of high-profile voice talent like Paul Giamatti and John Goodman, the film failed to capture the critical acclaim of its source material.

The film's financial performance was underwhelming. Produced on a $20 million budget, it grossed only $14.4 million worldwide. In North America, it opened to just $4.9 million, landing in 7th place at the box office. Rainmaker Entertainment president Michael Hefferon attributed the poor turnout to a highly competitive market, noting that the success of films like The Jungle Book and Zootopia had already captured much of the family audience. The film's second-weekend performance was even more stark, dropping 70% to gross only $1.5 million.

Critical reception was largely unfavorable. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film held a 22% approval rating, with critics describing it as a shallow, competent, yet ultimately disappointing experience compared to the games. Metacritic assigned it a score of 29 out of 100. While audiences polled by CinemaScore gave it a B, the consensus among reviewers was that the film lacked the depth and humor that defined the PlayStation series. Ultimately, the project served as the final film released under the Gramercy Pictures label, marking a quiet end to a high-profile attempt to bridge the gap between interactive gaming and feature-length animation.

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