Fans of The Sims are surprised to learn that Margot Robbie is set to produce a film based on the popular computer game series. Does it have potential? Or is it yet another cash-grab simply capitalising on nostalgia?
LuckyChap, owned by Robbie, produced some of the biggest movies of 2023, including Barbie and Saltburn, so it might seem like an odd choice to pick an adaptation of The Sims as their next project.
However, this announcement comes during an era when several games and toys are being adapted for the big screen. For example, The Super Mario Bros. Movie was a blockbuster hit in 2023, and Polly Pocket is currently under development. Nostalgia is clearly an effective marketing tactic, so could The Sims be a guaranteed money-maker?
Why The Sims?
The Sims is a life simulator created by SimCity’s Will Wright in 2000, developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts (EA). With four mainline games and countless spin-offs and expansions, the 24-year-old franchise has always had a devoted following. It also has a passionate online community, with Sims YouTubers like LilSimsie and Plumbella gaining millions of views.
Its cultural impact goes beyond even its die-hard fans. You’d be hard-pressed to find a 2000s kid who hasn’t at least played the game once at a friend’s house, and it remains popular as The Sims 4 is the most-played game in the franchise, with over 70 million players worldwide in 2023, according to EA.
The series—especially its earlier instalments—is bursting with personality and is known for being quirky and bizarre at times. It will be interesting to see if the film embraces its weirder elements. It would be great for long-time fans to see features like Cowplants, the Grim Reaper and even lore like Bella Goth going missing.
Existential Crisis: Is Life A Simulation?
Originally intended to be a ‘virtual dollhouse‘, The Sims seems like a natural next move after Barbie, with the potential to be even more existential. Whilst Billie Eilish asks “What was I made for?” in her Oscar-nominated hit, The Sims movie could ask ‘Who controls us?’, delving into the idea of free-will and even the meaning of life.
It could explore interesting ideas like Sims questioning who is controlling their actions and even include a God-like figure they call ‘The Creator’, which turns out to just be a 13-year-old girl playing on her computer. If it successfully balances the quirkiness and personality of the original games with deeper and more philosophical themes, this film has the potential to be something special.
Potential To Flop
Video games can be difficult to adapt to the screen. For every The Last of Us (2023), there are flops like Super Mario Bros. (1993), Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001) and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010).
Although a film version of The Sims is an exciting prospect for fans, the announcement is also cause for scepticism. A lot could go wrong, especially because The Sims doesn’t have a specific plot.
To be honest, a film adaptation is the last thing on Simmers’ minds at the moment, with the The Sims 4 continually proving to be a disappointment (at least to long-time players) with its notoriously lacklustre expansion packs that fail to live up to expectations, which doesn’t help EA’s already damaged reputation. A lot of hope is also riding on the 5th instalment of the main games, nicknamed ‘Project Rene‘. It’s a bit concerning that EA is venturing into this project at the same time.
Where Are The Original Ideas?
Alongside concern around EA’s involvement, there is also a risk that audiences will (or are already starting to) get sick of these intellectual-property adaptions that capitalise on nostalgia. Every other cinema release seems to be a sequel, remake or another superhero movie; is the industry running out of original ideas? These films often add something valuable to an already established franchise, but usually turn out to be a cash-cow.
The Sims film does have the potential to have an original take. However, it seems far more likely that it will be another disappointing release that is a clear money-grab. Even Barbie, which was overall critically-acclaimed, received criticism for essentially being an advertisement for a product.
Is There Hope For The Sims?
Despite concerns, there is an air of optimism around this adaptation, particularly due to Margot Robbie’s involvement.
The series has also been a shining example recently of how to make progress on the grounds of inclusivity, most notably regarding race, gender and sexuality. Historically, the series has always been praised for being progressive for its time, for example, the incorporation of same-sex relationships. Whilst on the surface it might just seem like a silly simulation game, often poked-fun-at and seldom taken seriously, the prospect of a sims movie nevertheless has the potential to be something amazing.
Ultimately, this film could turn out to be highly culturally pertinent to many die-hard fans and casual players alike; it is not an overstatement to say that The Sims series means a great deal to millions of fans all over the world, perhaps relying on it as a pure form of escapism from real-life during hard times.
Words by Alice Bennett
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