Pixels is a 2015 American science‑fiction action comedy film directed by Chris Columbus. The screenplay was written by Tim Herlihy and Tim Dowling, based on the 2010 short film Pixels created by Patrick Jean. The film was produced by Happy Madison Productions, Columbia Pictures and 1492 Pictures, and was released in the United States on July 24 2015 by Sony Pictures Releasing.
Plot
An extraterrestrial force misinterprets archival video footage of 1980s arcade games as a declaration of war and attacks Earth using three‑dimensional recreations of classic video‑game characters such as Pac‑Man, Donkey Kong, Galaga, and Space Invaders. President Will Cooper (Kevin James) enlists his childhood friend Sam Brenner (Adam Sandler), a former arcade champion, and a team of former arcade players—including Violet van Patten (Michelle Monaghan), Ludlow “The Wonder Kid” Lamonsoff (Josh Gad), and Eddie “The Fireblaster” Plant (Peter Dinklage)—to form the “Arcaders” and defend the planet. The team battles the alien forces across various global locations, ultimately confronting the alien leader in a Donkey Kong‑style challenge that decides Earth’s fate.
Cast
- Adam Sandler as Sam Brenner, a former arcade champion and leader of the Arcaders.
- Kevin James as President Will Cooper, Brenner’s childhood friend.
- Michelle Monaghan as Lieutenant Colonel Violet van Patten, a weapons developer.
- Peter Dinklage as Eddie “The Fireblaster” Plant, a rival arcade player.
- Josh Gad as Ludlow “The Wonder Kid” Lamonsoff, a conspiracy‑theorist genius.
- Brian Cox as Admiral James Porter, senior Navy officer.
- Sean Bean, Jane Krakowski, Affion Crockett, Ashley Benson, and Matt Linz appear in supporting roles.
Production
Development began in 2010 when Adam Sandler acquired the rights to Jean’s short film through Happy Madison Productions. Chris Columbus was attached as director in 2013, attracted by the nostalgic appeal of 1980s arcade games, all of which were licensed for use. Principal photography took place in Toronto over three months, employing extensive night shoots and practical sets. Post‑production visual effects, handled by Digital Domain and Sony Pictures Imageworks, created voxel‑styled three‑dimensional versions of arcade characters for integration with live‑action footage.
Release and Reception
Pixels opened in U.S. theaters on July 24 2015. The film grossed approximately $245 million worldwide against a production budget of $110 million. Critical response was largely negative; reviewers criticized the film’s reliance on visual gags and perceived lack of narrative depth, though some noted its appeal to fans of retro gaming. Audience scores were mixed, reflecting a divide between nostalgic viewers and general moviegoers.
Home Media
The film was released on digital platforms and physical media (DVD, Blu‑ray) in late 2015, subsequently becoming available for streaming on services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.