Max Payne (film)

Max Payne is a 2008 neo-noir action thriller film directed by John Moore, loosely based on the video game series of the same name developed by Remedy Entertainment. The film stars Mark Wahlberg as Max Payne, a New York City Police Department (NYPD) detective obsessed with avenging the murder of his wife and child.

The film departs significantly from the video game's plot and mythology. While retaining the core premise of Max investigating the murder of his family and uncovering a conspiracy, key elements from the game, such as the Valkyr drug and the supernatural aspects, are presented in a heavily altered and arguably more grounded manner.

The supporting cast includes Mila Kunis as Mona Sax, a Russian-American hitwoman; Beau Bridges as BB Hensley, Max's former partner; Chris O'Donnell as Alex Balder, an Internal Affairs investigator; and Ludacris as Jim Bravura, a lieutenant with the NYPD.

The film was a box office success, grossing over $85 million worldwide against a production budget of $35 million. However, it was critically panned, receiving negative reviews for its plot changes, acting, and overall departure from the source material. Critics often cited the lack of faithfulness to the game's intricate storyline and unique atmosphere as a major flaw. Despite its commercial success, Max Payne is generally considered a disappointing adaptation by fans of the video game series.