Pixels (2015 film)

Pixels is a 2015 American science fiction action comedy film directed by Chris Columbus. The film is based on the 2010 short film of the same name by Patrick Jean.

The film's plot revolves around an alien race misinterpreting video feeds of classic arcade games as a declaration of war. Consequently, they attack Earth using characters and mechanics from those games as weapons.

The President of the United States, Will Cooper (played by Kevin James), calls upon his childhood best friend, Sam Brenner (played by Adam Sandler), a former arcade game champion, to lead a team of skilled gamers to combat the pixelated invaders. The team also includes Ludlow Lamonsoff (Josh Gad), a conspiracy theorist and Brenner's other childhood friend, and Violet Van Patten (Michelle Monaghan), a weapons specialist and Lieutenant Colonel.

The arcade game characters used as weapons by the aliens include characters from Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Galaga, Centipede, and Space Invaders. The team must use their knowledge of these games to defeat the pixelated invaders and save the world.

The film received generally negative reviews from critics, who criticized its plot, humor, and reliance on nostalgia. However, it was a commercial success, grossing over $244 million worldwide against a production budget of $88 million.