Dungeon Crawler Carl has taken the sci-fi and fantasy world by storm. Matt Dinniman’s series has grown exponentially beyond its self-publishing roots. The books began as a web serial and have grown into a best-selling phenomenon with a devoted following. While a live-action series has been announced, some movies tap into the same elements fans love about the books in the meantime.
Dungeon Crawler Carl pulls from several genres and takes various RPG elements with plenty of humor, leaving the door open for several movie comparisons. There’s no singular formula a film has to follow to appeal to fans of the books. The following movies tap into specific elements that should feel familiar, even if they approach them from a different direction.
Ready Player One Conquers the Video Game Movie Stigma
Though the movie is based on the 2011 Ernest Cline novel, many consider Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One to be the best video game movie ever. While not based on a single video game, like the novel, the movie builds its world and premise around video game culture. The source material is packed with pop culture references to movies, music, and games.
Much like Dungeon Crawler Carl, Ready Player One takes familiar gaming mechanics and makes them integral to the story. It’s one of the more direct comparisons, as both projects rely on heavy use of standard RPG elements. The core conflict against massive corporations is also very similar.
Free Guy Explores the World of NPCs and Online Gaming
Starring Ryan Reynolds and Jodie Comer, Shawn Levy’s Free Guy is what happens when characters in a video game become self-aware. The movie takes a lot of inspiration from open-world and online games like Grand Theft Auto. Reynolds’ character, Guy, is an NPC in a video game called Free City who gains free will within the game.
Free Guy takes recognizable elements from various games and makes its own world. The movie pokes fun at corporate greed from larger gaming studios, as Taika Waititi’s Antwan is more interested in monetization. The movie faced release issues due to the pandemic but was ultimately a huge box office success, with a sequel currently in development.
The Running Man Is a Dystopian Sci-Fi Classic
Loosely based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, 1987’s The Running Man makes considerable changes to the story but still manages to preserve the core satirical elements. The film adaptation keeps the premise centered around a life-threatening game show, but transforms it to better fit Arnold Schwarzenegger’s action persona. The result is one of the classic sci-fi thrillers of the 80s.
The Running Man plays into Schwarzenegger’s strengths without losing the bite of the underlying commentary. Former Family Feud host Richard Dawson was cast as Damon Killian, which gave the game show element of the movie a familiar face. The Running Man came along well before the rise of reality television, but seemed to predict its arrival.
The Cabin in the Woods Flips the Script On Horror
2011’s The Cabin in the Woods critiques horror in a fun way, and much of the humor comes from subverting typical horror tropes. Beyond the satirical aspects, the horror is highly structured and controlled by a corporate cult. Every part of the story is manipulated behind the scenes, which fans of Dungeon Crawler Carl can appreciate.
The Cabin in the Woods does poke fun at horror, but it’s clear that it comes from a place of love. The movie is filled with references to classic slashers and beyond. Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard are horror fans, so the satire is done so tastefully. The jokes are there, but the movie also tells a worthwhile story, which is why it works.
Guardians of the Galaxy Embraces the Misfit Family Dynamic
James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy worked so well because it brings together a group of characters who shouldn’t work together and pulls it off. The movie has a unique sense of humor, especially compared to other Marvel releases at the time. Gunn’s approach helped establish the film as one of the strongest entries to the MCU up to that point.
The chemistry between the characters is the main attraction in Guardians of the Galaxy. That is shared with how readers feel about Dungeon Crawler Carl. The action aspects are just icing on the cake, but it’s the cast of memorable characters that keep fans wanting more.
Dredd Delivers the Ultimate Floor-by-Floor Survival Gauntlet
Based on the comic strip, Peter Travis’ Dredd sticks to the basics and puts Karl Urban’s Judge Dredd in a multi-level survival gauntlet. It’s a good parallel to the dungeon-crawling dynamic of Dungeon Crawl Carl. Most of the movie’s action takes place in a 200-story building controlled by a drug lord.
The way the action unfolds gives Dredd a distinct comic book and video game-styled approach. The movie infamously struggled at the box office, but its reputation has only grown over the years. Fans are still clamoring for a sequel over a decade later.
Big Trouble in Little China Challenges Typical Action Tropes
In the totality of John Carpenter’s filmography, Big Trouble in Little China is an underrated adventure movie. The movie masterfully blends comedy, action, adventure, fantasy, and martial arts. Kurt Russell’s Jack Burton is not the typical action hero; in fact, many would argue he isn’t the hero of the movie at all.
In Big Trouble in Little China, Burton believes he is the main character, but it’s really Dennis Dun’s Wang Chi who does most of the heavy lifting. Like Jack, Carl isn’t the typical action hero himself. Both characters are thrown into a bizarre situation and handle it with humor and blunt stubbornness.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Is Pure Cosmic Chaos
Based on Douglas Adams’ widely popular radio series, 2005’s The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy captured Adams’ chaotic brand of comedy. The original story had already branched out into novels, TV series, and more by the time the film arrived. Adams himself worked on the screenplay before he died in 2001.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and Dungeon Crawler Carl share a lot of similarities, but one hilarious detail the two projects have in common is the casual attire of the two main characters. Both Carl and Arthur Dent had little time to prepare for their predicaments, resulting in both characters sporting their boxers and a bathrobe, respectively.
