When looking at the metaverse concept in film, people often mention films like The Matrix and Minority Report. While these films gave us an entertaining glimpse into what the directors think the metaverse will be like, they weren’t an accurate representation of what we know about it now. So which film will be the first to get it 100% right?
How the entertainment industry is heading into the metaverse
There’s been a lot of talk in newspapers and on TV about the impact of the metaverse, while many traditional forms of entertainment have become more immersive. Board games and card games have slowly been transformed by the introduction of different types of technology, including virtual reality and augmented reality.
The casino industry has also taken steps in this direction. The latest online slot machines introduces us to theme settings where bonus rounds often feature characters and symbols that tie in with this theme. Titles such as Arctic Fishing, Agent Gold and Vikings Unleashed Megaways reveal the diversity of themes and images used.
In terms of the metaverse on TV, many documentaries have touched on this topic while looking to explain how the metaverse will change our lives. tv shows the likes of Black Mirror, Westworld, and Upload have all shown different aspects of a virtual reality world in the future, but it would be difficult to argue on behalf of any of them as the definitive look at what the metaverse has in store for us.
Did love actually cause the breakthrough?
It seems unlikely that a romantic comedy will give us our first real look at what the metaverse is about. Still, the 2023 release of Love Virtually gave us one of the most interesting and potentially accurate looks down the road VR technology has entered every aspect of our lives.
Stephen Tobolowsky takes on the role of Dr. Divine, who has a virtual affair but doesn’t realize the woman in real life is his wife (played by Cheri Oteri). Described as a satirical retro comedy, it failed to make a big impression on audiences and critics upon release, but perhaps this is simply because this technology is now so familiar to us that it is no longer groundbreaking or shocking.
With no news on the horizon about upcoming metaverse movies, perhaps it’s just that the metaverse is such an accepted and everyday part of life that filmmakers don’t feel the need to make a movie about it specifically. The concept of a virtual reality that merges our physical and online worlds remains fascinating, but this alone is no longer striking enough to serve as the basis for a major motion picture.
In this case, we can expect the metaverse to appear in an increasing number of films without being the actual subject. We may never see a blockbuster focused solely on the metaverse, but we can expect it to soon be included as a key element in many films with various themes, just as it has made its way into so many other parts of the entertainment industry .
