After years of failed attempts, it seems like Hollywood is finally starting to crack the code for adapting video games for movies and television. Not only have game adaptations like The Last of Us and Fallout debut to critical acclaim and sky-high ratings, but other video game projects are in the works, whether it’s The Legend of Zelda movie, a new Street Fighter film, or Mass Effect and God of War shows in the works at Prime Video. One of 2025’s most watched shows is also a video game adaptation, although, ironically, it’s one that was the target of scorn from fans and critics alike. That series is Halo, which at the time of writing has logged 88. 9 million hours of viewing over the past six months. Part of the reason why Halo’s taken off on the streaming charts is that it’s moved to Netflix. A handful of older shows, particularly Friends and Suits, enjoyed what’s called “The Netflix Effect” as older fans rediscover why they loved these shows in the first place, while newer fans get to experience them for the first time. Halo is a completely different beast as it’s a science fiction/military story based on a highly popular video game series. Yet its current reception feels like a much needed win after a long, rocky road to television and a less than favorable reception when it first aired. ‘Halo’ Dealt With Production Problems & Creative Backlash Halo was first slated to hit the silver screen with Peter Jackson attached as a producer, while Guillermo del Toro and Neill Blomkamp were considered as directors. That film never came to life due to a dispute between Universal and 20th Century Fox, eventually leading the Halo rights to go back to Microsoft. Steven Spielberg took up executive producer duties on the Halo TV show, which was meant to play on Showtime. Almost immediately, turmoil surrounded the production. Despite the Halo series being announced in 2013, it wasn’t until 2019 that production actually started moving forward. On top of that, original director Rupert Wyatt departed the series, with Otto Bathurst stepping in to direct and produce. Finally, Halo would switch places with The Man Who Fell To Earth, moving from its home at Showtime to Paramount+. Once Halo premiered, it faced immense scrutiny from fans and critics. Perhaps one of the biggest shakeups is the fact that Master Chief/John-117 (Pablo Schreiber) ends up removing his helmet in the very first episode of the series an action that felt unspeakable to fans, since John remains armored throughout the video games. If that wasn’t enough, John ends up developing a relationship with Makee (Charlie Murphy), a human raised by his enemies the Covenant, to the point where they have sex. Many viewers, and Scrhieber, felt that this scene crossed a line, since Makee was technically a prisoner of war. Things pick up with the second season, which covers the infamous “Fall of Reach” event that kicks off the first Halo game. It also features a more subtle performance from Schrieber, who starts to lean more into Master Chief’s silent but capable role from the games. On top of that, Halo’s exploration of the friction between the United Space Nations Command and other planets, not to mention John’s past life before he became the Master Chief, added plenty of dimension while also making sure that the show wasn’t just copying elements from the game. It’s a strange mix of elements that worked far better than expected, and also makes sense since the show takes place in a different timeline from the games. There Could Be More ‘Halo’ on the Horizon and Netflix Would Be the Perfect Home Despite its second season improving in almost every way, Halo was canceled last year by Paramount+. There’s a silver lining, as Amblin, Xbox and 343 Industries are looking for a potential new home for a third season. With the series having landed on Netflix and receiving immense numbers, it’s only fitting that Netflix should be the new home for Halo. It’s clearly found an audience, and it would continue Netflix’s trend of incredible video game-based television shows. Time will tell if Halo gets a third season, but it’s clear that it’s received a bonus life thanks to its new streaming home. Halo is available to stream on Paramount+ and Netflix.
https://collider.com/halo-streaming-889-million-minutes-paramount-plus/