Top 20 Worst Live-Action Adaptations of Anime & Manga

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Ignacio Weil

Entertainment - March 11th 2025, 20:13 GMT+1

Cropped Speed Racer — 20. Speed Racer (2008)

If you ever wanted to know what it feels like to get hit by a technicolor tornado while strapped to a rocket-powered car, *Speed Racer* (2008) is your answer. The Wachowskis took the classic anime and transformed it into a dizzying, hyper-stylized explosion of colors, speed, and wild editing that feels less like a traditional movie and more like a high-speed brain teaser. The film practically dares you to keep up with its rapid shifts in tone – from heartfelt family drama to absurdly over-the-top racing sequences that defy every law of physics. One moment you're tearing up over Speed's relationship with his family, and the next, you're watching a guy get flipped into the stratosphere by a car with saw blades. It's a puzzle of a movie, but one that’s worth solving – if your eyes can handle it. | © Warner Bros. Pictures

Cropped Gantz — 19. Gantz (2010)

Imagine waking up in a blank apartment with a giant black orb and being told you have to fight alien monsters for points. No, it’s not a fever dream – it’s *Gantz* (2010). This live-action adaptation of the manga throws its characters (and its audience) straight into a brutal, mind-bending death game where the rules are unclear, the stakes are high, and the gore is plentiful. Every battle introduces new twists, and just when you think you’ve figured it all out – bam! – the movie throws another curveball. It’s a relentless puzzle where survival depends on quick thinking and brutal execution, leaving viewers questioning the nature of reality, morality, and why exactly that one guy thought a motorcycle would help against an alien samurai. | © Nikkatsu

Cropped Bleach — 18. Bleach (2018)

How do you cram a long-running anime filled with soul-reaping, sword-swinging action into a single live-action movie? The answer: *Bleach* (2018), which somehow manages to distill the essence of Tite Kubo’s hit series into a sleek, fast-paced spectacle. The film throws you right into the deep end with Ichigo Kurosaki’s sudden transformation into a Soul Reaper, complete with all the oversized swords and dramatic standoffs you’d expect. While it streamlines a lot of the original story, it still feels like piecing together a jigsaw puzzle where a few edge pieces might be missing. The action is stylish, the CGI is respectable, and the film captures just enough of the anime’s spirit to make fans nod in approval – while also making them wish for a sequel that never came. | © Warner Bros. Japan

Cropped Parasyte — 17. Parasyte: Part 1 (2014)

What would you do if your right hand suddenly started talking, sprouted eyes, and turned into a shape-shifting alien weapon? If your answer is “panic,” congratulations – you’re probably human. *Parasyte: Part 1* (2014) brings the bizarre, body-horror-infused world of the classic manga to life with surprisingly effective CGI and a story that’s both grotesque and oddly emotional. Watching protagonist Shinichi Izumi struggle to coexist with his snarky, murderous parasite is like solving a Rubik’s Cube where each move might lead to a horrific monster attack. The film juggles existential dread, gory action, and unexpected humor, making it one of the more successful attempts at translating anime’s weirdness into live-action. If nothing else, it’ll make you appreciate having full control over your own limbs. | © Toho

Cropped The Guyver — 16. The Guyver (1991)

Ah, *The Guyver* (1991) – where anime-inspired sci-fi meets ‘90s B-movie camp in a fusion that can only be described as *delightfully chaotic*. The movie follows an unsuspecting young man who stumbles upon a biomechanical alien suit that turns him into a high-kicking, rubber-suited superhero. Sounds awesome, right? Well, it *is –* if you enjoy watching practical effects that teeter between impressive and laughably cheesy. The film feels like trying to solve a puzzle with pieces from two different boxes: half gritty sci-fi thriller, half wacky martial arts flick. The tone shifts so wildly that one minute you're watching grotesque monster transformations, and the next, you're getting hit with slapstick comedy. But hey, for all its weirdness, *The Guyver* delivers something uniquely entertaining – if you can embrace the madness. | © New Line Cinema

Cropped Ouran High School Host Club — 15. Ouran High School Host Club (2012)

If you’ve ever walked into a room and felt completely out of place, then congratulations – you already have something in common with Haruhi Fujioka, the protagonist of *Ouran High School Host Club* (2012). This live-action adaptation of the beloved shoujo anime drops you into a world where a poor scholarship student accidentally finds herself tangled up with a club full of rich, eccentric, and absurdly attractive boys. The show plays out like a chaotic puzzle where every episode is another ridiculous social situation, another layer of mistaken identities, and another moment of heartwarming self-discovery. It might take a minute to adjust to its over-the-top humor and dramatic flair, but once you do, you’ll find yourself hopelessly charmed – like solving a mystery only to realize you’ve been enjoying the confusion all along. | © TBS

Cropped Ghost in the Shell — 14. Ghost in the Shell (2017)

Adapting *Ghost in the Shell* into live action was always going to be a high-stakes puzzle – one that Hollywood attempted to solve in 2017, with... *mixed* results. On the one hand, the film nails the cyberpunk aesthetic, offering a neon-drenched cityscape that looks like someone took *Blade Runner* and cranked the saturation to maximum. On the other hand, it struggles to piece together the deeper philosophical themes of the original, occasionally feeling like a sleek, AI-generated summary of *Ghost in the Shell* rather than a true adaptation. With dazzling action sequences and Scarlett Johansson’s stoic portrayal of Major Kusanagi, it’s still an intriguing experience – just one that might leave die-hard fans feeling like they’re missing a few crucial puzzle pieces. | © Paramount Pictures

Cropped Devilman — 13. Devilman (2004)

Ah, *Devilman* (2004) – a movie that feels like someone dumped all the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle on the floor, set it on fire, and called it a day. This adaptation of Go Nagai’s legendary manga is infamous for its bizarre CGI, stiff performances, and a plot that unravels faster than a demon transformation gone wrong. It tries to balance apocalyptic horror with tragic drama, but instead, it mostly leaves the audience wondering what just happened and why they feel so emotionally drained (for all the wrong reasons). The film does manage to capture *some* of the eerie, unsettling themes of the source material, but only in the way that a broken mirror still reflects light. If nothing else, *Devilman* is a puzzle worth experiencing just for the sheer madness of it all. | © Toei Company

Cropped Black Butler — 12. Black Butler (2014)

Take one part gothic mystery, one part supernatural action, and one part ridiculously good-looking demon butler, and you get *Black Butler* (2014). But here’s the twist – this live-action adaptation decides to *rewrite* the beloved anime and manga’s Victorian-era setting, instead placing the story in the 21st century with a completely new protagonist. Confused? You’re not alone. While the film still serves up plenty of stylish action and elaborate tea-serving etiquette, it feels like solving a puzzle where someone changed the picture on the box at the last minute. Is it a faithful adaptation? Not exactly. But is it still an enjoyable ride through a world of mystery, betrayal, and dangerously sharp cutlery? Absolutely. | © Warner Bros. Japan

Cropped Fullmetal Alchemist — 11. Fullmetal Alchemist (2017)

Turning *Fullmetal Alchemist* into a live-action film was a bold move – one that came with all the complexity of an alchemical transmutation gone slightly wrong. While the movie does its best to bring Edward and Alphonse Elric’s journey to life, something about it feels a little... *off*. The visuals are ambitious, the story sticks close to the source material, and yet, much like a half-completed philosopher’s stone, the final result doesn’t quite hold the same power. Maybe it’s the pacing, maybe it’s the CGI, or maybe it’s the fact that adapting such a deep and intricate series into a single film was always going to be a challenge. Whatever the case, *Fullmetal Alchemist* (2017) remains a fascinating puzzle – one that’s fun to pick apart, even if the pieces don’t always fit perfectly. | © Warner Bros. Japan

Cropped Fist of the North Star — 10. Fist of the North Star (1995)

"You’re already confused." That should be the tagline for *Fist of the North Star* (1995), the live-action adaptation of the legendary post-apocalyptic anime that gave us the most meme-worthy martial artist of all time, Kenshiro. This film tries to capture the essence of the original – exploding heads, revenge-driven drama, and lots of “ATATATATATA!” – but somehow ends up feeling more like a bootleg Mortal Kombat movie. The fight scenes are clunky, the acting is campy, and the special effects are... well, let’s just say they make the 1980s anime look like *Avatar* by comparison. It’s a puzzle of a film, one that makes you wonder how something so full of action can still feel so slow. But hey, at least you’ll get to hear Kenshiro drop the classic “You are already dead” in live action – before you realize the movie itself was already doomed. | © First Look International

Cropped Attack On Titan — 9. Attack on Titan (2015)

Imagine taking one of the most intricately plotted anime of all time, throwing out half the plot, and then stuffing in a bunch of new (and *very* questionable) character choices – that’s *Attack on Titan* (2015) for you. The movie had the impossible task of adapting a story filled with terrifying, city-stomping giants, intense battles, and deep political intrigue. What we got instead was a weirdly condensed version of *Titan* lore, where fan-favorite characters were either unrecognizable or missing entirely, and the CGI Titans looked more like something out of a fever dream. The movie *tries* to be an action-packed puzzle, but it’s like someone lost the original instructions and decided to make up the rules along the way. Even with its flaws, it’s still fascinating to watch – if only to see just how far it strays from the anime’s brutal brilliance. | © Toho

Cropped Oldboy — 8. Oldboy (2013)

If you ever wanted to see what happens when Hollywood tries to solve a perfectly crafted South Korean mystery thriller with the subtlety of a wrecking ball, look no further than *Oldboy* (2013). A remake of the 2003 masterpiece, this version takes the same basic premise – a man is imprisoned for years with no explanation, only to be released and forced to uncover a twisted conspiracy – but somehow manages to remove all the depth, nuance, and psychological horror that made the original so great. Josh Brolin gives it his all, but the film stumbles like someone trying to jam a square peg into a round hole. The result is a puzzle that was already solved 10 years earlier, but this remake insists on scrambling the pieces again – just to prove it *shouldn’t* have been messed with in the first place. | © FilmDistrict

Cropped Kite — 7. Kite (2014)

Ever watch a movie and wonder if someone accidentally forgot to include the plot? That’s *Kite* (2014), a film that tries to bring Yasuomi Umetsu’s infamous anime to life but somehow manages to strip away everything that made the original so shockingly compelling. The anime was a gritty, hyper-violent revenge thriller with dark psychological elements, but the live-action version feels more like a second-rate sci-fi crime drama that’s desperately trying to be edgy. Samuel L. Jackson is here, which is always a plus, but even he can’t save a story that feels like it’s missing half its puzzle pieces. The action is there, the neon-drenched aesthetic is there, but the soul of the original is long gone. Instead of solving a thrilling puzzle, watching *Kite* (2014) feels more like trying to decipher a torn-up ransom note – with half the words missing. | © Anchor Bay Entertainment

Cropped G Saviour — 6. G-Saviour (1999)

Ah, *G-Saviour* (1999) – the movie that proves not all *Gundam* adaptations are built to last. Technically set in the *Universal Century* timeline of the iconic mecha franchise, this made-for-TV movie tries to capture the grand space opera feel of *Mobile Suit Gundam* but ends up feeling more like a low-budget sci-fi channel special. The CGI is *ambitious* for its time (which is a polite way of saying “painfully outdated”), and the human drama is about as engaging as watching someone read a technical manual. The real puzzle here is figuring out how a franchise as legendary as *Gundam* ended up with *this* as its first live-action adaptation. It’s clunky, awkward, and – despite its best efforts – utterly forgettable. But hey, at least there are mobile suits... even if they look like they were rendered on a PlayStation 1. | © Sunrise

Cropped Knights of the Zodiac — 5. Knights of the Zodiac (2023)

*Knights of the Zodiac* (2023) had one job – bring the legendary *Saint Seiya* anime to life in a way that honored its epic battles, cosmic mythology, and over-the-top armor transformations. What we got instead was a film that feels like someone took the original story, tossed half of it into a blender, and then hit the "generic Hollywood action movie" button. Sure, the film tries to introduce newcomers to the world of the Zodiac Saints, but longtime fans will be left scratching their heads, wondering where the heart of the series went. The CGI fights are fun, the armor designs are decent, but the story? It's like trying to solve a puzzle where the final image just says "Please Buy the Sequel" – except there’s a good chance that sequel will never come. | © Toei Company

Cropped Death Note — 4. Death Note (2017)

*Death Note* (2017) is what happens when you take one of the most brilliant psychological cat-and-mouse games in anime history and decide to simplify it until all that’s left is... well, chaos. Gone is the methodical, chess-like battle between Light Yagami and L, replaced instead with a guy who panics at the first sign of trouble and an L who forgets how to be a master detective. The film rushes through its story, shoving years of intricate mind games into a neat 100-minute package that ends up feeling more like a high school drama with occasional supernatural elements. Willem Dafoe as Ryuk? Fantastic. The rest of the film? Like trying to solve a puzzle where someone took a marker and scribbled all over the pieces. | © Netflix

Cropped Cowboy Bebop — 3. Cowboy Bebop (2021)

*Cowboy Bebop* (2021) is an enigma wrapped in a riddle, wrapped in a jazz-fueled fever dream. On paper, a live-action adaptation of one of the most stylish, effortlessly cool anime ever made *should* have been a recipe for success. The cast? Pretty solid. The music? On point. But the storytelling? Oh boy. Instead of keeping the smooth, noir-esque flow of the original, the show turns into a weird mix of goofiness and forced drama, with characters making choices that leave fans collectively yelling, “That’s not how that works!” It’s a puzzle in the sense that you keep watching, hoping that maybe – just maybe – it’ll all click together in the end. Spoiler alert: It doesn’t. Instead, we got a show that confused both new viewers and longtime fans alike before Netflix put it out of its misery after just one season. | © Netflix

Cropped The Last Airbender — 2. Avatar: The Last Airbender (2010)

If *Avatar: The Last Airbender* (2010) was a puzzle, it would be a 1,000-piece set where all the pieces are blank and half of them are missing. M. Night Shyamalan’s take on one of the most beloved animated series of all time is the stuff of infamy – awkward acting, wooden dialogue, baffling name changes (*Sokka* is pronounced how now?), and action sequences that make bending look like the slowest martial art known to man. Every decision made in this film feels like it was meant to confuse, from condensing an entire season into a rushed, lifeless plot to completely stripping away the charm of its characters. The end result? A movie that left fans wondering if they had accidentally walked into the wrong theater. | © Paramount Pictures

Cropped Dragonball Evolution — 1. Dragonball Evolution (2009)

*Dragonball Evolution* (2009) isn’t just a bad adaptation – it’s a cinematic disaster that feels like it was made by people who had only *heard* of *Dragon Ball* in passing. Imagine taking one of the most energetic, over-the-top, action-packed anime of all time and turning it into... a generic teen drama where Goku is suddenly a high school kid? The film fumbles every major aspect of the franchise, from its complete misunderstanding of key characters to its laughable attempts at recreating the anime’s iconic battles. The special effects are terrible, the story makes no sense, and it’s clear that somewhere along the way, everyone involved just gave up. If solving a puzzle is supposed to be rewarding, watching *Dragonball Evolution* is the exact opposite – it’s like trying to put together a picture of a masterpiece, only to realize someone replaced all the pieces with soggy cardboard. | © 20th Century Fox

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Bringing anime and manga to life in live-action form is a challenge that many filmmakers have attempted – and often failed miserably. Whether due to poor casting, weak storytelling, unconvincing CGI, or a complete misunderstanding of the source material, some adaptations leave fans frustrated, disappointed, or outright angry.

In this list, we’re diving into the 20 worst live-action adaptations of anime and manga – the ones that failed to capture the magic of the originals and, in some cases, became infamous for all the wrong reasons. From bizarre reimaginings to soulless cash grabs, these films and series serve as cautionary tales of what not to do when adapting beloved stories.