Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010)

The funniest character in a movie about a time-rewinding dagger is a desert schemer who runs ostrich races and rants about taxes. That’s Alfred Molina’s Sheik Amar, and he’s the only person here having any fun. Jake Gyllenhaal plays a Persian prince with a British accent, in a movie where the studio clearly cast for star power over the setting. He’s game, though, and the rooftop chases are the closest it gets to feeling like the video game. Gemma Arterton bickers with him like half of a sitcom couple on a long road trip. Then the plot sinks into prophecies and sand. A dagger that can undo any mistake drains the stakes from every fight, because nothing has to stick. It made $336.4 million worldwide on a reported budget of $150 to $200 million. A 4.4 because it looks expensive and plays like somebody else is holding the controller. $5,792 says you botch a move in your next board game, call for a do-over, and act betrayed when nobody lets you rewind.

What works: Alfred Molina’s tax-hating schemer steals the show, and the rooftop chases feel like the game in a good way.

What doesn’t: A dagger that can undo any mistake drains the tension from every fight, and the prophecy plot buries the fun under sand.

Who it’s for: People who played the game, love a good rooftop chase and are fine zoning out during the story parts.