Must-Watch on Netflix Tonight: This Epic Film Impresses All, Fan or Not!

Final Fantasy is among the most renowned video game franchises. Created in 1987 by Hironobu Sakaguchi, it has since become a staple in pop culture and is owned by the Japanese publisher Square Enix. It’s a true jackpot and a cash cow, with its titles appearing on virtually every platform, not just on gaming consoles.

Launched in 2001 and entirely crafted in computer-generated imagery by its creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, “Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within” was a groundbreaking film in cinema history. It was the first feature film to aim for a realistic depiction of human characters using CGI. The outcome was, and still is with its upgrade to UHD 4K, indeed very impressive.

Despite this, ultimately, the film was a monumental commercial failure. Five years later, Square Enix released another CGI film: “Final Fantasy – Advent Children.” The expertise of the teams behind these productions has gained a worldwide reputation.

The Jaw-Dropping Kingsglaive

To coincide with the launch of its game Final Fantasy XV at the end of 2016, the publisher released a new full-CGI film in September of that year called “Kingsglaive.”

Directed by Takeshi Nozue, who also worked on the CGI film “Final Fantasy: Advent Children,” Kingsglaive is part of the narrative arc designed by the publisher around the game. The events depicted in the film take place before those of Final Fantasy XV.

“I want to assure you. Those who play Final Fantasy will hopefully find satisfaction in seeing and diving into a deeper story around Final Fantasy XV, and at the same time, those unfamiliar with the franchise can understand the story without any trouble. This was very important to us,” the director shared with us before the release.

Indeed, one does not need to be a fan or an expert of the Final Fantasy franchise to appreciate this tale of a kingdom torn by war and fire, which remains, nearly a decade after its release, a real technical feat that continues to impress visually. Furthermore, the English version of Kingsglaive features compelling voice performances by an impressive cast including Aaron Paul, Lena Headey, and Sean Bean.

Kingsglaive is available to watch (or rewatch!) on Netflix.