The hit game Payday is set to be adapted for film and television

The next video game adaptation is just around the corner: according to Collider, Vice Studios has entered into a strategic partnership with Starbreeze Entertainment to secure the worldwide film and television rights to the hit game "Payday". However, it is not yet known whether we can expect a movie or a series.

Amy Powell, President of Vice Studios, sees the adaptation for film and television as a great opportunity for the franchise. Quote:

"'Payday' has a world that goes far beyond the game itself. There's a mythology behind the masks, and the characters have a real story that is incredibly exciting to explore. We're looking forward to working in partnership with Starbreeze Entertainment to develop this universe further and see how far it can reach on screen."

"Payday" is a cooperative first-person shooter in which players take on the roles of a team of masked thieves. It's all about planning and executing increasingly dangerous heists, ranging from simple jewelry store break-ins to highly complex bank robberies. Over the course of the games, users continuously improve their skills and unlock better equipment to successfully master even the most sophisticated coups.

Over the years, the three parts of the shooter series have built up an impressive community of more than 50 million players and generated sales of over 400 million US dollars.

Movie tips for fans of "Payday"

For fans of the "Payday" series, the appeal is clear: the perfect planning, the masked faces, the sudden shift from silent infiltration to massive gunfire and the feeling of winning against the system as a well-coordinated team. Anyone looking for the same adrenaline rush on the big screen after switching off the console will find real treasures in the heist genre. Here are the ultimate movie tips that breathe the spirit of Dallas, Hoxton and Wolf.

The forefather: Heat (1995)

If there is one movie that has defined the DNA of "Payday", then it is Michael Mann's "Heat". The parallels are unmistakable: from the tactical heists on money transporters to the legendary bank robbery in downtown Los Angeles. The sound design of the gunfights - loud, echoing and relentless – served as direct inspiration for the game.

The confrontation between the cool strategist Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro) and the obsessed investigator Vincent Hanna (Al Pacino) perfectly reflects the cat-and-mouse game between the "Heisters" and the police. Anyone who loves the "Heat Street" mission will not be able to avoid this masterpiece.

Tactics and masks: The Town (2010)

Ben Affleck's directorial effort "The Town" brilliantly captures the feeling of preparation and the various "classes" in "Payday". A group of friends from Boston's Charlestown district specialize in high-risk bank robberies. The iconic nun masks and meticulous planning of escape routes are particularly reminiscent of the game's aesthetic. The film also impressively shows what happens when a plan goes wrong and the team is forced to shoot their way through the police cordons.

The art of deception: Inside Man (2006)

Not every heist has to end in a hail of bullets. For gamers who prefer stealth mode, Spike Lee's "Inside Man" is a must. It's less about violence and more about psychological warfare and ingenious diversionary maneuvers. Clive Owen plays the mastermind who occupies a bank and stalls the police with demands, while a completely different plan is going on in the background. The "First World Bank" mission from the first "Payday" borrows a lot visually and atmospherically from this intelligent thriller.

The adrenaline of the road: Point Break (1991)

Although there is a remake from 2015 (which even had an official collaboration with "Payday 2"), Kathryn Bigelow's original remains unmatched. The "Ex-Presidents", a group of surfers who rob banks wearing masks of former US presidents, are the blueprint for the "Payday" gang. "Point Break" combines extreme sports with criminal energy and delivers one of the best foot chases in movie history. It is precisely this mixture of coolness, anarchy and cohesion within the crew that so aptly captures the feel of the game.

The modern action frenzy: Den of Thieves (2018)

Known as "Den of Thieves" in Germany, this movie is practically "Payday" in feature-length. Gerard Butler plays an uncompromising cop who hunts down a group of former elite soldiers who want to rob the Federal Reserve Bank in Los Angeles. What makes this movie so worth seeing for fans is the focus on the equipment and tactics. The criminals act with military precision, using jammers, heavy weaponry and complex logistics. The final action scenes are so powerfully staged that you almost want to look for the controller in your hand.

Conclusion: Which movie for which type of player?

Each of these films sheds light on a different aspect of being a "heister". While "Inside Man" tickles the brain and celebrates planning, "Heat" and "Den of Thieves" deliver the raw action and tactical approach that we love so much in the louder phases of a heist. They all have one thing in common: they show that the success of a heist always depends on the professionalism of the team – and on keeping a cool head at the crucial moment.