Disney’s 20th Century Studios is set to adapt the viral Roblox sensation 99 Nights in the Forest for the silver screen, according to a report from The Hollywood Reporter. While this marks the studio’s maiden voyage into game adaptations, it continues a growing industry trend of mining the Roblox ecosystem for potential cinematic franchises.
Since its launch in June 2025, 99 Nights in the Forest has become a juggernaut. It currently ranks among the highest-grossing experiences on the platform, boasting an astonishing 26 billion lifetime visits and a massive concurrent player base that has peaked at 14 million, as noted in the developers’ official creator profile.
The game’s hook is hauntingly minimalist: “Build a camp with friends. Something is watching you.” Although the “kid-friendly horror” genre is well-trodden ground, the massive commercial success of properties like Five Nights at Freddy’s proves that audiences have a ravenous appetite for this specific brand of tension.
“The team at Grandma’s Favourite Games possesses the kind of audacious, visionary spirit we value at 20th Century Studios,” said David Greenbaum, president of 20th Century Studios and Disney’s live-action division. “99 Nights in the Forest has already captivated millions, and we are thrilled to translate that momentum into a compelling cinematic experience.”
The developers themselves expressed equal enthusiasm, stating, “We grew up idolizing Disney and 20th Century classics, so collaborating with such an iconic studio feels surreal. We are eager to expand the lore of 99 Nights in the Forest and deliver genuine thrills to an entirely new audience.”
This project joins a burgeoning slate of Roblox adaptations, including films based on Grow A Garden and Steal a Brainrot, which are being developed by Story Kitchen—the powerhouse production house behind the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. Meanwhile, Wind Sun Sky Entertainment is currently at work on a feature film adaptation of the popular cops-and-robbers title, Jailbreak.
Hollywood is clearly viewing the vast, narrative-rich worlds within Roblox as the next frontier for tentpole cinema, hoping to replicate the success of recent hits like The Super Mario Bros. Movie. With such immense built-in fanbases, these platforms offer a unique opportunity to revitalize the historically challenging video game-to-film pipeline.
As 2026 shapes up to be a banner year for gaming adaptations—ranging from Mortal Kombat 2 and Street Fighter to indie-spirited triumphs like Markiplier’s Iron Lung—the aggressive push into the Roblox market suggests that major studios are ready to venture far beyond traditional AAA franchises to find their next blockbuster.
Source: Polygon
