Former Activision Blizzard Boss Bobby Kotick Slams Warcraft Film, Calls It 'One of the Worst Movies I've Ever Seen'

Former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick slammed Universal's 2016 Warcraft film adaptation in a recent interview with Grit, calling it "one of the worst movies I've ever seen." Kotick, who led the company for 32 years before stepping down in December 2023, attributed the film's production to the departure of veteran designer Chris Metzen in 2016, citing it as a significant distraction for the World of Warcraft development team.

He described Metzen as "the heart and soul of creativity" at the company, stating that the movie's development diverted crucial resources and significantly impacted the team's ability to meet deadlines for World of Warcraft expansions and patches. Kotick emphasized the disruption caused by developers being involved in the film's production, from casting to on-set work. He directly linked the movie's production to delays in World of Warcraft content releases.

While the Warcraft film, despite underperforming in North America with a domestic gross of $47 million, achieved international success, particularly in China, ultimately grossing $439 million globally. However, this wasn't enough to offset its massive budget, resulting in Legendary Pictures deeming it a financial failure.

Kotick revealed that Metzen, deeply affected by the film's production, left to found a board game company. Kotick subsequently attempted to persuade Metzen to return to Blizzard in a consultancy role, but Metzen expressed dissatisfaction with plans for upcoming World of Warcraft expansions, advocating for a complete overhaul. Kotick admitted to minimal contact with Metzen following his return, prioritizing his creative input. He concluded by expressing confidence in the quality of the subsequent World of Warcraft expansion, noting Metzen's significant contribution to its success, a sentiment echoed in a 9/10 review of World of Warcraft: The War Within, which praised it as a revitalizing experience for the long-running MMO.