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 the 2016 Warcraft film adaptation as "one of the worst movies I've ever seen" in a recent interview with Grit. Kotick, who helmed Activision Blizzard for 32 years before his departure in December 2023, attributed the film's negative impact to the significant distraction it caused within the World of Warcraft development team, contributing to the departure of veteran designer Chris Metzen in 2016.

Kotick highlighted Metzen's crucial role in the company's creative process, stating, "Chris Metzen was — and is, to me — the heart and soul of creativity of the company." He explained that the movie, a pre-existing deal Activision inherited, consumed substantial resources and diverted developers' attention. The resulting delays in expansions and patches, coupled with his personal disdain for the film's quality, led to significant setbacks.

While the Warcraft movie's international success, particularly in China, generated $439 million for Legendary Pictures, its failure to recoup its massive budget ultimately rendered it a box office disappointment. The film's underperformance in North America ($47 million domestically) further underscored its financial shortcomings.

Kotick revealed that Metzen, deeply affected by the film's production, left to pursue a board game company. Despite Kotick's attempts to persuade Metzen to return as a consultant, Metzen expressed dissatisfaction with the planned expansions, advocating for a complete overhaul. Although Kotick sought Metzen's input, their subsequent collaboration remained minimal.

Kotick expressed confidence in the quality of the latest World of Warcraft expansion, stating, "The last expansion, he had his fingertips all over it. It's excellent. The next one is going to be great." This sentiment aligns with positive critical reception, including a 9/10 rating in a World of Warcraft The War Within review, praising the expansion for revitalizing the long-running MMO.