Warning: Children’s Horror Video Game ‘Poppy’s Playtime’ Receives Movie Adaptation

Published: May 13, 2024

Warning: Children’s Horror Video Game ‘Poppy’s Playtime’ Receives Movie Adaptation

By Movieguide® Contributor

Children’s horror video game “Poppy’s Playtime” is being adapted for the big screen as Legendary Entertainment begins production on a movie adaptation.

“Poppy’s Playtime” is a dangerous game that appeals to children through cute, toy-like characters that end up being monsters hunting you. The terror that it can cause in young players who are not expecting the horror twist led a Wisconsin police department to issue a warning about it when it was first released.

“The game teaches younger audiences that their toys and other things they previously felt comfortable with are now scary and can kill them,” the warning said. “The Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office is issuing a warning to parents due to a series of videos surrounding Poppy Playtime character Huggy Wuggy. The warnings are due to the characters’ initially child-friendly visuals, which very quickly turn nightmarish.”

Despite the horror associated with the game, “Poppy’s Playtime” has become a recognizable name within the indie video game space thanks to older players, YouTube videos and the distribution of its characters as toys.

Given the current popularity of video game adaptations, it’s no surprise “Poppy’s Playtime” is getting a cinematic release. While most successful video game adaptations—such as SONIC or THE SUPER MARIO BROS MOVIE—are family-friendly, it will be interesting to see if POPPY’S PLAYTIME attempts to market itself as such.

Given its cute, child-friendly visuals, many parents could be duped into thinking the movie would be appropriate for their children. However, assuming the plot follows that of the game, it will certainly not be appropriate for younger kids.

Unfortunately, the developer, MOB Games, has shown that they are willing to make their content available for the younger audience, as they recently announced the “Poppy Playtime Orientation Notebook,” which dives into the lore of the video game. While the book is intended for children ages 12 and older, it will be sold at Scholastic book fairs, allowing children as young as kindergarten to engage with the content.

Movieguide® previously reported on “Poppy’s Playtime”:

A new cartoon character named Huggy Wuggy might seem harmless, but parents need to be on their guard about the misleadingly named video game character.

Parents.com recently reported on “Huggy Wuggy,” a character from a 2021 video game, “Poppy Playtime.”

Huggy Wuggy looks like a blue teddy bear, but has a terrifying set of sharp teeth. He’s the villain in the game — players must solve puzzles in an abandoned toy factory while Huggy Wuggy hunts them down.

Despite the fact that Huggy Wuggy is supposed to be scary, many young children like the character after being exposed to him in a variety of different media.

“Some children have played Playtime Poppy despite its 12+ rating by Common Sense Media. Other children have seen videos of the monster-bear hybrid on YouTube and TikTok, and some simply know of Huggy Wuggy based on the toy, which is sold in gift shops across the country and is regularly given out as a carnival prize,” Parents.com reported.