Content warning/editors note: This review will contain spoilers for the movie “Uncharted”

Based on the beloved game series “Uncharted,” the movie spin-off “Uncharted” follows the story of Nathan Drake and Victor “Sully” Sullivan as they search for the lost treasure of Ferdinand Magellan. 

Going into the film knowing practically nothing about the game series was not much of a deterrent when watching the film. While there were things left for fans of the game in the movie, the movie can still be watched if you have never played the games before opening the door up for fans of the movie series. 

The movie opens on a scene of the main character in the present time hanging out of an aircraft before flashing back to years before to give the background of how he ended up there. 

Even though it’s a movie about treasure hunting, there is a deeper emotional backstory that comes with the characters that give the viewer a gut-punch feeling when they finally achieved their goal. Nathan dreamed of finding the treasure one day with his big brother, Sam Drake, who he hadn’t seen since he was 10 years old. Nathan agrees to help Sully find the treasure, partially because he believes it will help him find Sam. The movie does a great job of showing the relationship between brothers even though Sam only appears at the beginning of the film for a few scenes. From flashbacks to the postcards that Sam has sent Nathan over the years, it is evident that both brothers care for each other. 

The movie has two credit scenes, both teasing the second installment in the “Uncharted” franchise. The first one is a quick scene of the camera panning through a prison before finally stopping on one prisoner who is writing on a postcard. When zooming in, a postcard is seen addressed to Nathan, heavily implying that the prisoner who is writing the note is Sam Drake who has been presumed dead.

“Uncharted” is a thrilling movie and touching the first installment into what will without a doubt be a successful franchise. This movie is for not only fans of the games but for new fans as well who have just found this exhilarating story.