Widescreen: Great gamer flicks to stream after seeing 'Free Guy'

Movies based on video games? Not very good. Movies about video games, however, can sometimes be very good.

I hope that holds true for "Free Guy," the Ryan Reynolds comedy about a self-aware game character that opens Friday, Aug. 13, in theaters. It's already true about these cool flicks you can stream right now:

• "TRON" (1982) - Director Steven Lisberger put Jeff Bridges and Elgin native Bruce Boxleitner inside a digital world where anthropomorphized computer programs race in lightcycles and hurl glowing discs at each other in this unique blend of live action and animation that was made like no other film. This is a case where the behind-the-scenes documentaries are more entertaining than the film itself. Stream the movie on Disney+, then scour YouTube for the making-of clips. (The superior sequel with the amazing Daft Punk soundtrack, "TRON: Legacy," can be rented digitally at the usual outlets.)

• "WarGames" (1983) - Teenage troublemaker Matthew Broderick hacks into what he thinks is a game company, but what is actually NORAD's new wonder of artificial intelligence. Dabney Coleman, one of the MVPs of '80s cinema, is the government stooge who thinks Broderick is a Russian agent trying to start WWIII. The tech is rusty, but everything else about "WarGames" still shines. And it's certainly the only movie to end with a thrilling game of Tic-Tac-Toe. Stream it on Amazon Prime and PlutoTV.

• "Cloak & Dagger" (1984) - After he helped E.T. phone home, young Henry Thomas starred in this thriller where the baddies' evil plans are stored within an Atari cartridge. Dabney Coleman's here, too, playing the distant dad whom Henry imagines as superspy Jack Flack. The movie makes excellent use of its San Antonio filming locations, including the Japanese Tea Garden and the River Walk. Stream it on Peacock.

• "Wreck-It Ralph (2012) - This nominee for the animated feature Oscar is essentially the video game equivalent of "Toy Story," complete with cameos by Sonic the Hedgehog, Q*bert and Pac-Man. John C. Reilly and Sarah Silverman go above and beyond in giving the Donkey Kong-inspired title character and his glitchy friend, kart racer Vanellope von Schweetz, depth and relatability. Stream it on Disney+, but avoid the shameless sequel.

• Sean Stangland is an assistant news editor who also recommends the documentary "The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters," in which two men chase the Donkey Kong world record. It's available for digital rental.