Borderland Movie Reviews Rip It To Shreds

Eli Roth's highly anticipated Borderlands movie is poised for release, but early critical reception paints a bleak picture. Read on for a summary of initial reviews and audience expectations.

A Critical Mauling, Despite Star Power

The live-action adaptation of Gearbox's popular game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback following early screenings. Critics cite weak humor, unconvincing CGI, and a lackluster script as major flaws.

Edgar Ortega of Loud and Clear Reviews tweeted, "Borderlands feels like what an out-of-touch executive thinks the ‘cool kids’ find appealing. Obnoxious, dated jokes overshadow any genuine character moments. It's not even 'so bad it's good,' just a mess."

Darren Movie Reviews (Movie Scene Canada) called it "a baffling video game adaptation," praising the potential world-building but criticizing the rushed and dull screenplay, resulting in a cheap look despite impressive set design.

Despite the overwhelmingly negative response, a few critics found some redeeming qualities. Kurt Morrison noted Blanchett and Hart's enjoyable performances, preventing a complete disaster, but questioned its potential audience. The Hollywood Handle offered a more positive perspective, calling it a fun PG-13 action film carried by Cate Blanchett's performance.

Announced by Gearbox in 2020 after a period of inactivity, the Borderlands film features a star-studded cast, though fan skepticism persisted throughout production.

The film centers on Cate Blanchett's Lilith, returning to Pandora to find Atlas's missing daughter. She teams up with Roland (Kevin Hart), Tiny Tina (Ariana Greenblatt), Krieg (Florian Munteanu), Tannis (Jamie Lee Curtis), and Claptrap (Jack Black).

As major publications release their full reviews in the coming days, audiences can judge for themselves when Borderlands hits theaters on August 9th. In other news, Gearbox has hinted at a new Borderlands game.