Borderlands Film: A Critical Review

The highly anticipated Borderlands movie, directed by Eli Roth, is hitting theaters soon, but early critical reactions paint a rather bleak picture. Let's delve into the initial reviews and what audiences can expect.

Borderlands Movie: More Miss Than Hit?

A Star-Studded Cast Can't Save a Critically Panned Film

Early reviews for Eli Roth's Borderlands adaptation are overwhelmingly negative. Critics, following early screenings across the US, have taken to social media to express their disappointment. Common criticisms include lackluster humor, unconvincing CGI, and a weak screenplay.

Edgar Ortega of Loud and Clear Reviews tweeted, "Borderlands feels like what an out-of-touch executive thinks the ‘cool kids’ find appealing. There is not a single earnest character moment here, just obnoxious quips that feel dated as soon as they leave the actors’ mouths. It’s not even so bad it’s good, just a complete mess."

Darren Movie Reviews from Movie Scene Canada called it "a baffling video game adaptation," praising the potential for impressive world-building but faulting the rushed and dull screenplay. He noted that despite impressive set design, the film appears cheap due to poor CGI.

However, not all the reviews were entirely damning. Some critics found glimmers of positivity amidst the negativity. Film critic Kurt Morrison noted, "Blanchett and Hart are having a lot of fun here & save this from being a complete trainwreck," although he added, "it’ll be a big surprise if this film finds an audience." The Hollywood Handle offered a slightly more optimistic perspective: "Borderlands is a fun PG-13 action movie. It completely relies on Cate Blanchett’s star power to carry itself to the finish line — and she delivers."

Despite a star-studded cast and a re-announcement by Gearbox in 2020 after a period of uncertainty, the Borderlands movie has faced skepticism from fans of the game franchise.

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