'Borderland' Film Critically Panned

Eli Roth's highly anticipated Borderlands movie is poised for release, but early critical reception paints a bleak picture. Discover the overwhelmingly negative reviews and what moviegoers can expect.

A Borderlands Adaptation That Misses the Mark

Initial reviews of the Borderlands film adaptation have been overwhelmingly harsh. Critics, sharing their post-premiere reactions on social media this week, largely condemned the movie's humor, CGI, and screenplay.

Edgar Ortega of Loud and Clear Reviews tweeted, "Borderlands feels like a misguided attempt to capture 'cool.' The humor falls flat, lacking genuine emotional connection. It's not even 'so bad it's good,' just a complete mess."

Darren Movie Reviews from Movie Scene Canada called it "a baffling adaptation," praising the potential world-building but criticizing the rushed and uninspired script, resulting in a cheap look despite impressive set design.

However, not all reviews were entirely negative. Film critic Kurt Morrison noted Blanchett and Hart's enjoyable performances, stating they prevented a complete disaster, though he doubts it will find a wide audience. The Hollywood Handle offered a slightly more optimistic view: "Borderlands is a fun PG-13 action movie. Cate Blanchett’s performance is its saving grace."

Despite a star-studded cast, announced in 2020 after a period of silence, the Borderlands movie adaptation has faced skepticism from fans of the game franchise.

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