Eli Roth's highly anticipated Borderlands movie is poised for theatrical release, but early critical reception paints a bleak picture. Read on for a summary of initial reviews and what audiences can expect.
A Critical Mauling, Despite Star Power
Early reviews of the Borderlands film adaptation have been overwhelmingly negative. Critics, following early screenings, have voiced strong criticism across social media platforms, citing weak humor, unconvincing CGI, and a lackluster script as major flaws.
Edgar Ortega (Loud and Clear Reviews) tweeted, "Borderlands feels like a clueless executive's idea of 'cool.' The humor falls flat, feeling dated and forced. It's not even 'so bad it's good,' just a mess."
Darren Movie Reviews (Movie Scene Canada) called it "a baffling adaptation," praising the potential world-building but criticizing the rushed and dull screenplay, resulting in a cheap-looking film despite impressive set design.
However, not all reviews were entirely scathing. Kurt Morrison noted that Cate Blanchett and Kevin Hart's performances were highlights, preventing a complete disaster, though he doubts it will find a wide audience. The Hollywood Handle offered a slightly more positive perspective, calling it a fun PG-13 action film carried largely by Blanchett's star power.
Despite initial skepticism from fans of the game, the film boasts a stellar cast. Announced in 2020 after a period of uncertainty, the movie adaptation follows Lilith (Cate Blanchett) as she returns to Pandora to find Atlas's missing daughter. She teams up with a memorable group of misfits, including Roland (Kevin Hart), Tiny Tina (Ariana Greenblatt), Krieg (Florian Munteanu), Tannis (Jamie Lee Curtis), and Claptrap (Jack Black).
As major film critics release their full reviews in the coming days, audiences can judge for themselves when Borderlands hits theaters on August 9th. In related news, Gearbox has hinted at a new Borderlands game.
