The Borderlands film has been in the news, but not for the reasons expected. Eli Roth’s adaptation of the video game received mostly negative reviews, with critics either dismissing it or mocking it. It opened in fourth place at the U.S. box office, making $8.8 million against a budget of $115 million.
It’s unusual for a film to struggle so much right away, especially since video game adaptations have recently been successful. Films like The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Sonic the Hedgehog have done well, and shows such as The Last of Us and Fallout has earned Emmy nominations and renewals.
So, why did this movie, which stars Jamie Lee Curtis, Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, and Jack Black, fail? Let’s look at the details.
‘Borderlands’ Went Through Multiple Writers and Two Weeks of Reshoots
The poor reception of Borderlands might be due to its long and troubled development. It began in 2015, and since then, almost a dozen writers have worked on the screenplay (nine are credited in the final film).
There were also rumors that Craig Mazin, known for Chernobyl and The Last of Us, was involved, but he later clarified that he was never part of the project. The film also had two weeks of reshoots, with Tim Miller taking over as director while Eli Roth worked on his holiday slasher Thanksgiving.
This led to Borderlands feeling like a mix of different elements with no clear creative direction. Roth’s usual style was dampened by the PG-13 rating, leaving him unable to fully express his vision. Miller’s fast-paced style from Deadpool and Terminator: Dark Fate was missing, replaced by slow action scenes.
The humor also seemed outdated and awkward, even by Borderlands standards. Kevin Hart, known for his energetic roles, was cast as the straight man, which felt like a poor choice. Even Jack Black couldn’t bring much life to his role as Claptrap, a robot meant to be humorous.
‘Borderlands’ Had R-Rated Fight Scenes, According to Its Stunt Coordinator
Borderlands could have been as violent as the games that inspired it. Stunt coordinator Jimmy O’Dee said he planned R-rated fight scenes and expected the film to reflect that rating. O’Dee explained, “We always knew that we were going to go either 15 or R rating, it’s 15 in UK, for a slightly mature audience…So, we were blowing people’s heads off.
And we were cutting feet off. We were doing all of that. But then, you know, a lot happens. We shot that nearly three years ago, or we just finished it. So, I guess a lot happens in post, and they see where it’s going to go and what market they’re aiming for.”
O’Dee also mentioned that Roth encouraged making the fight scenes more intense. However, Lionsgate decided on a PG-13 rating, missing out on the exaggerated violence that makes the Borderlands games enjoyable. With R-rated films like Deadpool & Wolverine and Bad Boys: Ride for Life doing well at the box office, Lionsgate’s choice seems even more questionable.
A ‘Borderlands’ Crew Member Wasn’t Credited for His Work
Borderlands, like any big film, had many people working behind the scenes. One of them, Robbie Reid, was a senior rigger who helped create the movements of Claptrap, a key CG character. Reid shared on social media that he wasn’t credited for his work, despite spending five months rigging Claptrap.
Reid said, “This time three years ago I was rigging the CG asset of Claptrap for the Borderlands movie. I worked on him for five consecutive months. Neither I, nor the artist who modelled him (who I worked with the entire time), got a credit for the film.”
Reid noted that this lack of credit is a common issue in the industry, but it still feels unfair for someone who played a major role.
The Publisher Behind the ‘Borderlands’ Games Is Using the Film To Promote a Future Game
Despite the film’s failure, not everyone sees it as a loss. Randy Pitchford, CEO of Gearbox, the company behind the Borderlands games, is using the opportunity to promote a new game.
Pitchford said, “So what you’re saying is: You like what my friends and I do with our Borderlands video games even more than you like what some of the biggest and best cast and crew of film makers on the planet have done. I’m super flattered!”
While another Borderlands movie seems unlikely due to the poor reception, a new game might remind fans why they loved the Borderlands world.
