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, But Not Without Merit
Stellar Cast Shines Despite Negative Reviews
Early reviews for the Borderlands film adaptation are overwhelmingly negative. Critics, following early screenings, have voiced their concerns on social media, citing weak humor, unconvincing CGI, and a lackluster script as major flaws.
Edgar Ortega of Loud and Clear Reviews tweeted, "Borderlands feels like a clueless executive's idea of 'cool.' The humor falls flat, feeling dated the moment it's uttered. It's not even 'so bad it's good,' just a mess."
Darren Movie Reviews from Movie Scene Canada called it "a baffling video game adaptation," acknowledging the potential for compelling world-building, but criticizing the "rushed and dull screenplay." He noted impressive set design undermined by poor CGI.
However, not all reviews were entirely scathing. Film critic Kurt Morrison praised Cate Blanchett and Kevin Hart's performances, suggesting they prevent the film from being a complete disaster, though he doubts it will find a wide audience. The Hollywood Handle offered a slightly more positive assessment, calling it "a fun PG-13 action movie," crediting Blanchett for carrying the film.
Despite initial skepticism from fans of the game, the Borderlands movie, re-announced in 2020 after a delay, boasts an impressive cast.
The film follows Cate Blanchett as Lilith, returning to Pandora to find Atlas' missing daughter (Edgar Ramirez). She teams up with a group of misfits: Kevin Hart as Roland, Ariana Greenblatt as Tiny Tina, Florian Munteanu as Krieg, Jamie Lee Curtis as Tannis, and Jack Black as Claptrap.As major publications release their full reviews in the coming days, audiences can judge for themselves when Borderlands hits theaters on August 9th. Meanwhile, Gearbox has hinted at a new Borderlands game.
