Borderland Movie Razed in Review Blitz

The highly anticipated Borderlands movie, directed by Eli Roth, is poised for theatrical release, but early critical reception paints a bleak picture. Read on for a summary of initial reviews and what to expect.

A Critical Mauling, Despite Stellar Cast

Early reviews of Eli Roth's Borderlands adaptation have been overwhelmingly negative. Critics, following the film's early US screenings, have voiced their disappointment across social media. Common criticisms include weak humor, unconvincing CGI, and a lackluster script.

Edgar Ortega of Loud and Clear Reviews tweeted, "Borderlands feels like an out-of-touch executive's idea of 'cool.' No genuine character moments, just stale, obnoxious quips. It's not even 'so bad it's good,' just a mess."

Darren Movie Reviews (Movie Scene Canada) called it "a baffling video game adaptation," praising the potential world-building but criticizing the rushed and uninspired screenplay. He noted impressive set design undermined by poor CGI.

However, not all reviews were entirely damning. Film critic Kurt Morrison highlighted Cate Blanchett and Kevin Hart's performances as saving the film from complete disaster, though he doubts it will find a wide audience. The Hollywood Handle offered a slightly more positive assessment, describing it as a "fun PG-13 action movie" relying heavily on Blanchett's star power.

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

The film follows Cate Blanchett's Lilith as she returns to Pandora to find Atlas's missing daughter (Edgar Ramirez). She teams up with an eclectic group: 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 will have the opportunity to form their own opinions when Borderlands hits theaters on August 9th. Meanwhile, Gearbox has hinted at a new Borderlands game.