The highly anticipated Borderlands film, directed by Eli Roth, is poised for theatrical release, but early critical reception suggests a largely negative response. This article summarizes initial reviews and offers a glimpse into what audiences can expect.
A Critical Mauling, Despite Star Power
Early reviews of Eli Roth's Borderlands adaptation have been overwhelmingly harsh. Critics, sharing their opinions following early screenings, cite weak humor, unconvincing CGI, and a lackluster script as major flaws.
Edgar Ortega of Loud and Clear Reviews tweeted, "Borderlands feels like what an out-of-touch executive thinks the ‘cool kids’ find appealing. No earnest character moments, just obnoxious, dated quips. 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," praising the potential world-building but criticizing the rushed and dull screenplay, resulting in a cheap look despite impressive set design.
However, not all reviews were entirely scathing. Film critic 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 assessment, describing it as a "fun PG-13 action movie" carried by Blanchett's performance.
Despite a star-studded cast, which was announced by Gearbox in 2020 after a period of inactivity, the film adaptation has faced skepticism from fans of the game franchise.
The film follows Lilith (Cate Blanchett) as she returns to Pandora to find Atlas's missing daughter (Edgar Ramirez). She teams up with an eclectic group: Roland (Kevin Hart), Tiny Tina (Ariana Greenblatt), Krieg (Florian Munteanu), Tannis (Jamie Lee Curtis), and Claptrap (Jack Black).
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.
