Eli Roth's highly anticipated Borderlands movie is poised for release, but early critical reaction paints a bleak picture. Read on for a summary of the initial reviews and what moviegoers can expect.
A Critical Mauling, Despite Stellar Cast
Early reviews of the Borderlands film adaptation are overwhelmingly negative. Critics, following early screenings, have voiced their disappointment across social media platforms. Common criticisms cite weak humor, unconvincing CGI, and a lackluster script.
Edgar Ortega of Loud and Clear Reviews tweeted, "Borderlands feels like a misguided attempt to capture 'cool.' The humor falls flat and feels dated. It's not even 'so bad it's good'; it's 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 look despite impressive set design.
Despite the largely negative reception, some critics found glimmers of hope. Kurt Morrison noted that Cate Blanchett and Kevin Hart's performances were highlights, preventing a complete disaster, although he doubts the film will find a wide audience. The Hollywood Handle offered a slightly more positive assessment, describing it as a fun, PG-13 action movie heavily reliant on Blanchett's star power.
Despite a star-studded cast, the film, re-announced 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 search for Atlas' missing daughter. Teaming up with a group of misfits – including Kevin Hart as Roland, Ariana Greenblatt as Tiny Tina, Florian Munteanu as Krieg, Jamie Lee Curtis as Tannis, and Jack Black as Claptrap – Lilith embarks on a dangerous adventure.As major publications release their full reviews in the coming days, audiences will soon have the opportunity to judge for themselves when Borderlands hits theaters on August 9th. In related news, Gearbox has hinted at a new Borderlands game.
