The first reactions to the upcoming Borderlands film are out, with audiences describing it as “baffling”, “a huge misfire” and “borderline unwatchable”.
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The long-awaited feature film adaptation of the video game series hits cinemas this weekend (August 9), and follows the outlaw Lilith as she returns to the place she grew up to form an alliance with a team of misfits and find the missing daughter of the most powerful man in the universe.
The movie was first announced as far back as 2015, and was later confirmed to star Cate Blanchett as Lilith and Russian boxer-turned-actor Florian Munteanu as Krieg. The cast also includes Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Hart and Jack Black.
Filming eventually began in 2021, with Eli Roth (Hostel, Grindhouse) directing a script written by Chernobyl creator Craig Mazin. Deadpool’s Tim Miller later stepped in to helm two weeks of reshoots last year.
A synopsis reads: “These unlikely heroes must battle alien monsters and dangerous bandits to find and protect the missing girl, who may hold the key to unimaginable power. The fate of the universe could be in their hands – but they’ll be fighting for something more: each other.”
With reviews now starting to be made available, the early word of mouth is bruising for the film.
“Borderlands is borderline unwatchable,” wrote one X user. “The violence is bland & uninspired, the chemistry is non-existent & the trajectory of the story is both boring & painfully obvious. I had no expectations for this & yet I was somehow still let down.”
BORDERLANDS is borderline unwatchable. The violence is bland & uninspired, the chemistry is non-existent & the trajectory of the story is both boring & painfully obvious. I had no expectations for this & yet I was somehow still let down. #BorderlandsMovie
Hit up @bitesizebreak pic.twitter.com/EAuPdeRihY
— Nick van Dinther 🔜 #TIFF24 (@nickvandinther) August 7, 2024
“Oh hey I can tell you I’ve seen #BorderlandsMovie now and that it’s really bad,” wrote another. “I really wanted to like it, but an uninspired plot + several phoned in performances + being stuck in a weird place where it looks both expensive and cheap at the same time make it a huge misfire.”
Oh hey I can tell you I’ve seen #BorderlandsMovie now and that it’s really bad. I really wanted to like it, but an uninspired plot + several phoned in performances + being stuck in a weird place where it looks both expensive and cheap a the same time make it a huge misfire. pic.twitter.com/nek6r0CuTm
— Matthew Simpson (@SmatthewAF) August 7, 2024
A third described it as “a baffling video game adaptation” with a “rushed and dull screenplay”. See further early reactions to the film, which do offer some more positive reflections, below.
#BorderlandsMovie is a baffling video game adaptation. There is potential for great world building, but it never happens due to a rushed and dull screenplay; the set design is impressive but the film looks cheap due to poor CGI. Cate Blanchett, Ariana Greenblatt and Jack Black… pic.twitter.com/6FX04UAebC
— Darren Movie Reviews 🔜 #TIFF24 (@dmoviereviews) August 7, 2024
I remember seeing this for the first time and thinking it was cringe… now looking back at it shit looks better than the whole movie💀 #borderlandsmovie pic.twitter.com/pCSG0WiyMj
— Tre (@im2zoned) August 4, 2024
I am living for these bad reviews of #BorderlandsMovie. Maybe next time @GearboxOfficial will actually care what fans are asking and put more respect to their franchise. They just fucked with the story that made Borderlands, Borderlands. https://t.co/pRzbC4Vj8k
— DetectiveWhom (@DetectiveWhom) August 7, 2024
#BorderlandsMovie REVIEW: Hilariously wild & so action-packed! CHAOS REIGNS with this company of fun, engaging characters. Epic fights that jerk you off into high gear. Not just another adaptation, it’s one of the BEST video game movies ever! A fitting end setting up what’s next. pic.twitter.com/dGwyjxomzQ
— Atom (@theatomreview) August 7, 2024
The social media embargo has now lifted and I can say that #BorderlandsMovie has an exceptional level of detail for those who have played the video games, but I don't know if that's enough to stop people from accusing it of being a Guardians of the Galaxy rip-off. pic.twitter.com/PiShS2NVyC
— Sean Patrick Kelly (@SKonMovies) August 7, 2024
Back in 2021, Jamie Lee Curtis shared a “secret” behind-the-scenes shot of her co-star Cate Blanchett as Lilith.
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