Borderland Movie Reviews Rip It To Shreds

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 Miss, Despite Stellar Cast

The live-action adaptation of Gearbox's popular game has received overwhelmingly negative reviews following early US screenings. Critics cite 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, and the film lacks genuine emotional depth. It's not even so bad it's good; it's just a mess."

Darren Movie Reviews from Movie Scene Canada called it "a baffling adaptation," praising the potential world-building but criticizing the rushed and uninspired screenplay, noting that despite impressive set design, poor CGI makes the film appear cheap.

However, not all reviews were entirely scathing. Kurt Morrison noted that Cate Blanchett and Kevin Hart's performances were highlights, preventing a complete disaster, though he doubts the film will find a wide audience. The Hollywood Handle offered a slightly more positive assessment, calling it a "fun PG-13 action movie" carried by Blanchett's star power.

Despite initial fan skepticism, the Borderlands movie boasts an impressive cast.

The film follows Cate Blanchett as Lilith, returning to Pandora to find Atlas's 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.