'Borderland' Thrashed by Film Critics

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 Mauling: Borderlands Falls Short

Stellar Cast Can't Save a Critically Panned Film

Early reviews for the Borderlands film adaptation are overwhelmingly negative. Critics, following early US screenings, have taken to social media to express their disappointment. Common criticisms cite weak humor, unconvincing CGI, and a lackluster script.

Edgar Ortega of Loud and Clear Reviews tweeted, "Borderlands feels like a clueless executive's idea of 'cool.' No genuine character moments, just tired, instantly dated jokes. 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 dull screenplay" and the "cheap-looking" CGI despite impressive set design.

However, not all reviews were entirely damning. Film critic Kurt Morrison noted that Cate Blanchett and Kevin Hart "are having fun and save this from being a complete trainwreck," though he doubts it will find a wide audience. The Hollywood Handle offered a slightly more positive assessment: "Borderlands is a fun PG-13 action movie. It relies heavily on Cate Blanchett's star power, and she delivers."

Despite a star-studded cast—announced by Gearbox in 2020 after a period of silence—the film adaptation has faced skepticism from fans of the game franchise.

As major publications release their full reviews in the coming days, audiences will get their own chance to judge when Borderlands hits theaters on August 9th. Meanwhile, Gearbox has teased a new Borderlands game.