The much-anticipated Borderlands movie has stumbled right out of the gate, debuting with a dismal 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Early reactions painted a bleak picture, but now that the film has officially hit theaters, the reviews are unanimous in their disdain. Critics have lambasted the movie as “unfunny” and “visually repulsive,” cementing its place as one of the most poorly received video game adaptations to date.

A Critical Disaster

Reviewers have not held back in their criticism of Eli Roth’s adaptation. Original Cin described the film as “an hour-plus of noise and lame wisecracks,” arguing that it might serve as “Exhibit Z in the argument that video games don’t transfer well cinematically,” a point seemingly contradicted by the recent successes of The Last of Us and Fallout.

IGN gave the movie a brutal 3/10, calling it an “abysmal waste of a beloved franchise.” Meanwhile, VG247 went even lower with a one-star review, denouncing the film as a “vapid, creatively bankrupt crime.” It’s clear that Borderlands is far from making the impact that its creators, including Randy Pitchford, had hoped for.

Borderlands at the Wrong Time

Many critics have noted that Borderlands feels particularly out of step with the current landscape of video game adaptations. Shows like Fallout on Amazon Prime and The Last of Us on HBO have set a high bar, both critically acclaimed and commercially successful, with The Last of Us even garnering 17 Emmy nominations.

In contrast, Borderlands has been compared unfavorably to Guardians of the Galaxy, a series known for its humor, heart, and strong character development. We Live Entertainment remarked that watching Borderlands felt like viewing Guardians “minus the work put into making them funny, memorable, or dramatically compelling.” Similarly, JoBlo’s Movie Network compared it to lesser-known films, saying it “is to Guardians of the Galaxy & Fury Road what Solarbabies is to The Road Warrior,” a scathing and unflattering comparison.

Nostalgia for Bad Video Game Movies?

Despite the overwhelmingly negative reception, some corners of the internet are reacting with a strange sort of enthusiasm. On platforms like Twitter and Reddit, there’s a growing sentiment that Borderlands might revive the “so bad it’s good” genre of video game movies, evoking memories of the infamous Uwe Boll era. For those with a penchant for cinematic misfires, the film may still offer some form of twisted enjoyment.

Final Thoughts

The Borderlands movie has certainly made a splash, though not in the way its creators intended. With a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and widespread critical panning, it stands as a cautionary tale in the world of video game adaptations. While recent successes like The Last of Us have shown that it’s possible to adapt games into compelling films and TV series, Borderlands serves as a stark reminder that not all adaptations hit the mark. Whether you’re curious to see the train wreck for yourself or planning to avoid it entirely, the Borderlands movie is out now for audiences to make their own judgments.

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