A Borderlands Fan’s Painful Review: Why the ‘Borderlands’ Movie Misses the Mark

Making a good video game adaptation is notoriously challenging, but fans of the Borderlands franchise had hope that its unique mix of chaos, humor, and rich characters would translate well to the big screen. Sadly, the Borderlands movie falls far short of those expectations. As someone who’s logged hundreds of hours across the games, I approached the film cautiously optimistic. What I found, however, was neither a good movie nor a faithful adaptation.

An Identity Crisis: Who Is This Movie For?

It seems the creators couldn’t decide whether they were making a fan-service-heavy tribute or a mass-appeal blockbuster. The result is a muddled attempt to straddle the line, delivering a PG-13 action flick with vague nods to the games that fans cherish. This duality is the movie’s undoing, as it alienates both its core audience and casual viewers.

Casting: A Mixed Bag

Casting was always going to be a contentious issue, and unfortunately, it’s one of the film’s weakest points.

Hits: The standout performances are few but noteworthy. Marcus, despite minimal screentime, feels true to his character. Ariana Greenblatt’s Tiny Tina shows promise, and Jack Black’s Claptrap delivers some genuinely funny moments, arguably surpassing his in-game counterpart.

Misses: Kevin Hart as Roland is a head-scratcher. Roland’s stoic, soldierly demeanor is replaced with Hart’s trademark comedic energy, dialed down but still out of place. Cate Blanchett as Lilith is even more baffling. While she’s an incredible actress, her portrayal feels disconnected from the fiery, youthful Lilith fans know. The age disparity in some relationships also muddies the waters, creating unintentional comedic moments that detract from the story.

A Disjointed Script

The narrative barely resembles the games. While the basic premise of seeking Pandora’s vault remains, the movie introduces off-canon elements, such as Tina being a genetically engineered “chosen one” tied to the vault’s secrets. This reimagining of characters and lore feels forced and unnecessary.

Lilith’s Siren powers, central to her identity, are stripped away only to return in a predictable, lackluster climax. The vault itself—a pivotal part of the franchise—is reduced to a bland sequence of floating cubes and tentacles, offering no real payoff.

Action Without Impact

Fans of Borderlands know the series thrives on over-the-top, gore-soaked mayhem. The movie, shackled by its PG-13 rating, delivers sanitized action that fails to capture the visceral thrill of the games. Bullet impacts lack weight, and the choreography feels uninspired. This “Rebel Moon Syndrome”—where a story cries out for an R-rating but settles for broader accessibility—ultimately neuters the experience.

A Missed Opportunity

The Borderlands movie feels more like a vanity project than a genuine attempt to adapt a beloved franchise. The heavy reliance on star power over coherent storytelling and meaningful character arcs undermines the project. Instead of a cohesive vision, the film feels like a patchwork of ideas thrown together in hopes that something would stick.

What Could Have Been

In another timeline, an animated Borderlands series on Netflix could have been a massive hit. The franchise’s vibrant art style, witty dialogue, and chaotic energy are tailor-made for an animated format. Unfortunately, this live-action misfire likely ensures we’ll never see that potential explored.

Conclusion

The Borderlands movie isn’t just a disappointment; it’s a cautionary tale for studios attempting to adapt video games. Fans deserved better. While there are brief glimpses of what could have been, they’re buried under poor decisions and lackluster execution. Here’s hoping Borderlands 4 isn’t influenced by this debacle. For now, we’ll stick to the games, where the vaults—and the memories—are far richer.