Borderlands Movie's Poor Reviews Aren't Its Only Problems

The Borderlands movie, currently in its premiere week, is facing a barrage of negative reviews from prominent critics, adding to its woes beyond just critical panning. A recent revelation regarding uncredited work further complicates the film's release.

Borderlands Movie: A Rough Start

Uncredited Staff Member Speaks Out

Eli Roth's Borderlands movie adaptation is experiencing a turbulent premiere, with overwhelmingly negative early reviews. Rotten Tomatoes currently shows a dismal 6% rating from 49 critics. Critics have been scathing; Donald Clarke of the Irish Times suggested viewers might want to "imagine hitting an X button" to escape the film's "nonsense," while Amy Nicholson of the New York Times praised some design aspects but found the humor lacking.

Social media reactions following the embargo lift echoed the negative sentiment, describing the film as "lifeless," "terrible," and "uninspired." However, a segment of Borderlands fans and moviegoers appreciated the film's action-packed style and crude humor. Rotten Tomatoes reflects this divergence, with a more favorable 49% audience score. One user admitted initial skepticism but ultimately enjoyed the film, while another praised the action but noted potential confusion for those familiar with the game's lore.

Beyond the critical maelstrom, a controversy emerged concerning uncredited staff. Robbie Reid, a freelance rigger who worked on the character Claptrap, publicly stated on Twitter (X) that neither he nor the character's modeler received credit. Reid expressed disappointment, particularly given his consistent credit history, and suggested the omission may stem from their departure from the studio in 2021. He acknowledged that this issue is prevalent in the industry.

Reid concluded by expressing broader concerns about the industry's treatment and crediting of artists, hoping that the situation might spark positive change.