The Borderlands movie has wrapped up its stint in theaters, managing to pull in just over $30 million USD. This might sound impressive until you consider its whopping $130 million budget. Opening weekend saw the film rake in about $8.6 million, but it sputtered along from there.
Critics and fans alike pointed out that the live-action format clashed with the video game’s signature humor, slapstick comedy, and vivid cartoonish aesthetic. It’s hard to translate a beloved game’s unique style to the silver screen, and it seems this film struggled with that challenge.
Boasting an all-star cast, the movie featured industry heavyweights like Cate Blanchett as Lillith, along with Kevin Hart and Jack Black. Yet even these big names couldn’t salvage its box office performance. Adding insult to injury, the film reportedly shelled out an additional $30 million on advertising. If that’s true, the movie ended up being a financial sinkhole.
Despite this cinematic misfire, Gearbox isn’t giving up on the franchise. The game developer has already announced the fourth installment in the Borderlands series. Fans of the game might be disappointed by the movie, but at least they have another game to look forward to.
