Sequel Suffers from Additional Issues Amidst Critical Critiques

The Borderlands movie is experiencing a turbulent premiere week, plagued not only by overwhelmingly negative critical reception but also by a crediting controversy. The film's poor performance on major review aggregators has fueled further discussion.

Borderlands Movie's Rough Start

Uncredited Staff Member Speaks Out

Eli Roth's Borderlands adaptation is currently sitting at a dismal 6% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 49 critic reviews. Critics have been scathing, with comments ranging from descriptions of the film as "wacko BS" to criticisms of its humor falling flat, despite some praise for design elements. Early social media reactions echoed these sentiments, labeling the film as "lifeless," "terrible," and "uninspired."

While critics largely panned the film, a segment of Borderlands fans and general moviegoers seemed to appreciate the action and humor, giving it a more favorable 49% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. One viewer stated their surprise at enjoying the film despite initial skepticism, citing its explosive action and crude humor as positive aspects. Another acknowledged that lore changes might confuse some viewers, but argued that these changes contributed to a more engaging narrative.

Beyond the negative reviews, a significant controversy has emerged. Freelance rigger Robbie Reid, who worked on the character Claptrap, publicly revealed on X (formerly Twitter) that neither he nor the character's modeler received film credit. Reid expressed his disappointment, particularly given his consistent crediting in past projects. He speculated that the omission might stem from him and the artist leaving their studio in 2021, acknowledging that this type of oversight is unfortunately prevalent in the industry. Reid concluded by expressing hope that this situation might contribute to positive change regarding artist crediting in the film industry.