The Borderlands movie, currently in its premiere week, is facing a barrage of negative reviews from prominent film critics, adding to its already troubled release. A recent controversy further complicates matters, as a staff member revealed they were not credited for their work.
Borderlands Movie Navigates a Rocky Premiere
Uncredited Staff Member Speaks Out
Eli Roth's Borderlands adaptation is experiencing a difficult launch, with overwhelmingly negative critical reception. Rotten Tomatoes currently shows a dismal 6% rating based on 49 critic reviews. Critics haven't pulled any punches; Donald Clarke of the Irish Times suggested viewers might wish to "hammer an imagined X button" to escape the film's "wacko BS," while Amy Nicholson of the New York Times acknowledged some commendable design elements but found the humor largely ineffective.
Social media reactions following the embargo lift echoed the negative sentiment, with descriptions like "lifeless," "terrible," and "uninspired" frequently appearing. However, a segment of Borderlands fans and general moviegoers seem to appreciate the film's action-packed style and crude humor. The audience score on Rotten Tomatoes is somewhat higher, at 49%. One user commented, "Not gonna lie, I was a hater when I saw the cast. I went into it with low expectations, but I truly loved it." Another fan praised the explosive action and humor but noted that "some of the lore changes could leave people puzzled. Personally, I didn't mind too much as it made for a more compelling storyline for the film."
The film's problems extend beyond poor reviews. Robbie Reid, a freelance rigger who worked on the Claptrap character, recently revealed on Twitter (X) that neither he nor the character modeler received screen credit. Reid tweeted, "Up until this point I've been exceptionally lucky to have received a credit for every film I've worked on," expressing disappointment that this streak ended with his work on a "significant character." He suggested the omission might stem from him and the artist leaving their studio in 2021, adding that this is unfortunately a common industry issue. He concluded, "My disappointment lies with the general industry and how it treats/credits artists. It's a long on-going problem, and I'm sad to see it's still widespread based on replies. But I'm heartened by the support shown, and I hope it can lead to change for our industry."
