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

The Borderlands movie adaptation is experiencing a turbulent premiere week, grappling with overwhelmingly negative critical reception and a credit controversy.

Borderlands Movie's Rocky Start

Uncredited Staff Member Speaks Out

Eli Roth's Borderlands film has received a dismal 6% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 49 critic reviews. Prominent critics have been highly critical, with comments ranging from descriptions of the film as "wacko BS" to criticisms of its humor falling flat despite commendable design elements.

Early social media reactions mirrored the critical consensus, with terms like "lifeless," "terrible," and "uninspired" frequently used. While critics panned the film, a segment of Borderlands fans and general moviegoers expressed a degree of enjoyment, citing the action and crude humor as positive aspects. The audience score on Rotten Tomatoes sits at a more favorable, yet still lukewarm, 49%. One user commented on their unexpectedly positive experience despite initial reservations about the cast. Another praised the action but noted that lore changes might confuse some viewers.

Beyond the negative reviews, a production staff member, Robbie Reid, a freelance rigger who worked on the Claptrap character, publicly revealed on Twitter (X) that he and the character modeler were not credited in the film. Reid expressed disappointment, highlighting that this was the first time he hadn't received credit for his work. He suggested the omission might stem from him and the artist leaving their studio in 2021, noting that this type of oversight is a common, yet unfortunate, industry problem. He concluded by expressing hope that the situation might contribute to positive industry change regarding artist crediting.