Summary
Hollywood has never truly had the best of luck when it comes to adapting some of the biggest video games into live-action. However, recently, things seemed to be looking up following the success ofThe Last of Usand even Prime Video’sFallout, two shows that have found success with general audiences and critics alike. Unfortunately, Lionsgate’sBorderlandsfilm looks to be a misfire on all fronts straight out of the gate.
Borderlandsis the latest video game adaptation set to hit theaters this weekend. The movie, which was directed by Eli Roth, features a star-studded cast including the likes of Kevin Hart andCate Blanchett. It’s also one of the worst reviewed adaptations on Rotten Tomatoes, having officially debuted on the site with a shocking 0% rating. So, what went wrong withBorderlands? Is it simply not a movie general audiences want to see, or did Lionsgate accidentally doom the film before it had the chance to get going?
Why Eli Roth Was Never the Right Director
Eli Roth isone of the biggest directors in the modern horror genre. He’s known for pushing boundaries with his films and leaving his mark on them, often overdoing it on the gore, as evidenced in movies likeHostelandThe Green Inferno. While horror fans have come to enjoy his work, Roth has admittedly never been a household name when it comes to directing, and nearly all of his films have been aimed at a mature audience. Which is why it never made sense for Lionsgate to hire Roth to direct a live-action adaptation ofBorderlands, one that was bound to be limited for a larger appeal. Roth is a director who doesn’t necessarily work well within the confines of a PG-13 rating. While the director has ventured outside of his usual comfort zone before, with 2018’sThe House with a Clock in Its Walls, the PG-rated movie wasn’t a strong performer, earning just $131 million worldwide and a Rotten score on Rotten Tomatoes. Following production on theBorderlandsmovie in 2021, Roth returned to working on his typical R-rated horror films withThanksgivingkicking off production in 2023. As Roth sought to focus on his next directing gig, Lionsgate had to bring inDeadpooldirector, Tim Miller, tohandle reshoots onBorderlands.
Reports had already begun to circulate around this time that the movie was a mess, and that Lionsgate wasn’t happy with it. Although never confirmed, it was said that test screenings for the film had been poorly received, and the studio was eager to try to save it with reshoots. Sadly, that doesn’t look to have happened as the moviedebuted with a shocking 0% ratingon Rotten Tomatoes before eventually going up to a dismal 4%. The problem, however, shouldn’t necessarily be blamed on Roth, but rather on Lionsgate. Roth has found success in the horror genre, yes, but he was never the right director forBorderlands. Especially if the film was going to be rated PG-13.
Borderlands Isn’t Meant to be a Family Film
One of the many issues withBorderlandsis that Lionsgate seems to have tried to turn it into a family film. However, Bordrlands isn’t a property that should be watered down. After all,Borderlandsisvery much a mature game; it’s not meant for a younger audience, given both the violence and language showcased throughout the games. So, it made no sense to try and turn the movie into a generic popcorn flick that looks to have wanted to be a mix ofGuardians of the Galaxyand every other big action flick of recent years. More importantly, though, by watering down the film for a wider audience, Lionsgate also made the movie look cheap, with both the costuming and set designs. Unfortunately for the studio, it seems Lionsgate realized its problem far too late. Despite putting on an noteworthy presentation at San Diego Comic-Con, trying to get fans excited for the film, the studio never truly seemed to believe in the final product. UnlikeFallout, and evenThe Last of Us, which were both highly promoted by their respective streaming homes,Borderlandsfelt like it was dumped with minimal promotion near the end.
