Borderlands Movie Flounders Amidst Critical Backlash

The "Borderlands" movie adaptation is facing a turbulent premiere week, plagued by more than just scathing reviews. While the film currently boasts a dismal 6% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 49 critic reviews – with prominent critics describing it as "wacko BS" and humorless – a separate controversy has emerged regarding uncredited staff.

Negative Reviews and Audience Divide

The film's reception has been overwhelmingly negative, with early viewers and critics alike labeling it "lifeless," "terrible," and "uninspired." Despite the harsh criticisms from top critics, a segment of the audience, particularly Borderlands fans, appear to appreciate its action-packed style and crude humor. Rotten Tomatoes reflects this division, showing a more favorable (though still low) audience score of 49%. Positive viewer comments highlight enjoyment of the explosive action and storyline, although some acknowledge plot alterations might confuse dedicated fans of the game.

Uncredited Staff Member Speaks Out

Adding to the film's woes, Robbie Reid, a freelance rigger who worked on the iconic Claptrap character, publicly revealed on X (formerly Twitter) that he and the character modeler received no film credit. Reid expressed disappointment, highlighting that this is the first time his work has gone uncredited, particularly given the character's significance. He suggests the omission might stem from his and the artist's departure from the studio in 2021, acknowledging that such oversights are unfortunately prevalent in the film industry. While acknowledging the industry-wide problem, Reid expressed hope that the situation might spur positive change regarding artist crediting. The "Borderlands" movie’s troubled launch underscores not only critical failure but also internal production issues.