“Welp” — Fans left in disbelief as Borderlands movie tanks with an unprecedented 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes

Released on August 9, 2024, the Borderlands movie is making headlines for not-so-expected reasons. Despite the huge buzz surrounding the adaptation of the popular video game series, the film has been met with disappointment, earning a shocking 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Fans had high expectations given the game's massive fan following, but the movie has not lived up to them.

The film's PG-13 rating has also shocked fans. The original games were known for crude humor and graphic violence, and fans are concerned that this rating might dilute the game's appeal.

Fans are now left reeling from the movie's failure. The film's troubled production history, with director Eli Roth being replaced by Tim Miller, only added to the skepticism. Now, with the movie's release, the worst fears of the fanbase have been realized.

Reacting to the movie's rating on Rotten Tomatoes, one X user simply wrote, "welp."

Several others shared similar opinions about the movie on X:

"You could watch Borderlands and have a bad time, or you could watch Holes and have the time of your life," one person commented.

The overall consensus was summed up by one fan, @zenyanna, as the tweet says:

"borderlands (the movie) has a 0% rating on rotten tomatoes which means it's going to be my dad's unironic favorite film of the year"

"I think it's hilarious that currently the only positive review for Borderlands protecting it from a 0% RT rating before it launches tomorrow is from Grace Randolph," another X user reacted.

Netizens also talked about no positive reviews from the critics:

"The Borderlands movie has debuted with a dismal 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating no positive reviews from critics," one X user wrote.

"Borderlands movie, received an initial rating of 4% after 25 reviews from critics on rotten Tomatoes," another fan tweeted.

"If the Borderlands movie somehow, SOMEHOW has a low rotten tomatoes rating, which is lower than the postal movie and the same rating as the emoji movie then I'm convinced that the game the movie adapted from is a** as well," one netizen wrote.

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Plot details of Borderlands

The film is set on Pandora, the planet from the hit video game series. Lilith, an outlaw, returns to her home planet to rescue Tina, Atlas's daughter. Lilith forms a suspicious alliance with mercenary Roland and "Psycho." Krieg. While discovering Eridian secrets, the trio fights Atlas's private army, the Crimson Lance. Lilith discovers that Tina can open the vault, which holds untold powers.

As per IMDB, the official synopsis of the movie reads:

"Based on the best-selling videogame, this all-star action-adventure follows a ragtag team of misfits on a mission to save a missing girl who holds the key to unimaginable power."

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Glimpse of the cast

The film features Cate Blanchett as Lilith, Kevin Hart as Roland, and Jack Black as Claptrap. Additionally, notable actors include Édgar Ramírez as Atlas, Ariana Greenblatt as Tiny Tina, and Jamie Lee Curtis as Dr. Patricia Tannis.

The production of the film was complex and spanned multiple years. Gearbox Software CEO Randy Pitchford and producers Avi and Ari Arad began discussing the adaptation in 2011. The project, announced in 2015, underwent several script and creative direction changes.

A still from the movie (Image via Lionsgate movies)

Eli Roth directed from a Craig Mazin script in 2020, replacing Leigh Whannell and Aaron Berg. Filming took place in Budapest during the COVID-19 pandemic and wrapped in June 2021. Director Tim Miller re-shot the project in January 2023. Instead of Nathan Barr, Steve Jablonsky scored the film.

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Borderlands is currently running in theaters in the US.