Summary
Live-action adaptations of video games have been around much longer than some fans realize, but arguably, they’ve only just started getting good. ThoughtheResident Evillive-action movieswere solid fun for early 2000s horror flicks, the originalMortal Kombatmovies are incredibly nostalgic for many, andWarcrafthad some solid moments, these can’t really be considered great movies. Thanks to projects likeDetective Pikachu,Sonic, andThe Last of Us, live-action video game adaptations might be turning a new corner, though it’s yet to be seen if the upcomingBorderlandsmovie will follow suit.
Now officiallyset for an July 03, 2025 release, the upcomingBorderlandsmoviefeatures an absolutely star-studded cast, and is being directed by industry veteran Eli Roth. Despite its strong cast and seemingly faithful plot and character designs, fans are extremely skeptical of theBorderlandsmovie right now, and that’s fair given the industry’s mixed track record. But one way or the other, theBorderlandsmovie will probably have a big impact on the nextBorderlandsgame.
RELATED:Borderlands EchoVision Live Benefits From Tales From the Borderlands' Biggest Selling Point
Borderlands 4’s Development Could Be Greatly Impacted By the Movie’s Reception
TheBorderlandsfranchise is in an intriguing spot at the minute. WhenBorderlands 3released in 2019, it received some pretty great reviews from both fans and critics, and was generally considered to be another worthwhile entry in the co-op series. Last year’sTiny Tina’s Wonderlandsreceived a similar reception upon its own release, with most fans and critics praising the game for taking the series in a new direction while still having plenty of the same elements that made its predecessors so beloved in the first place. But despite their good receptions,Borderlands 3andTiny Tina’s Wonderlandsstill failed to live up toBorderlands 2in many fans' eyes.
TheBorderlandsfranchise isn’t really at the peak of its popularity right now, making it a bit of an odd time to release a movie based on the series. Usually, adaptations of video games work and perform best when they capitalize on a project at the very height of its life, when it’s still firmly on the minds of fans, but in this case, theBorderlandsmovie is dropping when most fans have moved on to other co-op shooters that offer a similar experience. Because of this, theBorderlandsmovie is already facing an uphill battle, and if recent rumors are true, then it could be a battle it’s destined to lose.
According to recent reports from the movie news website World of Reel, theBorderlandsmovie is currently facing some serious issues behind the scenes. Allegedly, principalfilming onBorderlandswrapped up in June 2021, and ever since then, the movie has essentially been stuck in a state of post-production limbo, with multiple script rewrites and reshoots occurring over the last two years. It’s also been reported that Craig Mazin – now best known for his stellar work on HBO’sThe Last of Us –has removed his name from the credits of theBorderlandsmovie. That and Mazin’s further efforts to distance himself from the film are an ominous sign for its quality.
If theBorderlandsmovie ends up being bad, then that has the potential to really sour the reputation of theBorderlandsbrand. WithBorderlandsnot really being in its most successful phase right now, one big bomb could decimate interest in the franchise. Regardless of how the movie’s received, it’s very likely thatthe nextBorderlandswill pay close attention to how audiences react to certain aspects of the movie, and adjust the game in development accordingly. For instance, if audiences react poorly to the series' trademark over-the-top, loud humor in the movie, thenBorderlands 4might pare that back a little.
Borderlandswill be released on July 29, 2025.
MORE:Fallout 76 Should Look at How Borderlands Handles Players Having Multiple Characters
