Borderlands Digital Release Coming Within Weeks of Its Disastrous Theatrical Run

Highlights

Borderlands film flops with 10% critic rating & dismal box office earnings – unlikely to see improvement.
Digital release set for Aug 30 just 3 weeks post-theatrical debut, despite poor performance.
Borderlands movie likely won’t get sequel, but hope still remains for successful Borderlands 4 game.

In today’s film landscape, it’s not uncommon for movies to swiftly transition to streaming services within a month or two of their theatrical release. However, Borderlands is setting a new speed record. Just over a week after its theatrical debut, the film is already scheduled to hit digital platforms, and its release is coming up fast.

Borderlands has quickly become a critical and commercial flop, initially debuting with a dismal 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which has since risen slightly to 10%. While it’s true that critical reviews don’t always correlate with box office success, Borderlands grossed a mere $16.5 million globally during its opening weekend, with $8.8 million from domestic audiences and $7.7 million internationally. Although week two’s box office figures are not yet available, the premiere and strong performance of Disney’s Alien: Romulus makes it unlikely that Borderlands will see any significant improvement in its earnings amid the heightened competition.

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The release date for Borderlands on digital platforms has been announced, and home viewers will soon be able to access the film. The movie, which seemed doomed from the start, will be available for digital purchase and rental starting August 30, just three weeks after its theatrical release on August 9. The film won’t be offered on a specific streaming service for free right away, but viewers will be able to buy or rent it through platforms like Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video. Though it will eventually stream on a service, Lionsgate films often appear on various streaming platforms, so the exact service remains to be determined. It’s unclear if this release strategy relates to the film’s box office performance or was part of Lionsgate’s original strategy. Still, this early digital release might suggest a brief theatrical run, so fans eager to see Borderlands on the big screen should plan to catch it soon!

The Vault Hunters in the Borderlands movie

Borderlands has garnered one of the year’s lowest critic scores at just 10%, placing it among the least favored video game movie adaptations of all time. The lack of enthusiastic support from fans has further hindered its success, with the film grossing only $18 million globally in its first two weekends against a production budget exceeding $120 million, plus additional marketing expenses. Currently, it’s on track to incur losses of $100 million or more, casting a gloomy outlook on the prospects for a sequel. Although director Eli Roth has hinted at the possibility of a follow-up and Krieg actor Florian Munteanu has expressed a strong desire for a prequel, the likelihood of either happening seems slim. Still, there remains a chance that the film could gain traction on digital platforms as some movies have, though this outcome seems unlikely.

Since the film’s release, there has been little communication from Gearbox regarding the project, but it seems clear that the film’s performance has dampened hopes for a live-action franchise expansion. While the chances of a second Borderlands movie are growing slimmer, fans of the franchise can look forward to Borderlands 4, which is officially in development. Series creator Randy Pitchford has leveraged the film’s lackluster reception as a platform to hype up the upcoming game. Although Borderlands 4 is still shrouded in secrecy and remains a major project for Gearbox and 2K, the involvement of Gearbox’s leadership in the project raises intriguing questions about their vision for the new game. Details about the game’s progress or release date remain unclear, but after the film’s letdown, fans are likely willing to wait to ensure Gearbox takes the necessary time to deliver a quality product and great experience.

Borderlands is now showing in theaters.