Summary
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,Borderlandsis 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.
Borderlandshas quickly become a critical and commercial flop, initially debuting with adismal 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,Borderlandsgrossed 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’sAlien: Romulusmakes it unlikely thatBorderlandswill see any significant improvement in its earnings amid the heightened competition.
The release date forBorderlandson digital platforms has been announced, and home viewers will soon be able to access the film. The movie, which seemeddoomed 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 seeBorderlandson the big screen should plan to catch it soon!
Borderlandshas garnered one of the year’s lowest critic scores at just 10%, placing it amongthe least favored video game movie adaptationsof 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 andKrieg actor Florian Munteanuhas 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 secondBorderlandsmovie are growing slimmer, fans of the franchise canlook forward toBorderlands 4, which is officially in development.Series creator Randy Pitchfordhas 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.
