The Borderlands movie is facing more than just scathing reviews in its opening week. While critics have largely panned the film, a significant behind-the-scenes issue has emerged.

A Rough Premiere: Critics and Audiences React

The Eli Roth-directed Borderlands adaptation is currently suffering from overwhelmingly negative critical reception. Rotten Tomatoes shows a dismal 6% rating from 49 critics, with prominent reviewers like Donald Clarke (Irish Times) describing it as an escape-worthy "wacko BS," and Amy Nicholson (New York Times) highlighting its lackluster humor despite some positive design aspects. Early social media reactions echoed this sentiment, labeling the film "lifeless," "terrible," and "uninspired." However, a more positive audience score of 49% suggests that some viewers, particularly Borderlands fans, appreciated the movie's action and crude humor, although some lore changes have caused confusion.

Uncredited Work Adds to the Film's Problems

Beyond the negative reviews, a controversy has erupted concerning uncredited work. Robbie Reid, a freelance rigger who worked on the Claptrap character, publicly stated on Twitter (X) that neither he nor the character's modeler received screen credit. Reid expressed disappointment, particularly given his consistent credit history on previous films. He speculated that their departure from the studio in 2021 might be the reason for the omission, acknowledging that this type of oversight is a recurring problem within the industry. He concluded by expressing hope that the situation might lead to positive change regarding artist crediting practices.