The "Borderlands" movie adaptation is facing a turbulent premiere week, plagued by overwhelmingly negative critical reception and a credit dispute. The film currently boasts a dismal 6% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 49 critic reviews. Prominent critics have been scathing, with descriptions ranging from "wacko BS" to a film that falls flat humorously, despite some positive design elements. While the film's explosive action and crude humor have found some favor with a segment of the audience (resulting in a 49% audience score), the overall critical consensus is decidedly negative. Many early viewers echoed the critics' sentiments, describing the film as "lifeless," "terrible," and "uninspired."
Adding to the film's woes is a recent controversy surrounding uncredited work. Robbie Reid, a freelance rigger who worked on the Claptrap character, publicly revealed on X (formerly Twitter) that neither he nor the character modeler received screen credit. Reid expressed disappointment, particularly given his previously consistent credit history, and attributed the oversight to potentially leaving the studio in 2021. While acknowledging the unfortunate prevalence of such issues within the industry, he expressed hope that the situation might contribute to positive change regarding artist crediting practices. The "Borderlands" movie's struggles extend beyond poor reviews, highlighting ongoing challenges regarding fair treatment and recognition within the film industry.
