Borderlands Movie Flops: Randy Pitchford's Meltdown and Box Office Disaster

Borderlands Movie Bombs at Box Office

The long-awaited Borderlands movie adaptation has arrived in theaters, but the results are far from what fans and studio executives were hoping for. With a measly 9% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and dismal box office numbers, the film is shaping up to be one of the biggest video game movie flops in recent memory.

Critical Reception

Critics have not been kind to the Borderlands adaptation. With only a 9% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, it ranks among the worst-reviewed films of 2024 so far. The critical consensus describes it as "glitched out in every department" and "balder dash."

Some choice quotes from reviews include:

• "An insipid mish-mash of tired genre tropes, Borderlands is devoid of any real edge."
• "Nothing that works about the games has been adapted intact in this ugly, boring, truly inept piece of filmmaking."
• "Borderlands arrives as a legitimate contender not only for the worst film of 2024 but one of the worst video game movies ever released."

Even the audience score on Rotten Tomatoes is quite low, indicating that fans of the game series are just as disappointed as critics.

Box Office Bomb

With a reported production budget of over $100 million, Borderlands needed to perform well at the box office to be considered a success. Unfortunately, the opening weekend numbers paint a grim picture:

• Domestic (US) opening: $8.8 million
• Worldwide total: Approximately $15 million

For a big-budget sci-fi action film based on a popular game franchise, these numbers are catastrophically low. Industry analysts estimate the film would have needed to gross $300-400 million worldwide to break even when accounting for marketing costs. At this point, it seems virtually impossible for Borderlands to come anywhere close to that mark.

What Went Wrong?

Several factors seem to have contributed to the Borderlands movie's failure:

Departure from Source Material

Many reviews and fan reactions point to the film's loose adaptation of the game's story and characters. A Forbes review by Paul Tassi, a self-proclaimed Borderlands fan, notes that the script "does not resemble any Borderlands game at all" beyond some vague plot elements.

Some key issues highlighted:

• Rewriting of Tiny Tina's backstory and character
• Miscasting of roles like Roland (played by Kevin Hart)
• Significant age changes for characters like Lilith

PG-13 Rating

The decision to aim for a PG-13 rating instead of R may have neutered some of the franchise's signature over-the-top violence and crude humor. Tassi's review describes this as "Rebel Moon syndrome," referring to another recent sci-fi adaptation that suffered from toning down its content.

Production Issues

The film apparently went through extensive reshoots and spent years in post-production, often a sign of behind-the-scenes troubles. The original screenwriter, Craig Mazin (known for Chernobyl and The Last of Us), even had his name removed from the project after Eli Roth came on as director and rewrote the script.

Randy Pitchford's Online Meltdown

As negative reviews and poor box office numbers rolled in, Gearbox Software CEO Randy Pitchford took to Twitter to defend the film and lash out at critics. His behavior has only drawn more attention to the movie's failures and reignited discussions about Pitchford's controversial history in the game industry.

Attacking Critics

Pitchford specifically targeted Forbes writer Paul Tassi, who wrote a negative review of the Borderlands film:

"I thought he was being a dick and so I blocked him on purpose... Something about that dude's attitude just feels off to me. I read some crap he wrote where he seems to act like he knows me and fronts like he knows something he doesn't."

He went on to accuse Tassi of being "super obsessed" with Gearbox's products and "making a living talking [expletive]."

When Tassi responded, pointing out that he's simply a fan who has played hundreds of hours of Borderlands games, Pitchford doubled down:

"It's my opinion that you enjoy talking [expletive] at my expense. Your comment here further reinforces my opinion. It's super strange given that you seem to love something I also love and brought into the world."

Deflecting Criticism

Rather than acknowledging the film's poor reception, Pitchford attempted to spin the situation:

"So what you're saying is you like what my friends and I do with our Borderlands games even more than you like what some of the biggest and best cast and crew filmmakers on the planet have done? I'm super flattered."

He also bizarrely compared the Borderlands movie's reception to The Beatles:

"The Beatles had more number one hits than any other band in history and their hit rate was less than 20%. That's how it is with entertainment."

Pitchford's Controversial History

This latest incident has reminded many of Randy Pitchford's checkered past in the game industry:

Failed Projects

Pitchford was involved in notorious gaming flops like Aliens: Colonial Marines and Duke Nukem Forever. Despite widespread criticism, he has repeatedly defended these games over the years.

Bonus Controversy

After the release of Borderlands 3, Pitchford allegedly cut promised bonuses to the development team despite the game's commercial success. This came after reports that Pitchford himself had received substantial bonuses.

Legal Troubles

In 2019, Pitchford was embroiled in a bizarre legal case involving allegations of misplaced sensitive company data and inappropriate content on a USB drive left at a restaurant. While some allegations were later withdrawn, the incident damaged Pitchford's reputation.

Claptrap Voice Actor Dispute

David Eddings, the original voice of Claptrap, accused Pitchford of bullying and harassment. Pitchford denied these claims, but the public dispute soured relations with a key member of the Borderlands team.

The Future of Borderlands

Despite the movie's failure, the Borderlands franchise will likely continue in the gaming space. Pitchford has already begun teasing Borderlands 4, though fan reaction has been mixed given recent controversies.

Some key questions for the future:

1. Will the movie's poor performance impact the Borderlands brand?
2. Can Gearbox regain fan trust after recent missteps?
3. Will there be any leadership changes at Gearbox in light of ongoing controversies?
4. How will future Borderlands games evolve to keep the franchise fresh?

Lessons for Video Game Adaptations

The Borderlands movie's failure offers several lessons for future video game adaptations:

1. Respect the source material: Dramatic departures from established lore and characters risk alienating core fans.
2. Understand the tone: Borderlands' irreverent humor and over-the-top action may have been better suited to an R-rated film.
3. Casting matters: Choosing actors who fit established characters is crucial for fan acceptance.
4. Manage expectations: Overhyping a project can backfire if the final product doesn't deliver.
5. Listen to feedback: Engaging positively with critics and fans, rather than lashing out, can help manage a difficult situation.

Conclusion

The Borderlands movie represents another disappointing entry in the long history of video game adaptations. While the franchise will likely survive this setback, the film's failure and the surrounding controversy have damaged both the Borderlands brand and Randy Pitchford's personal reputation.

As the dust settles, fans and industry observers will be watching closely to see how Gearbox and 2K Games move forward. The success of future Borderlands projects may depend on rebuilding trust with the community and learning from the missteps of this ill-fated adaptation.

For now, the Borderlands movie serves as a cautionary tale for both video game adaptations and how not to handle criticism in the age of social media.

Article created from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyP-6bjRKFw