Movies based on popular video games get a rare dud this summer with “Borderlands” – The Telescope

In what could have been a brilliant adaptation of a beloved video game franchise, “Borderlands” ended a brief run at the box office this summer after just a month. With a Rotten Tomatoes score of 10%, an IMDB score of 4.5/10 and a 3/10 from IGN, a renowned video game reviewer, it is clear that this film did not live up to the expectations of film critics and gamers.

Adapting any form of media is never a guarantee of success. Just ask Atari, in 1982 they made ‘ET: The Extra Terrestrial’, a video game based on the Spielberg classic. The release was so mismanaged that it nearly destroyed the entire video game industry and led to a majority of the game’s physical copies being buried in the middle of a New Mexico desert.

It would be a stretch to make a comparison here to ‘Borderlands’, but with all the great video game movies and TV series released in recent years, it’s mind-boggling to see such a step down in quality.

In the past two years, the films “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” and “Super Mario Bros” and the TV series “The Last of Us” have graced the screens with faithful, yet original interpretations of video games.

“Sonic the Hedgehog” received almost no follow-up in early previews with its nightmare-inducing interpretation of the titular rodent. Fans of the long-running game were quick to point out the error, which inspired the filmmakers to fix the problem. Despite the initial mistake, Sonic has a third film in the works due to the filmmakers’ dedication to his fanbase.

The TV series “The Last of Us” would have been successful even if it had been a point-by-point recreation of the post-apocalyptic video game. Instead, the series’ creators chose to collaborate with the game’s visionaries and delved into the untold stories of the beloved characters gamers met along their journey. This paid off, earning the show awards and critical acclaim from fans and critics alike.

‘Borderlands’ failed where these adaptations succeeded.

“Borderlands” was advertised as a prequel to the first game in the series; a clear sign that there was no intention for a sequel unless the film was profitable. With a star-studded cast and over $100 million in production costs, the film seemed like nothing more than a cash grab from the start.

The film took an already established cast of Lilith, Roland, Tiny Tina and Claptrap and completely rewrote their personalities and motivations, proving that it had no intention of pleasing its fanbase. The end product seems ashamed of the source material.

In addition to not satisfying fans of the game, “Borderlands” was not a good film either critically or financially. According to Forbes, the film had a total budget of $145 million and grossed $31 million worldwide before moving to streaming services.

The size of the video game fan base now, compared to the early days, is like comparing the attendance at a Taylor Swift concert to an open mic at your local coffee shop. Thinking that money and fame leads to more money, and more fame won’t save a video game movie that isn’t true to its roots.

To create a successful video game adaptation, the final product must strive to satisfy fans of the base game while telling an original story; one that captivates even those who haven’t played it. By alienating both parties, a video game movie or TV series will not perform well.

Recent years have proven that video game adaptations appeal to both fans of the original medium and those who don’t participate in the world of games. ‘Borderlands’ tried to replicate the success of the previous films in a soulless way. For the sake of video game fans, movie goers, and people just looking for a good show to binge, I hope this doesn’t become a trend.