The recent Hollywood movie, Borderlands, is set to make a swift transition to digital platforms, breaking records for its speed of release. Despite a lackluster performance at the box office, the film will be available for digital purchase and rental on August 30, just three weeks after its theatrical release on August 9.
While the movie will not be immediately available for free streaming, viewers can access it on platforms like Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV for a fee. The film's rapid digital release aims to eliminate the barrier of having to visit theaters to watch it.
Borderlands has received poor reviews, with a critic score of 10%, placing it among the lowest-rated video game adaptations in history. The movie's financial performance has also been disappointing, earning only $18 million worldwide against a budget exceeding $120 million, potentially resulting in significant losses.
Despite the film's underwhelming reception, there has been little communication from Gearbox, the company behind the Borderlands game franchise. The movie's failure has likely dampened prospects for expanding the live-action series, raising questions about future projects such as Borderlands 4.
Borderlands' attempt to appeal to a broader audience while alienating its core fan base appears to have backfired, leading to its commercial failure. The digital release on August 30 provides an opportunity for audiences to assess the movie for themselves, especially if they opted out of watching it in theaters.
In an era where successful video game adaptations are emerging across various media, Borderlands stands out as a cautionary tale of missed opportunities and misaligned creative decisions. As the industry continues to explore new ways to bring gaming narratives to life, the lessons learned from Borderlands' missteps may shape future endeavors in this space.
