Borderlands Film Bombs, But Gearbox Boss Sees Silver Lining

The Borderlands film, a cinematic adaptation of the popular video game series, has stumbled out of the gate with a disappointing opening weekend, earning just £7.2 million in the UK and £13.5 million globally. This dismal performance comes in stark contrast to the film's £120 million production budget, raising concerns about its potential to become a box office flop.

While the film's commercial prospects may be bleak, Gearbox founder Randy Pitchford sees a silver lining in the critical reception. He took to Twitter, seemingly unfazed by the negative reviews, and suggested that the underwhelming performance of the film was, in fact, a testament to the quality of the Borderlands video games.

"So what you're saying is: You like what my friends and I do with our Borderlands videogames even more than you like what some of the biggest and best cast and crew of film makers on the planet have done," Pitchford tweeted. "I'm super flattered! We're working extra hard for you on what's next."

This seemingly self-congratulatory remark alludes to the long-awaited Borderlands 4, which is rumoured to be in development. Pitchford doubled down on this sentiment in subsequent tweets, reiterating that he was "pretty bloody flattered" that people considered his team's work on the games to be superior to the film adaptation.

"I am actually pretty fucking flattered that people are essentially saying that my team and I are doing a better job building characters and telling stories and making entertainment than this unbelievable cast and crew of some of the biggest and best film makers on the planet. I am super happy to live in that world," he wrote.

Pitchford's comments, while perhaps intended as a light-hearted jab, fail to address the fundamental issues that plagued the film. Many critics have pointed to the lack of depth in the character portrayals, arguing that the film failed to capture the essence of the beloved games. Pitchford acknowledged these criticisms, stating that several scenes crucial to character development were cut during the editing process.

"There was a scene in the caverns where Roland and Lilith talk about their motives and history. There was a scene after they escape in the truck where Krieg and Tina were playing together and having a moment. They were great scenes, but I think in post with editors, producers and directors they felt the pace needed to stay quick," Pitchford explained. "I hope some of the deleted scenes can come out at some point."

Despite acknowledging the film's shortcomings, Pitchford also defended the PG-13 rating, dismissing the notion that an R-rated version would have been more successful. He argued that the film's failure was not due to its rating, but rather the inherent difficulty of translating a video game's narrative to the big screen.

"I love some gore in the games – I actively work on that! But I cannot figure out what mind needs that in order to parse a story as 'good' as if it’s not possible to be 'good' unless there’s a dick or an organ coming out of a body from violence or a bunch of 'fucks' uttered. It’s kind of an absurd argument to me," he tweeted.

While Pitchford's comments may provide a glimpse into his perspective on the film's reception, it's unlikely to change the trajectory of the film's box office performance. The film's dismal opening weekend has already fuelled speculation about the possibility of a sequel, which, according to Pitchford, may be dependent on the financial success of the first film.

With a projected decline in ticket sales for the second weekend, the future of the Borderlands franchise on the big screen appears increasingly uncertain. The film's underwhelming performance serves as a reminder of the challenges inherent in adapting video games to cinema, highlighting the need for a nuanced approach that captures the essence of the source material while simultaneously appealing to a wider audience.