Borderlands A Box Office Failure Despite Star-Studded Cast

Borderlands A Box Office Failure Despite Star-Studded Cast

‘Borderlands’ Hits a New Low

The cinematic adaptation of the beloved video game series ‘Borderlands’ has reached a disappointing milestone. Less than three weeks into its theatrical run, the movie managed to earn only $50,000 domestically from 1,147 theaters on Monday, August 26. This translates to a mere $44 per-theater average, a figure that starkly highlights its failure to connect with audiences.

Struggling Amid Competition

‘Borderlands’ has not even registered in the top 10 daily rankings, lagging behind several older releases. Despite its recent debut, it struggled to match the ticket sales of ‘Despicable Me 4’ (debuted July 3), ‘Inside Out 2’ (debuted June 14), and even ‘Coraline,’ a film that first hit theaters over 15 years ago. To date, ‘Borderlands’ has grossed just shy of $23 million worldwide, with two-thirds of this coming from domestic sales. Considering its reported budget of around $110 million, the film’s current performance suggests it may not even recoup a quarter of its investment.

Adapting to Market Challenges

In response to its dire box office performance, the decision has been made to expedite the next stage of its release. ‘Borderlands’ will be available on premium video on demand (PVOD) and premium electronic sell-through (EST) starting August 30. Whether this move can salvage the movie’s reputation remains to be seen, but given the poor box office figures and mixed critical reception, this pivot might be too little too late.

A Star-Studded Cast Fails to Save the Day

The failure of ‘Borderlands’ at the box office is particularly surprising given its ensemble cast. The film features Cate Blanchett as Lilith, Kevin Hart as Roland, Jack Black as the voice of Claptrap, Edgar Ramírez as Atlas, Jamie Lee Curtis as Tannis, and Ariana Greenblatt as Tiny Tina. Directed by Eli Roth with reshoots helmed by Tim Miller, and a screenplay by Roth and Joe Crombie, the film seemed poised for success. However, as ‘Borderlands’ demonstrates, even the most eye-catching cast cannot guarantee box office triumph.

---