Despite the subpar cinematic adaptation, Borderlands continues to prosper.
Recently, the cinematic adaptation of the popular video game series, Borderlands, was released in theaters. Despite initial expectations, the movie underperformed, necessitating its release on VOD three weeks later. Critics and audiences alike voiced their disapproval of the film, leading Lionsgate to attempt to downplay its impact. However, Take-Two, the publishers of the Borderlands games, managed to profit handsomely from the film's disappointing performance.
The financial reports for the second quarter of the fiscal year were recently released by various studios in both the gaming and film industries. Both Lionsgate and Take-Two, who acquired Borderlands developer Gearbox in March, discussed the ill-fated movie. The film, which amassed a mere $33 million worldwide, cost a staggering $120 million to produce over a period of about five years, including a change of director and alleged rewrites. Lionsgate's CEO, Jon Feltheimer, conceded that "everything that could go wrong did go wrong." The film's prolonged delay due to the pandemic, followed by expensive reshoots and escalating interest rates, pushed it beyond the safety zone of Lionsgate's typical financial models. Despite these setbacks, Feltheimer acknowledged the importance of striking a balance between financial success and creative integrity.
Take-Two's CEO, Strauss Zelnick, echoed Feltheimer's sentiments, referring to the film as "disappointing" during his company's earnings call. Although the movie did not significantly impact Take-Two's overall financials, it did contribute to a surge in sales of other Borderlands games, all of which are designed for current-generation hardware. Zelnick perceives this as evidence that film adaptations can drive interest in and sales of the original material. If this boost in visibility aids in the promotion of the upcoming Borderlands 4, Zelnick may eventually come to view the movie's failure as a blessing in disguise.
However, Take-Two's experience with the Borderlands movie left an indelible mark, prompting the company to exercise greater caution in licensing its properties for adaptation. Although a BioShock film is slated for release in the near future, Zelnick indicated that Take-Two will be selective in approving such prospects in the future, using the word "selectively" to emphasize this point.
[Sources: Deadline and VGC]
IO9 published an article discussing the financial losses from the 'Borderlands' movie and its potential impact on future film adaptations of video games. The failure of the movie led Take-Two to explore the possibility of utilizing technology to create more immersive and successful cinematic experiences in the future.
