Borderlands Flops with Only $32.9 Million Earnings
- Borderlands was released in theaters on August 9, 2024, and quickly pivoted to streaming on August 30.
- It grossed nearly $15.5 million domestically and $17.4 million internationally, culminating in a total of $32.9 million globally.
- Despite its box office failure, the film reportedly boosted sales of the related video game franchise.
The film adaptation of the video game franchise Borderlands was released in theaters on August 9, 2024, and quickly turned into a box office disappointment. Despite a star-studded cast including Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Jack Black, it earned nearly $15.5 million domestically and $17.4 million internationally, totaling $32.9 million worldwide. The movie was made available for digital streaming via premium video on demand shortly after its release, on August 30. Scheduled to debut on STARZ on December 25, 2024, viewers will need a subscription to access the film. Although Borderlands failed commercially, Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two Interactive, the owner of the Borderlands video game franchise, stated that the movie did not negatively impact game sales. He noted that the film actually contributed to increased sales of the game catalog. The attempts to adapt video game properties for film have historically faced challenges, with many struggling to resonate with audiences in a different medium. The financial results of Borderlands may reinforce the notion of these difficulties, prompting discussions within the industry about future adaptations. As the release for streaming approaches, further evaluation of how the film performs in this new format will be closely watched, especially given its lack of success in theatrical releases.