The Borderlands movie was massively disparaged when it released in 2024, with many fans being vocal about how disappointing the movie ended up being in comparison to its rich source material. The film’s poor box office numbers were a testament to how fans simply did not respond to its creative choices, although the movie’s recent addition to the Amazon Prime Video subscription service has brought a lot of new eyes to it.
The level of engagement that the Borderlands film has recently garnered from its presence on Prime Video, and other streaming services, has re-ignited conversations about possible adaptations of the Borderlands franchise, and an animated adaptation of the IP seems like the most obvious option. Amazon Prime has firmly established its animation wing, with hit shows like Invincible, and a truly faithful animated Borderlands project could be just what Amazon needs to compete with other major animation players, like Netflix.
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Borderlands 4’s Latest Tease Would Be a Logical Progression for the Series
Gearbox’s Randy Pitchford recently got fans hyped for a potential Borderlands 4 feature, and it would actually be a natural direction for the series.
The Borderlands Movie’s Recent Streaming Numbers Show a Clear Audience For An Even Better Project
While fans had desired a large-scale adaptation of the Borderlands franchise for quite some time, it seemed obvious from the outset that its recent live-action movie was going to be divisive. Many fans immediately had reservations about the casting and overall style of the movie, and the box office numbers for Borderlands fell way below studio expectations.
Reportedly only grossing around $30.9 million worldwide, it is estimated that the Borderlands movie made a loss of around $115 million, when factoring in its production and marketing budgets, and the film has a negative reputation that will be quite hard for it to ever overcome. With that being said, the movie has become more widely available through streaming services in recent months, and it has received a lot of fresh attention from curious fans who are now able to watch it through the likes of Amazon Prime, Hulu, and STARZ.
In fact, Borderlands briefly enjoyed a stint as the most-watched movie on Amazon Prime following its addition to service in the United Kingdom, proving that there is still a strong desire for a Borderlands adaptation. While the live-action approach to the Borderlands adaptation may not have worked, the franchise’s famously faux-cel-shaded style could serve as the foundation for a great animated adaptation, which could be a second chance for the IP.
An Animated Borderlands Show Could Place Amazon Prime Video Toe-to-Toe with Netflix
The Amazon-backed animated show Invincible recently capped off its third season, and the series’ continued success may encourage Amazon to inject more financing into animated projects to really push this media sector to the next level. With costly animation projects often turning towards tried-and-true source material, an animated Borderlands series could be the perfect opportunity for Amazon to find its next big hit, which would cater to the audience that clearly still exists for Borderlands content.
The hotly anticipated Borderlands 4 is scheduled to release on September 23, creating the perfect opportunity for a well-timed animated show to capitalize on this next era of the franchise.
In the streaming world, it may be difficult for Prime Video to compete with the deeply entrenched presence of Netflix, and that platform is gaining a positive reputation for its highly-polished animated gaming adaptations. Shows like Arcane and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners have been massive success stories for Netflix, and an animated series based on the Borderlands franchise has just as much potential to be well-received, if given the proper time and budget. While the Borderlands movie did not quite resonate with audiences in the way it would have hoped, this does not have to spell the end for the franchise’s adaptations, and Amazon could have a goldmine on its hands with a truly authentic and engaging animated portrayal of the IP.
