Summary

• Borderlands has been given a PG-13 rating by the MPA.
• Most of the Borderlands games are rated M for Mature, suggesting the movie will tone down the violence and language.
• A PG-13 rating could help the film attract younger audiences at the box office, but there's a chance it will alienate those who enjoyed the source material.

Borderlands movie is directed by Eli Roth from a script by Roth and Joe Crombie. The film follows a ragtag group as they embark on a wild adventure to rescue a missing girl who is key to harnessing a great power. Although trailers have teased the inclusion of many game elements, it's been unclear whether the movie's age rating would continue a trend from the games.

FilmRatings.com now reveals that the MPA has rated Borderlands PG-13 for "intense sequences of violence and action, language and some suggestive material." This is a deviation from the video games, most of which are rated M for Mature, making them suitable only for gamers 17 or older. The only Borderlands video game to not receive the M designation is Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, which is rated T for Teen.

Will Borderlands' PG-13 Rating Hurt The Movie?

What It Could Mean For The Adaptation's Box Office

The rationale for Borderlands' PG-13 rating is probably pretty simple. A PG-13 rating is fairly standard for big blockbuster fare because an R rating limits a film's potential audience. It's unclear what Borderlands' budget is, but it's an effects-heavy movie with a cast that features some major talent. The movie likely carries a hefty price tag, and Lionsgate will evidently be hoping to recoup this and make a profit. Kevin Hart, especially, is a major all-ages draw, and an R-rating would exclude his younger fans.

In addition to Hart, Borderlands cast features Cate Blanchett, Jack Black, Haley Bennett, Ariana Greenblatt, and Jamie Lee Curtis.

While the movie's PG-13 rating makes sense from a business perspective, it could prove more controversial to those who are coming to the film as longtime fans of the world of the Borderlands video games. The games tend to feature strong violence and coarse language, as well as sexual material that comes mostly in the form of dialogue. If the Borderlands movie ends up feeling watered down compared to the games, that could make for a disappointing viewing experience.

That being said, the reasons for Borderlands' PG-13 rating suggest that movie will be attempting to honor the tone of the games. The trailer, too, has teased that the movie will feature plenty of action, with one gruesome scene showing the gang exploding through the body of an alien creature. Alien blood and violence, after all, is usually less of a concern to the MPA than if it were human. It remains to be seen how Borderlands will fare with audiences, but there are evidently some aspects of the game that won't be included.

Source: FilmRatings.com