Summary

• Borderlands was filmed with an R-rated approach, but it ultimately became PG-13.
• Reviewers criticized the movie for lacking the graphic violence of the game.
• The decision to tone down the violence may have hurt the movie's success and disappointed video game players hoping for a faithful adaptation.

The stunt coordinator for Borderlands has a star-studded cast that includes Cate Blanchett (Lilith), Kevin Hart (Roland), and Jack Black (Claptrap).

Eli Roth is also known for directing Knock Knock, The Green Inferno, and Hostel.

In a new interview with Screen Rant, Borderlands’ stunt coordinator Jimmy O’Dee revealed that the creative team filmed the movie like they were shooting a movie that was rated R. He shared this reveal when he was asked if it was difficult to reign things back for the film, saying that they were blowing people’s heads off and cutting off feet. He also spoke about Roth’s love for horror, who championed decisions in shooting that led to more gore. Read O’Dee’s full quote below:

We were shooting an R-rated movie when we did it. We always knew that we were going to go either 15 or R rating, it's 15 in UK, for a slightly mature audience. So, we were blowing people's heads off. And we were cutting feet off. We were doing all of that. But then, you know, a lot happens. We shot that nearly three years ago, or we just finished it. So, I guess a lot happens in post, and they see where it's going to go and what market they're aiming for. But literally the idea and the brief was carnage, head cutting off, feet cutting off. Go for it and then we'll sort it out in post. It was that kind of thing.

And of course, Eli loves horror. He loves horror. It was funny, he was on the second unit, he came over, and he was like, "Uh... just cut the ankles off. Yeah, get the knife and cut the ankles and we will leave these stubs." It was kind of like there wasn't enough gore for him sometimes. Eli was all over that kind of stuff. He was great to work with. It was such a fun time with him.

Should Borderlands Have Been Rated R?

The Video Game Was Rated M For Mature.

The game Borderlands is based on is known for its black comedy and raunchiness, which usually veer toward violence with players blowing off heads and other body parts and a wide variety of guns in a dark, post-apocalyptic world. In addition, the game was rated M for mature, which further hints at its graphic violence. Despite its R-rated approach in filming, Borderlands has an MPA rating of PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, action, language, and some suggestive material.

So far, reviews for Borderlands have called out the adaptation for its lackluster storytelling, uninspiring characters, and limits of the PG-13 rating on the violence.

The official MPA rating for Borderlands was met with quick disappointment from fans of the video game who were hoping to see the infamous violence adapted to the big screen. Roth's own history with R-rated films added to that confusion, as the director was familiar with those kinds of visuals. For instance, Roth’s previous film, 2023’s Thanksgiving, was a box office success and even earned the green light for a sequel despite its R-rating.

However, rather than being faithful to the material, going for a PG-13 rating would open to a larger target audience. Despite attempts to mellow the violence, that decision may have hurt the movie's success. So far, reviews for Borderlands have called out the adaptation for its lackluster storytelling, uninspiring characters, and limits of the PG-13 rating on the violence. Therefore, the reveal that Borderlands was shot like an R-rated movie only makes matters worse, as it had a chance to be a faithful adaptation of the video game, only for that opportunity to be spoiled.