Borderlands’ Comparisons To A Major Marvel Franchise Are A Big Challenge For The Video Game Movie

The trailer for the live-action adaptation of Borderlands is exciting, but the comparisons that are already being drawn to one massive Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) franchise are worrying for the upcoming video game movie. The effects-heavy trailer featuring Kevin Hart, Cate Blanchett, and Jack Black, among others, combined with Borderlands‘ August release date suggests that it could very well be one of the year’s biggest blockbuster events. Furthermore, Borderlands‘ acclaimed source material of the video games leaves room for franchise potential if the first installment is successful.

Borderlands will include many characters from the video games, which bodes well for the movie, since one of the best things about the video games is the interaction between its oddball characters. Plenty of things are working in the upcoming video game adaptation’s favor, including the visual aesthetic, style of humor, and overall wacky vibe. However, the Borderlands‘ trailer lends itself to a comparison to one of the MCU’s most profitable intellectual properties. Despite the convincing trailer, the comparisons that Borderlands is already drawing present some challenges it will need to overcome to set itself apart.

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The Trailer For Borderlands Feels Very Similar To Guardians Of The Galaxy

Guardians of the Galaxy already features a rag-tag group of heroes and Classic rock music.

Borderlands‘ trailer demonstrates to unfamiliar audiences that the movie will revolve around an unlikely team of heroes on a clandestine mission to defend the planet from intergalactic threats, all while classic rock accompanies the visuals. While the movie’s plot and the trailer’s stylistic choices aren’t necessarily groundbreaking, they undeniably hearken back to James Gunn’s handling of the MCU’s Guardians of the Galaxy. The trailer is certainly fun, but the comparisons one could make between it and Guardians of the Galaxy aren’t ideal.

Why The Guardians Of The Galaxy Comparisons Are Bad News For Borderlands

General audiences could find Borderlands lacking if they feel it’s ripping off Guardians of the Galaxy.

Although one of the most fun video game franchises around, Borderlands isn’t nearly as well-established as Guardians of the Galaxy. As such, Borderlands could struggle at the box office if general audiences lose interest in the upcoming sci-fi action adventure if it runs the risk of feeling like a poor imitation of the Marvel franchise. One of the biggest reasons why Guardians of the Galaxy has become so successful is because it felt fresh and original during a time when audiences were primarily familiar with mainstream heroes like Batman, Spider-Man, and Wolverine.

Although some things like the references to the video games and Borderlands‘ Claptrap casting bode well for the movie’s future, it could be difficult to attract general audiences who aren’t at all familiar with the series. While August isn’t particularly stacked with a plethora of exciting projects, Borderlands still might not be the critical or commercial success that it needs to be to justify launching a new franchise. Whereas Guardians of the Galaxy was a trailblazer in the superhero movie genre, what’s been seen from Borderlands‘ trailer isn’t enough to distinguish its tone or premise from what’s come before.