Spoilers are ahead for Borderlands' ending.
Summary
While it’s hard to imagine theBorderlandsmovie receiving a follow-up film, Eli Roth’s adaptation of the beloved video game series did introduce a final boss for its potential second movie. A sci-fi action-comedy romp based on theBorderlandsvideo games, the latest entry in Roth’s filmography didn’t succeed by any metric. Aside fromBorderlands' dismal (and rare) Rotten Tomatoes score, the movie made less than $10 million over its opening weekend. BeforeBorderlandsbecame a box office flop,the team behind the film had considered it the first entry in the plannedBorderlandsCinematic Universe.
Although that idea may seem somewhat laughable now, there’s no denying the near-limitless stories that theBorderlandsfranchise could translate to the big screen. Led by Cate Blanchett’s Lilith,Borderlands' eccentric cast of charactersis also well-suited to sequels. Despite not following any of the games' narratives all that precisely, the movie still centers on a ragtag team of misfits who are eager to learnwhat’s inside the Vault onBorderlands' dangerous planet of Pandora. Most glaringly of all,Borderlandsintroduces an even bigger threat in its closing minutes, suggesting that a sequel has already been plotted.
Borderlands' Ending Introduces The Destroyer In The Vault
The Monstrous Creature Drags Atlas Away Just Before The Credits Roll
Some of thebiggest waysBorderlandsdiffers from the video gamesinvolve its characters — many of whom have different backstories altogether — but the movie still pulls from the franchise’s catalog of personalities, from Lilith and Tiny Tina (Ariana Greenblatt) to a monstrous entity known only as The Destroyer.Although The Destroyer appears right at the end of the movie, it’s clear that the threat it poses is far from resolved. At the beginning of the movie, a corporate magnate named Atlas (Edgar Ramírez) hires Lilith to rescue his daughter, Tina — but Atlas isn’t telling the full story.
When Lilith opens the Vault to save Tina, she traps Atlas inside, allowing The Destroyer to drag him off.
In a drasticchange from Tiny Tina’sBorderlandsorigin story, the explosion-loving, feral teenager was genetically engineered by Atlas using biological material from the Eridians — the ancient species that once lived on Pandora.Given Tina’s unique genetic makeup, Atlas believes that his so-called daughter is the key to opening the Vault— a bunker full of the Eridians' advanced technology. Ultimately,Lilith’s Siren powers, and the reveal that she’s an Eridian protector, debunk Atlas' theory. When Lilith opens the Vault to save Tina, she traps Atlas inside, allowing The Destroyer to drag him off.
Borderlands Review: Fast-Paced Video Game Fare That Could Benefit From Taking A Breather
Borderlands rushes through too many plot points for its own good, but it’s saved by its likable cast and willingness to lean into video game moments.
The Destroyer’s Borderlands Video Game History Explained
The Eridians Sealed The Destroyer In The Vault To Protect The Universe
Despite only appearing in theBorderlandsmovie’s ending, The Destroyer is a crucial figure in the video game franchise. A creature that dwells in the Vault and drags Atlas to (presumably) his death, The Destroyer has very minimal screen time, but that doesn’t make its appearance any less significant. In the firstBorderlandsgame, it’s revealed thatThe Destroyer was imprisoned in the Vault centuries earlier by the Eridiansin order to prevent the universe’s destruction. Given that backstory and the movie’s focus on the Eridians, it seems like The Destroyer’s inclusion teases, and sets up,Borderlands 2.
10 Biggest Borderlands Video Game Characters Missing From The Movie
The biggest Borderlands characters missing from Eli Roth’s action-comedy movie adaptation are somewhat surprising, especially given its big cast.
The Destroyer Could Be The Final Boss In Borderlands 2 Now
The Iconic Borderlands Enemy Isn’t Just A Fun Easter Egg
The Destroyer’s cameo-level appearance is more than just a funBorderlandsEaster egg or video game reference. Since the movie reveals that Lilith is actually the incarnation of an Eridian protector known as the Firehawk,it makes perfect sense that the bounty hunter would have to protect Pandora from an ancient threatin aBorderlandssequel. Although she briefly opened the Vault to save Tiny Tina, Lilith’s actions could have far greater consequences — ones that result in The Destroyer breaking free from its prison to wreak havoc on the planet Lilith should be protecting.
Borderlandsis now playing in theaters.
Borderlands
Based on the video game franchise, Borderlands is a sci-fi action-comedy film that follows Cate Blanchett as Lilith, a treasure hunter who returns to her home planet, Pandora, to find a tycoon’s missing daughter. Together with a group of unlikely allies, such as a soldier, a teenaged demolitions expert, a wise-cracking robot, and an eccentric scientist, the group will work together to save the girl - all while learning to deal with each other’s unyielding quirks.
