Part 7/9:
One critical issue lies in audience targeting. The general consensus points to the film seeming disconnected from its core fan base—the gamers who love the Borderlands series. Many viewers who played the games felt that the movie neither captured the spirit nor the story of the franchise. Instead, it appeared intended for a broader, less engaged audience, which hardly makes sense: why adapt such a niche property if not to cater primarily to existing fans?
This misalignment of target audience could be a primary reason for the film’s failure. Fans expected a faithful adaptation that reflected the game's humor, characters, and tone. Instead, they encountered a movie that felt disconnected from what made the series popular, leading to disappointment and poor word of mouth.