Borderlands Can Finally Breathe as The Crow Reboot Becomes the Biggest Box Office Flop of 2024

Just when it seemed like Borderlands was doomed to wear the crown of 2024’s biggest box office flop, a new contender has swooped in to steal that unfortunate title—The Crow reboot. If you thought Borderlands was having a rough time, The Crow just took things to a whole new level of cinematic failure.

The Crow’s Disastrous Start

The Crow reboot, which hit theatres on August 23, was met with a wave of negative reviews and a lukewarm reception from audiences. The film’s opening weekend pulled in just $4.6 million domestically—a number that looks even worse when you compare it to Borderlands’ $8.5 million first-weekend haul. Despite Borderlands being labelled as a major flop, The Crow has now taken the spotlight as the biggest dud of the year.

Why The Crow Crashed

The original 1994 The Crow is remembered not just for its cult status but also for the tragic death of its star, Brandon Lee, during production. Rebooting such a beloved and tragic film was always going to be a risky move, and it seems that risk didn’t pay off. The new film failed to capture the magic of the original, and critics weren’t shy about letting everyone know.

Not only did The Crow flop in terms of box office numbers, but it also received brutal reviews across the board. With a dismal 20% on Rotten Tomatoes and 30% on Metacritic, it’s clear that both fans and critics were left unimpressed​.

Borderlands: Still a Flop, But Not The Flop

Meanwhile, Borderlands isn’t exactly off the hook. While it managed to rake in more than The Crow during its opening weekend, the film’s higher production costs ($120 million compared to The Crow’s $50 million) mean it still stands to lose a lot more money. Lionsgate, the distributor behind both movies, is likely feeling the sting of two major box office bombs in such a short span​.

The critical reception to Borderlands has been equally harsh, with many early reviews calling it “unwatchable” and “an abomination.” However, it can at least take solace in the fact that it’s no longer the most disastrous movie of the year—The Crow has that dubious honour now.

What’s Next for These Flops?

While it’s unlikely that either movie will see a miraculous turnaround, there’s still some hope that Borderlands might recoup a bit more of its budget through VOD sales and home viewing options. The Crow, on the other hand, may have a tougher time finding redemption.

For Lionsgate, this August has been a brutal reminder that big-name franchises and reboots don’t always guarantee success. As both films continue to struggle, it’s a lesson in the dangers of relying too heavily on nostalgia and established IPs without delivering the goods​.

Final Thoughts

So, while Borderlands might not be the biggest flop of the year anymore, it’s still far from a success story. Meanwhile, The Crow has now taken its place as the ultimate box office failure of 2024. It’s a tough year for Lionsgate, but for moviegoers, it’s a fascinating (and somewhat schadenfreude-inducing) tale of two major flops.

If you’re curious to see these films for yourself, maybe wait until they hit streaming platforms. At least then, you won’t feel too bad about spending a few bucks to witness what all the fuss—or lack thereof—is about.