The hunt is on, and it looks like audiences are more than ready to return to the world of the Predator. Dan Trachtenberg’s Predator: Badlands has stormed the box office, earning a massive $15.6 million on its opening day and is on track for a weekend total that could be one of the biggest in the franchise’s history. After years of streaming-only releases, the iconic sci-fi franchise has returned to theaters with a vengeance, proving that there’s still plenty of life left in the Yautja. [1] [2] [3]
Caption: Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi in a scene from Predator: Badlands.
Credit: 20th Century Studios
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
A Killer Opening Weekend That Exceeded All Expectations
When pre-release tracking suggested Predator: Badlands would open in the $25-30 million range, industry insiders were cautiously optimistic. But the film has blown past those projections in spectacular fashion. After raking in $15.6 million across Friday and preview screenings in 3,725 locations, the film is now projected to earn between $36 million and $38.5 million for its three-day opening weekend. [1] [2]
This puts Badlands in striking distance of the all-time franchise record, currently held by 2004’s Alien vs. Predator, which opened to $38.4 million. [2] If the film maintains its momentum through Saturday and Sunday, it could become the highest-grossing opening in the franchise’s nearly 40-year history. That’s no small feat for a series that has seen its share of ups and downs at the box office.
The film’s Friday performance included $4.8 million from Wednesday and Thursday preview screenings, demonstrating strong fan interest even before the official opening day. [3] These numbers compare favorably to other recent sci-fi releases, including Alien: Romulus, which earned $6.5 million in previews before going on to a $42 million opening weekend last August. [3]
Why Predator: Badlands Is Outperforming Expectations
Several factors have contributed to the film’s impressive box office performance. First and foremost, the movie has received glowing reviews from both critics and audiences. It currently holds an A- CinemaScore, the best of any film in the Predator franchise. [2] [3] Previous entries in the series, including the 1987 original and its 1990 sequel, only managed a B+ rating. [3]
The film’s PostTrak scores are even more impressive, with audiences giving it five out of five stars and a “definite recommend” rating of 78%. [3] These are platinum-level numbers that suggest strong word-of-mouth will help the film maintain its box office momentum in the coming weeks.
Another key factor is the film’s relatively modest budget. At $105 million, Badlands cost significantly less than other recent big-budget sci-fi films. [1] This is especially notable when compared to Disney’s Tron: Ares, which had a production budget of $220 million and opened to just $33 million. [3] The lower budget means Badlands will reach profitability much faster, making it a win for Disney and 20th Century Studios.
The film’s PG-13 rating has also helped broaden its appeal. While some hardcore fans might have preferred an R-rated entry, the more accessible rating has allowed the film to reach a wider audience, including younger viewers who might not have been able to see an R-rated film in theaters. [1]
Dan Trachtenberg’s Vision: A New Kind of Predator Story
Director Dan Trachtenberg has become something of a franchise savior for the Predator series. After helming the critically acclaimed Prey in 2022 and the animated anthology Predator: Killer of Killers earlier this year, Trachtenberg has proven he understands what makes these stories work. [1] [2]
Predator: Badlands takes the franchise in a bold new direction by making a Predator the protagonist for the first time. The film stars Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi as Dek, a young Predator who has been cast out from his Yautja clan. In a desperate attempt to prove his worth and reclaim his honor, Dek steals his brother Kwei’s ship and travels to Genna, described as the most dangerous planet in the universe. There, he embarks on an unsanctioned hunt for the planet’s most mythical beast. [2]
Along the way, Dek teams up with Thia, a Weyland-Yutani synthetic played by Elle Fanning. The character is described as a “legless android companion,” adding an interesting dynamic to the story. [1] The pairing of a disgraced Predator and a damaged synthetic creates a unique buddy dynamic that sets Badlands apart from previous entries in the franchise.
This approach represents a significant departure from the traditional Predator formula, where humans are typically the protagonists being hunted by the alien warriors. By flipping the script and making audiences root for the Predator, Trachtenberg has found a fresh angle that keeps the franchise feeling relevant and exciting.
Caption: The official movie poster for Predator: Badlands.
Credit: 20th Century Studios
Source: IMP Awards
How Badlands Compares to the Rest of the Franchise
The Predator franchise has had a complicated history at the box office. The 1987 original, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, was a modest success, earning $59 million domestically against a $15 million budget. The 1990 sequel, Predator 2, earned just $30 million domestically, leading to a long gap before the next theatrical release.
The franchise saw a resurgence with 2004’s Alien vs. Predator, which crossed over with the Alien franchise and earned $38.2 million in its opening weekend. [3] That film went on to gross $80 million domestically and $172 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing Predator film to date.
2010’s Predators, directed by Nimród Antal and produced by Robert Rodriguez, opened to $24.7 million and finished with $52 million domestically. [3] The most recent theatrical release, 2018’s The Predator, opened to $24.6 million and finished with $51 million domestically.
With Badlands projected to open between $36-38.5 million, it will easily become the second-highest opening in franchise history, and possibly the highest if it can edge past Alien vs. Predator. More importantly, the film’s strong reviews and audience scores suggest it will have better legs than some of the franchise’s previous entries, potentially leading to a higher final domestic gross.
The Streaming Detour That Paid Off
One of the most interesting aspects of Predator: Badlands‘ success is that it comes after two consecutive streaming releases. Both Prey and Predator: Killer of Killers debuted directly on Hulu and Disney+, bypassing theaters entirely. [1]
While Prey was a critical darling and became one of the most-watched original films on Hulu, many fans lamented that they couldn’t experience the film on the big screen. The decision to return to theaters with Badlands has clearly paid off, demonstrating that there’s still a strong appetite for Predator stories in a theatrical setting.
The streaming releases also allowed Trachtenberg to experiment with the franchise in ways that might have been too risky for a theatrical release. Prey took the series back to its roots with a period setting in 1719, while Killer of Killers explored the franchise through animation. These creative risks helped revitalize interest in the franchise and set the stage for Badlands‘ theatrical success.
What This Means for the Future of the Franchise
The strong performance of Predator: Badlands has significant implications for the future of the franchise. First and foremost, it proves that theatrical releases are still viable for the series. While streaming has its place, there’s clearly still demand for big-screen Predator adventures.
The film’s success also validates Trachtenberg’s creative vision for the franchise. By taking risks and exploring new storytelling angles, he’s found a way to keep the series fresh and relevant nearly 40 years after the original film. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Disney greenlight a sequel to Badlands, or give Trachtenberg free rein to continue exploring the Predator universe in new and unexpected ways.
Marvel Comics has already announced a Predator: Badlands prequel comic series, which will expand on the film’s story and provide additional context for Dek’s journey. This kind of transmedia storytelling helps build a richer universe and keeps fans engaged between film releases.
The film’s performance will also be a major factor in the overall 2025 box office landscape. After a somewhat sluggish start to the year, Badlands represents a much-needed win for theatrical exhibition and proves that original sci-fi stories can still draw audiences to theaters.
The Competition: How Other Films Are Faring
While Predator: Badlands is dominating the box office, it’s worth noting how the weekend’s other releases are performing. Paramount’s Regretting You, a Colleen Hoover adaptation, is holding strong in its third weekend, projected to earn $7.3 million with only a 7% drop from the previous weekend. [2] The film has shown impressive staying power and is on track to finish with a domestic total of $38.8 million. [2]
Universal and Blumhouse’s The Black Phone 2 is in its fourth weekend and projected to earn $5.2 million, bringing its total domestic gross to $70 million. [3] The horror sequel has performed well, though it’s pacing slightly behind its 2022 predecessor.
Among the weekend’s other new releases, Amazon MGM Studios’ Sarah’s Oil is projected to open in fourth place with $4.4 million, while Sony Pictures Classics’ Nuremberg is expected to earn $3.5 million. [3] Mubi’s Die My Love, starring Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson, had a disappointing start with just $1 million on Friday, earning a D+ CinemaScore from audiences. [1]
The Verdict: A Franchise Reborn
Predator: Badlands represents a major victory for the franchise, for director Dan Trachtenberg, and for theatrical exhibition as a whole. By taking creative risks, delivering a quality product, and trusting that audiences would respond to a fresh take on the material, everyone involved has created something special.
The film’s near-record opening weekend proves that the Predator franchise still has plenty of life left in it. With strong reviews, excellent audience scores, and positive word-of-mouth, Badlands is positioned to have a long theatrical run and could potentially become the highest-grossing Predator film domestically.
For fans who have been following the franchise since the 1987 original, Badlands represents a welcome return to form. For newcomers, it’s an accessible entry point that doesn’t require extensive knowledge of the previous films. And for Disney and 20th Century Studios, it’s proof that taking creative risks can pay off in a big way.
As the film continues its theatrical run, all eyes will be on whether it can maintain its momentum and potentially surpass Alien vs. Predator as the franchise’s biggest opening. But regardless of where it ultimately lands, Predator: Badlands has already accomplished something remarkable: it’s made the Predator franchise relevant and exciting again.
