The latest installment in the Predator franchise, Predator: Badlands, has burst onto the scene, achieving a record-breaking global opening of $80 million. The film's success has garnered praise from various quarters, including actor Dhanush, who lauded the movie as "a marvel" and "a great tribute to OG predator fans" in a post on X.
Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, Predator: Badlands has exceeded expectations, delivering the biggest debut in the franchise's 38-year history. The film earned $40 million in North America and another $40 million from 52 international markets. This impressive opening surpasses the previous record held by 2018's The Predator, which opened to $73.5 million worldwide. Badlands also outperformed 2004's Alien vs. Predator as the top domestic debut in the series, with Alien vs. Predator making $38.2 million.
The strong performance of Predator: Badlands has been attributed to positive reviews and audience reception. The film currently holds an 85% "Fresh" score on Rotten Tomatoes and an A- CinemaScore, indicating strong approval from both critics and general audiences.
Predator: Badlands is the ninth installment in the Predator series and the first theatrical release since Disney's acquisition of 20th Century Fox. Trachtenberg previously directed Prey (2022), which debuted on Hulu to critical acclaim, and Predator: Killer of Killers (2025), an animated spin-off that also premiered on the platform.
The film stars Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi and Elle Fanning as unlikely allies. Predator: Badlands presents a different take on the Predator narrative, with a Yautja called Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) as the protagonist. Dek is trying to prove himself to his father by killing a monster on a death planet. Along the way, he meets Thia (Elle Fanning), a Weyland-Yutani synth, in an Alien/Predator crossover.
According to Deadline, the film's $40 million North American debut came from 3,725 theaters, boosted by strong Saturday showings and premium format screens like IMAX and 3D, which accounted for nearly 59% of total grosses. China led international markets with $7.4 million, followed by the United Kingdom with $3.2 million and Mexico with $2.3 million.
With a production budget of $105 million, the film's impressive opening weekend is a welcome return to form for Disney. The PG-13 rating may have contributed to the film's wider appeal, drawing in a broader audience demographic, including 11% under-17 viewers.
Trachtenberg has mentioned that Terminator 2: Judgment Day inspired him when making Badlands. He wanted to create something bold, visceral, and emotional that a wider audience could appreciate.
Predator: Badlands is based on a young Predator from an exiled clan which crash-lands on the hostile planet Genna and must prove himself worthy of the hunt. Struggling to survive, he forms an unlikely alliance with Thia, a damaged Weyland-Yutani synthetic, as they face off against a terrifying apex creature that challenges both human and Predator instincts for survival.
