"Predator: Badlands," the seventh installment in the "Predator" film franchise, is set to open Friday, November 7, 2025, promising to take the series to new and unexpected places. Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, known for his work on "Prey" and the animated feature "Predator: Killer of Killers," "Badlands" aims to inject buddy comedy energy into the sci-fi action.
The film stars Elle Fanning as Thia, who finds an unlikely ally in a young Predator outcast named Dek, played by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi. Set on a deadly remote planet in the future, the film follows their treacherous journey as they search for the ultimate adversary. Early reviews suggest that "Predator: Badlands" rewrites the rules of the franchise with exhilarating, futuristic action, depth, and character development.
As of November 6, 2025, "Predator: Badlands" holds a "Certified Fresh" score of 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the best-reviewed theatrically released "Predator" movie. This is particularly noteworthy, as previous films in the franchise, such as "Prey" and "Predator: Killer of Killers," premiered on Hulu.
Critics are highlighting the fresh energy brought by the pairing of Dek and Thia. IGN gave the film an 8/10, noting that Trachtenberg is taking the franchise in an interesting direction by delving into the Predator's backstory. According to TheWrap, "Predator: Badlands" challenges regressive masculine values, similar to John McTiernan's original 1987 "Predator".
However, not all reviews are completely positive. AV Club gave the film a C, arguing that the mystique of the Predator is diminished by exploring its origins too deeply. Conversely, IndieWire gave it a B+, suggesting that Trachtenberg has enriched the brand by addressing the series' fundamental weaknesses.
"Predator: Badlands" is projected to have a North American opening weekend between $25 million and $30 million. Combined with an expected international haul of $35 million to $38 million, the film is looking at a global start of $60 million to $68 million. 20th Century Studios reportedly spent $105 million to produce the movie, excluding marketing expenses, meaning it may take some time for the film to become profitable. The highest-grossing film in the "Predator" franchise remains "Alien vs. Predator" (2004), which debuted with $38.29 million and grossed $80.28 million domestically.
The film also includes a tie-in to the "Alien" franchise via Elle Fanning's character, who is described as a damaged Weyland-Yutani synthetic. This crossover appeal could potentially boost the film's performance.
Despite mixed opinions on delving into the Predator's origins, many critics agree that "Predator: Badlands" is a refreshing and unexpected addition to the franchise. Time Out gave it 4 out of 5 stars, praising its ability to make the series more interesting without diluting the fearsome nature of the title character. Perri Nemiroff gave it 4.5 out of 5, expressing enthusiasm for the film's "alien and robot buddy movie" dynamic. It remains to be seen whether this buddy dynamic and new direction will resonate with audiences and translate to box office success.
