Predator: Badlands kicked off November 2025 as a genuine box office badass, launching with a franchise-record $40 million domestic opening—surpassing 2004’s Alien vs. Predator‘s previous $38.2 million record—and earning an additional $40 million internationally for an $80 million global debut against a $105 million production budget. Director Dan Trachtenberg’s imaginative reimagining of the Alien franchise’s most iconic extraterrestrial hunter premiered at the TCL Chinese Theatre on November 3, 2025, before theatrical release on November 7, 2025, starring newcomer Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi as Dek, an outcast Yautja (Predator) seeking to prove his worth through an impossible trial, opposite Elle Fanning as Thia, an android researcher. The film received an A- CinemaScore from audiences and garnered 85% Certified Fresh critical acclaim on Rotten Tomatoes, establishing Badlands as 2025’s most successful franchise entry and validating Trachtenberg’s decision to shift the Predator from antagonist to protagonist. The film’s success shattered industry expectations, with the initial projection of $25-$30 million exploding to $40 million domestically, driven by strong word-of-mouth, premium format appeal (59% from IMAX, Dolby, 3D theaters), and the novelty of exploring Predator culture through a rite-of-passage narrative never previously attempted in the franchise.
Box Office Performance: Record-Breaking Debut
Domestic (US/Canada): $40 million | International: $40 million | Worldwide Total: $80 million (opening weekend) | Production Budget: $105 million | Premium Format Contribution: 59% from IMAX, Dolby Cinema, and RealD 3D | Franchise Record: Surpasses Alien vs. Predator (2004) $38.2 million opening
Predator: Badlands shattered industry expectations with its record-breaking $40 million domestic debut. Industry analysts had conservatively projected $25-$30 million based on franchise trends, yet the film exceeded projections by 33-60%, driven by strong word-of-mouth and unprecedented critical acclaim for a Predator film. The $80 million global opening represents the strongest franchise launch in the series’ 38-year history.
International markets—particularly China, the United Kingdom, and Mexico—contributed $40 million to the opening weekend total, demonstrating global appetite for the franchise. Premium format theaters drove significant revenue, with 59% of the domestic opening coming from higher-priced IMAX, Dolby Cinema, and RealD 3D screenings. Paul Dergarabedian, Comscore’s head of marketplace trends, stated: “This is a great lead in for what promises to be one of the better months of November for the industry.”
Cast and Characters
Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi as Dek (Young Yautja Protagonist): New Zealand actor Schuster-Koloamatangi delivers a career-defining performance as Dek, an outcast Yautja forced to undergo a treacherous trial to prove his worth to his father and clan. Through primarily nonverbal performance under heavy prosthetics, Schuster-Koloamatangi conveys emotional depth, vulnerability, and growth rarely seen in the Predator franchise. Critics specifically praised the subtlety of his portrayal despite limited dialogue.
Elle Fanning as Thia (Android Researcher): Academy Award-nominated actress Fanning anchors the film as Thia, an artificial intelligence android stationed on Genna, who becomes Dek’s unlikely ally in confronting impossible survival challenges. Fanning brings unexpected warmth, comedic timing, and gravitas to the android character, creating genuine chemistry with Schuster-Koloamatangi despite their drastically different appearances. Roger Ebert praised Fanning’s performance: “Lead performances that deserve to be included in discussions of the year’s best (but likely won’t, because much of their brilliance is nonverbal).”
Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi as Dek’s Father (Yautja Patriarch): In a dual role, Schuster-Koloamatangi also portrays Dek’s towering Yautja father, a massive predator representing family expectation and masculine dominance within Yautja culture. The dual casting creates an intimate family dynamic central to the film’s narrative.
Supporting Cast: Ravi Narayan (Kalisk – the near-indestructible creature serving as Dek’s trial), and ensemble performances grounding the alien ecosystem.
Director and Screenwriter: Dan Trachtenberg’s Vision
Director: Dan Trachtenberg | Screenwriters: Patrick Aison, Dan Trachtenberg, Jim Thomas | Previous Predator Work: Prey (2022) – widely considered the best Predator film since the original 1987 film | Other Notable Films: 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
Dan Trachtenberg has revitalized the Predator franchise through two consecutive critical and commercial successes. With Badlands, Trachtenberg cited directorial influences including Terrence Malick’s naturalist epic approach, Clint Eastwood’s Western sensibilities, and Sergio Leone’s operatic action sequences—a remarkably ambitious lineup for a blockbuster action film. This eclecticism distinguishes Badlands from traditional franchise entries, with Trachtenberg emphasizing ecological world-building and character development alongside visceral action sequences.
Screenwriter Patrick Aison contributed to the film’s character-driven narrative, working alongside Trachtenberg’s directorial vision to create a rite-of-passage story exploring Predator (Yautja) culture from an insider’s perspective—the first time the franchise has humanized the iconic antagonist.
Critical Reception and Ratings
Rotten Tomatoes (Critics): 85% Certified Fresh (222 reviews) | Metacritic: 71/100 (indicating “generally favorable” reviews) | IMDb User Rating: 7.6/10 | CinemaScore: A- (highest in Predator franchise history) | PostTrak: 78% “definite recommend”
Rotten Tomatoes Consensus: “Director Dan Trachtenberg continues to take the Predator franchise in exciting new directions with Badlands, a rollicking adventure that transforms one of cinema’s most iconic brutes into a hero worth rooting for.”
Critical Highlights: Roger Ebert praised the film as “an exceptional sci-fi action thriller with memorable characters, beautiful and terrifying animals (and plants), a structurally airtight script.” ScreenCrush headlined their review “Badlands: The Best Predator Since the First Film,” while Mr Sunday Movies noted the film’s success despite the PG-13 rating: “Predator: Badlands, despite being the second PG-13 entry since 2004’s Alien VS Predator seems to have won over both fans and critics alike.”
User reviews on IMDb reflected generally positive sentiment with some notable criticisms. While many praised the action sequences, world-building, and performances, some fans expressed concerns that the PG-13 rating represented a “Disneyfication” of the franchise compared to the original R-rated aesthetic.
Plot and Premise
Official Synopsis: “Cast out from its clan, an alien hunter and an unlikely ally embark on a treacherous journey in search of the ultimate adversary.”
The film follows Dek, a young Yautja considered weak by his father and clan. To prove his strength and worthiness, Dek must travel to the planet Genna and defeat an impossible adversary—the near-indestructible creature Kalisk. On Genna, Dek encounters Thia, an android researcher who becomes his unexpected ally. Together, they navigate an alien ecosystem filled with dangerous creatures and environmental hazards, with their unlikely companionship forming the emotional core of the narrative. The film emphasizes character development and world-building over traditional action spectacle, creating an intimate story against a cosmic backdrop.
Release Information
World Premiere: November 3, 2025 (TCL Chinese Theatre, Los Angeles) | Theatrical Release (US/Canada): November 7, 2025 | Distribution: 20th Century Studios (Walt Disney Company) | Formats: RealD 3D, IMAX, standard theatrical | MPAA Rating: PG-13 (only the second PG-13 Predator film after 2004’s Alien vs. Predator)
Predator Franchise Significance
Predator: Badlands marks the ninth entry in the Predator franchise since 1987’s original film. It represents a significant creative departure by positioning the Predator as protagonist rather than antagonist, exploring Yautja culture from an insider perspective. The PG-13 rating—only the second in franchise history—represents a strategic effort to appeal to family audiences globally, yet critical reception demonstrates that the rating doesn’t diminish action intensity or entertainment value.
Dan Trachtenberg has single-handedly revitalized the Predator franchise through Prey (2022) and Badlands (2025), establishing himself as the definitive modern voice for the series. Industry observers note that Trachtenberg’s success suggests the franchise’s future depends on continued creative reinvention rather than reliance on established formulas.
Where to Watch
Theatrical Release: Currently in theaters worldwide (as of November 2025) | Theatrical Formats: RealD 3D, IMAX, standard theatrical | Streaming: Disney+ (expected late 2025/early 2026, following typical Disney theatrical-to-streaming window of 45-90 days) | Digital Purchase/Rental: Expected 2025-2026 (typical timeline for Disney theatrical releases)
Predator: Badlands is currently playing in theatrical worldwide with wide availability across traditional, RealD 3D, and IMAX formats. For optimal viewing experience, critics recommend premium formats given the film’s $105 million budget commitment to visual spectacle and cinematography. Following typical Disney release strategies, the film is expected to arrive on Disney+ approximately 45-90 days after theatrical debut, with digital purchase/rental options available through multiple platforms (iTunes, Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, Google Play).
