20th Century Studios’ Predator: Badlands has officially become the most expensive entry in the legendary sci-fi franchise, with Variety confirming a record-breaking production budget of $105 million—excluding marketing costs that could push total investment beyond $200 million. As the film opens in theaters globally starting November 5-7, 2025, industry projections estimate a $60 million worldwide box office debut, with $25 million expected from North America alone. This represents a significant financial gamble for Disney, which acquired the Predator franchise through its 20th Century Fox purchase, positioning Badlands as a pivotal test of whether the franchise can evolve beyond its R-rated action roots and attract broader audiences. Directed by Dan Trachtenberg—the filmmaker who revitalized the franchise with the critically acclaimed Hulu original Prey (2022)—Badlands introduces a radical narrative shift: the Predator becomes the protagonist rather than the antagonist, navigating an alien planet alongside an unlikely human ally played by Elle Fanning. The film’s PG-13 rating, the first in the mainline franchise’s history, signals Disney’s strategic ambition to expand the demographic beyond the traditional older male fanbase, potentially unlocking the under-25 audience that has eluded previous installments. With critics awarding the film a Certified Fresh 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and early reviews praising its innovative approach, Predator: Badlands represents both artistic risk and commercial calculation—a franchise reinvention whose financial success will determine the future trajectory of one of sci-fi cinema’s most enduring properties.
Record-Breaking Budget: $105 Million Production Investment
Production Budget: $105 million (confirmed by Variety) | Previous Record Holder: The Predator (2018) – $88 million | Break-Even Point: Estimated $210 million worldwide (double production budget) | Opening Weekend Projection: $60 million worldwide | Domestic Projection: $25-30 million (North America)
Predator: Badlands shatters the franchise’s previous budget ceiling, surpassing 2018’s The Predator ($88 million) by a significant margin. This $105 million production budget—excluding marketing costs that could add another $50-100 million—represents Disney’s confidence in director Dan Trachtenberg’s ability to transform the franchise into a sustainable theatrical property following his success with the Hulu original Prey, which became the platform’s most-watched premiere in August 2022.
The financial stakes are substantial. Industry convention suggests films must earn approximately double their production budget to break even after accounting for marketing, distribution, and theatrical splits. This means Badlands likely requires $210 million worldwide to turn a profit—a challenging target for a franchise whose highest-grossing entry remains 2004’s Alien vs. Predator at $172.5 million globally.
Box Office Projections and Franchise Comparison
Worldwide Opening: $60-68 million | North America: $25-30 million | International: $35-38 million | Franchise Context: Would represent highest domestic opening for mainline Predator film
The projected $25-30 million domestic debut would narrowly eclipse previous franchise highs: Predators (2010) opened with $24.7 million, and The Predator (2018) debuted at $24.6 million. While this represents franchise growth, the modest increase highlights the Predator property’s theatrical limitations compared to franchises like Marvel or Fast & Furious.
International projections of $35-38 million suggest moderate overseas interest, though notably less enthusiasm than the domestic audience. The global $60 million estimate—while respectable—represents only 57% of the film’s production budget before marketing, creating financial pressure for sustained theatrical performance beyond opening weekend.
Cast and Performances
Elle Fanning as Thia / Tessa — The acclaimed actress (known for The Great, Maleficent, Super 8) portrays the human protagonist who becomes an unlikely ally to a banished Predator. Fanning brings genuine emotional depth to a role that requires balancing action spectacle with character vulnerability.
Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi as Dek — The breakout actor portrays the young Predator outcast who becomes the film’s central character. Through motion capture and physical performance, Schuster-Koloamatangi creates a Predator protagonist audiences can emotionally invest in—a radical departure from the franchise’s traditional human-centric narratives.
Supporting Cast: Reuben de Jong, Michael Homick (as Kwei), Rohinal Nayaran (as Bud) round out the ensemble, providing additional depth to the alien planet setting.
Director and Writer: Dan Trachtenberg’s Vision
Director: Dan Trachtenberg | Writers: Patrick Aison (screenplay), Dan Trachtenberg (story), Jim Thomas and John Thomas (based on characters created by) | Previous Predator Work: Prey (2022 – Hulu), Predator: Killer of Killers (2025 – animated) | Other Notable Work: 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
Dan Trachtenberg has emerged as the Predator franchise’s most successful contemporary filmmaker, revitalizing the property through Prey—a period piece set in 1719 that earned widespread critical acclaim and became Hulu’s most-watched premiere. His success prompted Disney to grant him significant creative control over the franchise’s direction, resulting in Badlands‘ unprecedented $105 million budget—more than twice Prey‘s $65 million production cost.
Trachtenberg’s approach emphasizes character-driven storytelling within genre spectacle, prioritizing emotional authenticity alongside action sequences. His decision to center Badlands on a Predator protagonist represents franchise risk-taking Disney evidently believes will attract new audiences while satisfying existing fans.
Plot and Premise: Predator as Protagonist
Set in the near future on a remote alien planet, Predator: Badlands follows Dek, a young Predator banished from his clan for reasons unexplored in marketing materials. Navigating an inhospitable environment filled with deadly creatures and hostile terrain, Dek encounters Thia (Elle Fanning), a human stranded on the planet. Despite their species’ historical animosity, they form an uneasy alliance, embarking on a treacherous journey to hunt a creature described as “impossible to kill”—an adversary that threatens both their survival.
The narrative inversion—positioning the Predator as sympathetic protagonist rather than terrifying antagonist—represents the franchise’s boldest creative pivot. Rather than humans evading an unstoppable hunter, Badlands explores Predator culture, honor codes, and internal clan politics while maintaining the visceral action sequences that define the franchise.
The PG-13 Gamble: Expanding the Audience
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (First in mainline franchise history) | Previous Franchise Ratings: All R-rated | Strategic Reasoning: Access to under-25 male demographic, broader family appeal
Predator: Badlands marks a watershed moment as the first PG-13 entry in the mainline Predator franchise. Every previous theatrical release—from the 1987 original through 2018’s The Predator—carried an R rating, establishing the franchise’s identity as adult-oriented violent spectacle. Disney’s decision to pursue PG-13 certification signals strategic ambition to broaden demographic appeal, particularly targeting the under-25 male audience that drives contemporary blockbuster success.
The rating change represents calculated risk: while potentially alienating purists who value the franchise’s graphic violence, PG-13 certification unlocks theaters’ willingness to schedule more showtimes and parents’ comfort bringing younger teenagers. If successful, Badlands could redefine the franchise’s commercial ceiling; if audiences reject the tonal shift, it may reinforce that Predator works best as R-rated property.
Critical Reception and Rotten Tomatoes Score
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90% Certified Fresh (based on 80 critic reviews) | IMDB Rating: 7.4/10 | Critical Consensus: Praised for innovative approach, strong performances, visual effects
Early critical reception suggests Predator: Badlands successfully executes its ambitious reinvention. The 90% Certified Fresh Rotten Tomatoes score—significantly higher than most franchise entries—indicates critics appreciate Trachtenberg’s willingness to evolve the formula rather than repeat it. Reviews specifically praise the decision to center a Predator protagonist, the visual effects work by Weta Workshop, and Elle Fanning’s grounded performance amid sci-fi spectacle.
Production Details and Technical Team
Producers: Brent O’Connor, John Davis, Marc Toberoff, Dan Trachtenberg, Ben Rosenblatt | Special Effects: Weta Workshop (animatronics, creature design) | Special Effects Supervisor: Dean Clarke | Runtime: 107 minutes
The involvement of Weta Workshop—the legendary effects house behind The Lord of the Rings, Avatar, and countless other blockbusters—signals Disney’s commitment to practical effects alongside CGI. The combination of animatronics for close-up Predator sequences and digital effects for action spectacle creates tactile realism that distinguishes Badlands from purely CGI creature features.
Release Strategy and Theatrical Availability
World Premiere: TCL Chinese Theatre, Hollywood (November 3, 2025) | International Release: November 5, 2025 (Belgium, France, South Korea) | North America Release: November 7, 2025 (Wide release in ~3,700 theaters) | Premium Formats: IMAX, RealD 3D, PLF, and premium large format
Predator: Badlands benefits from wide theatrical distribution across premium formats, maximizing revenue potential during its opening weekend. The IMAX and RealD 3D presentations command premium ticket pricing, contributing to higher per-screen averages. The 3,700-theater domestic footprint represents saturation booking designed to capture maximum audience before competition arrives.
The Stakes: Disney’s Fall Slate and Franchise Future
Predator: Badlands arrives amid Disney’s challenging fall theatrical slate. Following the disappointing performance of Tron: Ares ($134.3 million worldwide against a $220 million budget), Disney desperately needs Badlands to perform respectably ahead of holiday tentpoles Zootopia 2 and Avatar: Fire and Ash.
The film’s financial performance will determine the Predator franchise’s theatrical future. If Badlands achieves profitability and demonstrates that PG-13 Predator films can attract broader audiences, Disney will likely greenlight additional theatrical installments with comparable budgets. If it underperforms, the franchise may retreat to streaming—where Prey found success—rather than risk further theatrical investments.
As Predator: Badlands opens globally, it carries the weight of franchise reinvention, Disney’s theatrical ambitions, and Dan Trachtenberg’s reputation as the filmmaker who rescued Predator from irrelevance. The next few weeks will reveal whether this $105 million gamble pays off—or whether the franchise should have remained in the shadows where it began.
