Predator: Badlands Thursday Box Office Lower Than Alien: Romulus

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Recent successes like Prey and Predator: Killer of Killers revived the Predator series. However, Predator: Badlands presented a new challenge: it was the first Predator movie to be released in theaters in seven years. While streaming services can make it easier for a film to find an audience, a theatrical release is a better indicator of a franchise’s current popularity. 20th Century Studios clearly believed in Predator: Badlands, but it remained to be seen if audiences would actually go to the cinema to see it. Initial results have been mixed.

As reported by Deadline, Predator: Badlands made $4.8 million during preview showings on Wednesday and Thursday. This is more than the $2.5 million earned by Shane Black’s The Predator in 2018, but less than the $6.5 million Alien: Romulus took in during its previews last summer.

Can Predator: Badlands Turn Things Around at the Box Office?

While Predator: Badlands is expected to top the box office this weekend, its success might be due to a lack of other appealing movies rather than the strength of the Predator series itself. October was a particularly slow month for movie ticket sales – the worst in nearly three decades (not counting 2020) – meaning there weren’t any big hits already playing that could compete. The Predator franchise has always been more of a fan favorite than a blockbuster draw. The original film from the 1980s, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, is a classic, but sequels haven’t performed as well. Predator is well-known, but it hasn’t typically meant huge box office numbers, and Badlands appears to be continuing that trend with projected domestic earnings of $25 million for its opening weekend.

While a $25 million opening weekend would make the new Predator film the second-highest grossing in the series (after Alien vs. Predator), it’s less than the $33.2 million earned by Tron: Ares last month. It remains to be seen if Badlands can surpass these projections, but early signs are promising. The film has received largely positive reviews (currently 86% on Rotten Tomatoes), with many critics highlighting its creative expansion of the Predator universe. Director Dan Trachtenberg has once again delivered a unique Predator movie, and this positive buzz could draw audiences to theaters.

This weekend, Predator: Badlands is the biggest movie opening in theaters. The other new releases are aiming for smaller, specific audiences. Nothing else compares in size to a new sci-fi action film, and Badlands will be shown in premium formats like IMAX, which should attract more viewers. With a lack of major summer blockbusters recently, this is a good time to release a new Predator movie, as fans of the genre might be eager for something new to watch.

Whether Badlands does well will be a key factor in deciding the future of the Predator franchise. With a production budget of $105 million (excluding marketing), it was a less expensive film to make than the disappointing Tron: Ares. Badlands has a better chance of making a profit, though it still needs to perform strongly to do so. Director Trachtenberg has many ideas for future Predator films, but their development depends on Badlands succeeding in theaters.

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2025-11-07 20:12