Predator: Badlands Hits a Major Box Office Milestone in Record Time (& It’s Great for the Franchise’s Future)

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The Predator franchise has made a strong comeback thanks to popular streaming releases like Prey and Predator: Killer of Killers. Building on that success, the latest film, Predator: Badlands, recently returned to theaters. With more people choosing to stream movies at home, it was uncertain how well it would perform in cinemas. However, Predator: Badlands proved to be a hit, surpassing predictions and achieving record numbers during its opening weekend. The film continues to perform well and has now reached a significant milestone.

After its first week in cinemas, Predator: Badlands has earned $51.5 million in the US and Canada. This makes it more financially successful than several previous Predator films, including Predator 2, Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, and the 2018 film The Predator. It’s quickly gaining on Predators and is on track to become the highest-grossing Predator movie ever, potentially surpassing even the original Predator‘s lifetime earnings of $59.7 million. The first Alien vs. Predator film made $80.2 million domestically.

The Predator Franchise Has a Bright Future After Badlands

Not only was Predator: Badlands a box office success, but critics loved it too, giving it an 85% ‘Certified Fresh’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This positive buzz suggests the film will continue to perform well in theaters for weeks to come. Unlike other recent releases like The Running Man and Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, which received more average reviews, Badlands has a clear advantage. Even with major upcoming films like Wicked: For Good and Zootopia 2, Badlands is expected to maintain its audience because it appeals to a different crowd – those who enjoy fantasy musicals or family animated movies.

Dan Trachtenberg successfully revitalized the Predator franchise with Prey and Predator: Killer of Killers. Now, with Prey proving to be a box office hit and boosting overall numbers after a slow October, the franchise has truly demonstrated its potential. While Predator hasn’t historically been a huge commercial success, Disney now recognizes it as a valuable brand. Given the success of Prey, Trachtenberg deserves the opportunity to develop his ideas for future Predator films, including Badlands.

The success of Badlands is a good sign for the future of the Predator franchise. Director Trachtenberg has now made three well-received Predator films, earning him the creative freedom to continue his work. This is exciting because he consistently brings a fresh, unique perspective to the series. Each of his films feels different, and he’s willing to take risks – like making a Predator the hero for the first time. His innovative ideas are revitalizing the franchise and proving there’s still plenty of potential to explore in the Predator universe.

A new Predator movie hasn’t been officially approved yet. The studio probably wanted to see how Badlands performed first. Now that Badlands has proven successful, Disney will likely start planning the next installment soon. It makes sense to capitalize on that success and keep the momentum going. It will be interesting to see what director Trachtenberg and his team come up with next. While many fans are hoping for a crossover with Alien vs. Predator, Trachtenberg seems focused on creating compelling standalone Predator stories, so a crossover isn’t likely in the immediate future. Whatever direction he chooses, audiences are eager to see it.

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2025-11-14 19:40