Predator: Badlands Overtakes Sci-Fi Crossover at Box Office to Break Franchise Record

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The Predator series has become popular again recently, so there was some uncertainty about how well Predator: Badlands would do in theaters – it was the first new Predator movie released there in seven years. While Prey and Predator: Killer of Killers did well on streaming services, that success doesn’t always mean a movie will succeed in cinemas. It’s often easier for films to gain an audience at home. Luckily, the renewed interest in Predator translated to ticket sales, and Badlands had a surprisingly strong opening weekend. Now, it’s poised to break a franchise record.

According to Box Office Mojo, Predator: Badlands is very close in domestic earnings to Alien vs. Predator – currently at $80.24 million compared to $80.28 million. It’s expected to surpass Alien vs. Predator and become the highest-grossing film in the Predator series within a few days. It’s already the top-performing main Predator movie, having held that position for a couple of weeks.

Can Predator: Badlands Become the Highest-Grossing Movie in the Alien/Predator Universe?

As a big fan of both franchises, I’ve been following the box office numbers for Predator: Badlands closely. Now that it’s finished its run, the big question is: can it beat out the Alien movies in terms of total earnings? Right now, three Alien films are ahead: Aliens made $85.1 million, Alien: Romulus brought in $105.3 million, and Prometheus earned $126.4 million. Honestly, Badlands isn’t that far behind Aliens, so I think there’s a real chance Dan Trachtenberg’s film could actually surpass Cameron’s classic. But after that, it’s going to be a much tougher climb for Badlands to move any further up the list.

After a promising start, the film Badlands has seen a significant drop in ticket sales. It earned $12.7 million in its second weekend, a nearly 70% decrease from its debut, and then $6.5 million in its third. With strong competition from Wicked: For Good and Zootopia 2, Badlands’ performance is likely to continue declining. It’s already made most of its money, making it difficult to reach the $25 million needed to outperform Romulus or the $46 million required to surpass Prometheus. Currently, Badlands is projected to be the third-highest-grossing film in the Alien/ Predator franchise.

This film is a huge success and sets the stage for more Predator movies. Director Trachtenberg has plenty of ideas for future installments, so it will be exciting to see what he creates. While fans are eager for a new Alien vs. Predator film that lives up to the potential of the concept, there’s no immediate plan to make one. Trachtenberg is focused on strong storytelling and wants any crossovers between Alien and Predator to feel natural, like the synthetic characters in Badlands. He’s aiming to build gradually towards a larger event, similar to how Marvel built towards The Avengers.

Trachtenberg has found a successful approach with his Predator films – each one feels like a complete and separate story. He’s explored different eras and perspectives, from a tale of Comanche warriors defending their land against a Predator, to a story told from the Predator’s point of view, focusing on themes of family. If this momentum continues, we might see exciting things like Arnold Schwarzenegger returning to the role, or even a new Alien vs. Predator movie. But for now, Trachtenberg has definitely proven he deserves creative freedom.

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2025-11-30 18:16