Predator: Badlands Breaks Box Office Record in Opening Weekend

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After a disappointing theatrical release in 2018, the Predator franchise appeared to be struggling. That film earned only $160.5 million globally and received negative reviews. However, director Dan Trachtenberg revitalized the series with the streaming successes of Prey and Predator: Killer of Killers, bringing the franchise back into the spotlight. This set high expectations for the recent theatrical release, Predator: Badlands, which has now broken a box office record, exceeding initial predictions.

As reported by Deadline, Predator: Badlands brought in $40 million in North American theaters during its opening weekend – a record for the Predator series. This surpasses the $38.2 million debut of Alien vs. Predator from over two decades ago. The film also earned $40 million internationally, giving it a worldwide opening of $80 million. It cost $105 million to produce, not including marketing expenses.

How Predator: Badlands Made Box Office History

I was really following the box office predictions for Predator: Badlands going into the weekend, and it looked like it might earn around $25 million – less than Tron: Ares did. Early numbers weren’t great either, as preview screenings brought in less than Alien: Romulus. But wow, the film totally surprised everyone! It blew past all expectations. It seems like positive word of mouth was the key – critics really liked it, saying it was a great addition to the Predator story with a lot of intense action. Plus, director Trachtenberg built up a loyal fanbase with Prey and Killer of Killers. A lot of us fans always thought Prey deserved a big theatrical release, so this felt like our chance to show our support and see his work on the big screen.

While Predator: Badlands performed well in theaters, its success was also due to a very slow month for overall box office numbers. Last month was the worst October in nearly three decades (not counting 2020), meaning there weren’t any big, established movies competing for audiences. Badlands was also the biggest new release, with other films opening specifically to appeal to niche audiences. Essentially, Predator: Badlands dominated theaters over the weekend, as no other movie earned more than $7.1 million.

Predator: Badlands had the box office all to itself this weekend, but that will change next week with the release of The Running Man and Now You See Me: Now You Don’t. The Running Man is already creating a lot of excitement, and both new films could affect how well Badlands continues to perform. While a strong opening is important, it’s also crucial for a movie to maintain its audience over time. Films that are part of a franchise often see a lot of initial interest, as dedicated fans rush to see them right away. It will be interesting to see how Badlands fares when facing more competition, but the filmmakers have plenty to be happy about right now.

The latest Predator film broke box office records, proving the franchise is still strong and has a promising future. Director Trachtenberg has shared his ideas for more films, and this success likely means those ideas will now be developed. It will be exciting to see what he does next. While fans are eager to explore connections between Badlands and the Alien franchise, Trachtenberg doesn’t seem focused on making another Alien vs. Predator movie right away. He’s had success with standalone stories within this universe, and it sounds like he may continue that approach for now.

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2025-11-09 20:40