Predator: Badlands is the ninth installment in the Predator franchise, a 2025 American science fiction action film directed by Dan Trachtenberg.
https://youtu.be/cDL3Zjdz514?si=HShU_MmiTNrioeFW
It’s the sixth live-action entry (seventh overall), following *Prey* (2022) and *Predator: Killer of Killers* (2025), both also directed by Trachtenberg.
Plot: Set in the future on a deadly remote planet (possibly Genna), the story follows Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi), a young outcast Predator (Yautja) from his clan on Yautja Prime. He teams up with an android ally named Thia (Elle Fanning) on a dangerous journey to hunt a powerful adversary. The film explores Yautja culture, clan rivalries (including Dek’s brother Kwei, played by Michael Homick and Reuben de Jong), new weapons, honor codes, and a developed alien language (created by the *Avatar* Na'vi linguist). It blends rite-of-passage adventure, survival action, fantasy elements, and light buddy-comedy tones — with less human focus than past films.
https://youtu.be/iBhpNZZ-Wwo?si=idOpyhC6udmQ_4ng
Key Details:
- Runtime: 1 hour 47 minutes
- Rating: PG-13 (first in the mainline series; previous films were R), featuring strong sci-fi violence but no human gore — alien blood is colorful
- Release: World premiere on November 3, 2025 (TCL Chinese Theatre); wide theatrical release November 7, 2025, in RealD 3D and IMAX. Early double features with *Prey* at select AMC theaters on November 5
- Reception: Certified Fresh (~90% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 77+ reviews). Critics praise its thrilling action, visual spectacle, emotional depth, practical effects, and bold expansion of Predator lore. Many call it one of the franchise’s best. Some say it lacks *Prey*’s intensity but works as fun, family-friendly sci-fi. A few critics feel it humanizes the Predators too much
- Box Office: Projected $25–30M domestic opening, $60M+ global — strong for the series, aided by PG-13 rating and positive buzz
- Tie-Ins: Marvel Comics prequel comic releasing November 12, 2025. Trailers highlight epic hunts and alien worlds. James Cameron praised an early cut
- Future: Producer hints at possible Arnold Schwarzenegger return after release
Fan excitement is high, especially for the Predator-as-protagonist angle and early screenings. Now playing in theaters — check local listings or apps like Fandango, AMC, or Regal for tickets.