If you thought the franchise peaked with Prey , director just proved there’s plenty of life (and death) left in the Predator universe. Released in November 2025 , Predator: Badlands is being hailed as the highest-grossing entry in the series’ 38-year history, pulling in over $183 million worldwide.
Critics and fans generally praise the film's visual ambition and fresh perspective, though some purists note the shift toward a more "humanized" creature.
Performance-wise, Elle Fanning's dual role as both the companion (Thia) and antagonist (Tessa) was widely lauded ( Metacritic ). AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more
Predator: Badlands takes place in the 18th century, long before the events of the original 1987 film. The story follows a young Apache warrior named Yahata, who becomes embroiled in a conflict with a group of ruthless treasure hunters. Unbeknownst to Yahata and his allies, they are being stalked by a technologically advanced alien predator, setting the stage for a thrilling adventure that explores the early days of the Predator's interactions with humanity.
Trachtenberg describes it as a "buddy movie of sorts".
Badlands Mkv - Predator
If you thought the franchise peaked with Prey , director just proved there’s plenty of life (and death) left in the Predator universe. Released in November 2025 , Predator: Badlands is being hailed as the highest-grossing entry in the series’ 38-year history, pulling in over $183 million worldwide.
Critics and fans generally praise the film's visual ambition and fresh perspective, though some purists note the shift toward a more "humanized" creature.
Performance-wise, Elle Fanning's dual role as both the companion (Thia) and antagonist (Tessa) was widely lauded ( Metacritic ). AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more
Predator: Badlands takes place in the 18th century, long before the events of the original 1987 film. The story follows a young Apache warrior named Yahata, who becomes embroiled in a conflict with a group of ruthless treasure hunters. Unbeknownst to Yahata and his allies, they are being stalked by a technologically advanced alien predator, setting the stage for a thrilling adventure that explores the early days of the Predator's interactions with humanity.
Trachtenberg describes it as a "buddy movie of sorts".
