Predator: Badlands Surprises Fans as Highest-Grossing Franchise Entry
The latest installment in the iconic Predator franchise, Predator: Badlands, has become available for streaming on Disney Plus, following its surprise success in cinemas. Released in November 2025, this sci-fi action film has captivated audiences and critics alike, earning praise as "the best action movie of 2025" and achieving remarkable box office results.
A Fresh Take on a Classic Franchise
As the ninth entry in the Predator series that began in 1987 with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Predator: Badlands introduces a novel perspective on the extraterrestrial Yautja species. The film stars Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, presenting the Predator not as a straightforward villain but as an underdog character named Drek, who forms an unlikely alliance with Fanning's synthetic character from the Weyland-Yutani Corporation.
Together, they embark on a journey to confront the ultimate adversary on the dangerous "death planet" Genna. The film successfully blends unexpected humor with impressive action sequences and special effects, creating what many are calling the most refreshing entry in the franchise's 38-year history.
Record-Breaking Success
Predator: Badlands has achieved what no previous Predator film could accomplish, becoming the highest-grossing entry in the entire franchise. With worldwide earnings of $184.5 million (£135.5 million), it surpassed the previous record holder, 2004's Alien vs. Predator, which earned $177.4 million (£130.3 million).
The film's critical reception has been equally impressive, earning an 86% score on Rotten Tomatoes from professional critics. Even more remarkable is the audience response, with fans awarding the film a 95% rating on the platform.
Critical and Fan Reactions
Directed by Dan Trachtenberg from an original story co-written with screenwriter Patrick Aison, the film has generated enthusiastic responses across the board. Fangoria celebrated it as "the kind of audacious, whip-smart blockbuster filmmaking that we desperately need these days," while HeyUGuys praised it as "bold, bizarre, and unexpectedly moving."
Fan reactions have been particularly effusive, with viewers describing the film as:
- "Great movie! I love seeing movies where there's a hero and a good story"
- "Amazingly immersive"
- "The best Predator movie to date"
- "Surprised me in the best way"
Franchise Evolution and Future
Predator: Badlands represents a significant evolution for the franchise, which has seen various iterations since its inception. Following the original 1987 film and its 1990 sequel, the series experienced a 30-year gap before 2010's Predators, followed by 2018's The Predator and 2022's Prey.
Interestingly, Badlands was not the first Predator film of 2025, with the animated anthology Predator: Killer of Killers releasing earlier in June, also directed by Trachtenberg. The Daily Beast's review suggests the film represents "a rousing start to what appears to be a grand new franchise future."
Not Without Controversy
While most critics and fans have embraced the film's new direction, some traditionalists have expressed reservations. The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw criticized the franchise's evolution, calling it "a pointless but unkillable franchise that has started to eat itself."
Despite these dissenting voices, the overwhelming consensus positions Predator: Badlands as a successful reinvention of the classic franchise, now available for streaming on Disney Plus for weekend entertainment.
