‘Predator: Badlands’ Breaks One of the Most Important Franchise Records
20th Century Studios’ latest installment, Predator: Badlands, is off to a strong start at the box office, showing signs of being one of the franchise’s most successful openings.
The film earned around $15.6 million on Friday, including previews, and is on track for a near-record opening of approximately $37 million. This performance surpasses expectations, which had projected an opening closer to $25 million.
Audiences have also responded positively to the movie. Predator: Badlands received an A- CinemaScore, marking the highest audience rating ever for a Predator film.
Previous high marks for the series were a B+ for both the original 1987 film and its 1990 sequel. The strong reception is supported by Screen Engine/Comscore PostTrak data, showing 78% of viewers would “definitely recommend” the movie, with many giving it a five-star rating.
Director, producer, and writer Dan Trachtenberg, along with producers Ben Rosenblatt and John Davis, appear to have struck the right balance for fans.
Word of mouth has helped the film maintain momentum, giving it an edge over other recent tentpole releases like Tron: Ares. At San Diego Comic-Con, the movie impressed fans with memorable stunts, including the lead character, Dek, showcasing his iconic vision ability to the audience.
First hunt. Last chance.
— 20th Century Studios (@20thcentury) July 21, 2025
From the director of Prey, watch the brand-new trailer for Predator: Badlands, in theaters November 7. pic.twitter.com/KrLZznPnL6
This installment of the franchise also stands out for casting the classic Predator villain as the protagonist and switching the rating from R to PG-13. While this didn’t drastically expand the younger demographic, it retained a solid base of older fans. Men over 25 made up 57% of the audience, up from 45% in 2018’s The Predator, while women over 25 remained steady at 22%. The film attracted a diverse audience: 44% Caucasian, 26% Latino and Hispanic, 15% Black, and 8% Asian American.
Despite the PG-13 rating, only 5% of viewers were aged 13-17, suggesting that the change didn’t necessarily draw a much younger audience. Comparisons with previous entries, like 2010’s Predators and 2018’s The Predator, indicate that fresh storytelling, marketing, and the creative angle of Badlands have played a key role in its success.
Overall, Predator: Badlands is proving that smart creative choices and strong word-of-mouth can make a significant difference for a franchise film, even in a crowded release schedule.
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