‘Predator: Badlands’ Review Roundup – Critics Share Their Thoughts on the New Installment
Predator: Badlands, the newest film in the long-running Predator franchise, is hitting theaters this week and critics are starting to share their opinions.
Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, the 2025 sci-fi action movie stars Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi. It marks the sixth live-action Predator film and the ninth installment overall. The movie premiered at the TCL Chinese Theatre on November 3, and will be released in U.S. theaters by 20th Century Studios on November 7.
The story is set on a distant planet in the future. A young Predator, who has been cast out from his clan, forms an unlikely alliance with a human named Thia. Together, they set out on a dangerous journey to face the ultimate enemy.
On November 7, witness the rise of the ultimate Predator.
— 20th Century Studios (@20thcentury) October 22, 2025
Watch the international trailer for Predator: Badlands, in theaters and IMAX November 7. pic.twitter.com/LSquRzzg64
Early reviews have been generally positive. Critics are praising the film for taking creative risks and adding emotional depth to the Predator universe. They note that the pairing of the young Predator and Thia brings fresh energy to the story, while the movie’s visuals, makeup, and cinematography are especially impressive.
Many reviewers say it is a bold and unusual sci-fi action film that deserves to be seen on a large screen. Some also point out that Trachtenberg has taken the franchise in a new direction, making it feel more interesting and richer than previous entries.
Trachtenberg’s magnum opus far surpasses anything we might normally get from a sci-fi action film.
Edward Douglas
Bold, bizarre, and unexpectedly moving, it’s the kind of risk-taking sci-fi we don’t see enough of nowadays.
Linda Marric
Housing gorgeous cinematography, a stunning showcase for make-up and immersive visual effects, as well as a perfect screwball comedy-esque leading lady performance, it’s a radical film that demands to be seen on the biggest screen possible.
Courtney Howard
Dek and Thia are an unexpectedly fun pairing that bring a new energy to the franchise and an altogether different kind of hunt. It might not be pulling the skull and spine out of us and screaming in bloody victory, but it gets close.
Clint Cage
By reckoning with the series’ fundamental weakness rather than continuing to pretend that it’s the series’ greatest strength, Trachtenberg has made the brand richer than ever before.
David Ehrlich
The strongest film with “Predator” in the title since the 1987 original (Trachtenberg’s earlier “Prey” notwithstanding).
Peter Debruge
Not all critics were impressed, however. Some feel the Predator has lost its original menace, and the action scenes fail to excite. Others believe the movie’s attempt to reach a wider audience weakens the R-rated edge that fans expect, making it feel more generic at times. A few reviewers also commented that the story can feel pointless in places, and even Fanning’s performance isn’t enough to fully elevate the film.
Trachtenberg’s magnum opus far surpasses anything we might normally get from a sci-fi action film.
Edward Douglas
Bold, bizarre, and unexpectedly moving, it’s the kind of risk-taking sci-fi we don’t see enough of nowadays.
Linda Marric
Housing gorgeous cinematography, a stunning showcase for make-up and immersive visual effects, as well as a perfect screwball comedy-esque leading lady performance, it’s a radical film that demands to be seen on the biggest screen possible.
Courtney Howard
Dek and Thia are an unexpectedly fun pairing that bring a new energy to the franchise and an altogether different kind of hunt. It might not be pulling the skull and spine out of us and screaming in bloody victory, but it gets close.
Clint Cage
By reckoning with the series’ fundamental weakness rather than continuing to pretend that it’s the series’ greatest strength, Trachtenberg has made the brand richer than ever before.
David Ehrlich
The strongest film with “Predator” in the title since the 1987 original (Trachtenberg’s earlier “Prey” notwithstanding).
Peter Debruge
Overall, the reviews suggest that Predator: Badlands is a fresh take on the series, with strong visuals and new character dynamics, but it may not satisfy everyone who loved the franchise’s darker, more intense roots.
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