Phil Roberts 
Dan Trachtenberg’s Predator Badlands has hunted down a franchise record by claiming an $80 global killing at the box office!
Was there ever any doubt? Dan Trachtenberg’s Predator Badlands has slayed the global box office with an $80 million opening weekend haul. The latest addition to the Predator filmography was expected to launch with a modest $25 million. But the surprising PG-13/12A rating has allowed families to flock to the latest hunt to experience Dek’s rise to prominence firsthand-and they have voted with their feet.
Badlands has now become the most successful launch for a Predator movie to date, surpassing the previous record holder, Alien vs. Predator, which opened to $38.2 million. Although adjusted inflation still puts AVP slightly ahead, this is terrific news for Dan Trachtenberg. Fans worried when the MPA rated the film for families. However, any concerns were quickly dismissed once the action began, and now Badlands appears poised to easily surpass its predecessors.
REVIEW
We were fortunate enough to attend the UK premiere of the film, and we had a blast. As a lifelong fan of the Predator franchise, I had high expectations, but I’m pleased to report that it lived up to the hype, earning FOUR STARS from me. However, I did mark the film down for its lack of Alan Silvestri’s iconic theme and for the Disney effect on its tone.
In my review, I said: “Dan Trachtenberg’s Predator Badlands is an epic spectacle that takes us on a deep dive into Yautja mythology. It’s more sci-fi epic than a traditional Predator film, and takes some big swings that don’t always land, especially with its protagonist. But with a glowing performance from Elle Fanning, some epic production value, and its exploration of Yautja mythology, the film is a home run for the director. Despite its bold approach, however, legacy fans may be left disappointed with this outing.” Read my full review here.
RELEASE
This is a well-deserved reward for Trachtenberg, who has revitalized the franchise for contemporary audiences. After his impressive work on PREY and Killer of Killers, all eyes were on the director to successfully bring the franchise back to the big screen. Based on the box office results, he has clearly succeeded. With the film shot in IMAX, PREDATOR: BADLANDS is taking us to alien worlds on the biggest screens in the business, and that is a welcome return. So assemble your team and get ready to face off against the alien hunter again. If it bleeds, we can kill it!
Predator: Badlands is playing globally in cinemas now. Did you flock to the movies to catch Badlands? Drop a comment in the chat below.
Meet Phil Roberts! He’s the dedicated owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. Phil is a budding novelist who turned his passion toward writing about the franchises he loves back in 2016. He’s a huge fan of all things Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Phil is a BFI-accredited journalist and a distinguished member of the Film Critics Association UK.
If he’s not catching a movie at the cinema, you can bet he’s streaming something just as awesome!
