About the film (courtesy of Paramount Pictures):
Set in the future on a remote planet where a young Predator (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi), outcast from his clan, finds an unlikely ally in Thia (Elle Fanning) and embarks on a treacherous journey in search of the ultimate adversary.
Dan Trachtenberg continues to up his game in revitalizing a Predator franchise that had been left for dead for many years before finding new, unexpected life in an exclusive Hulu release just when things were starting to “normalize” again after a global pandemic. Prey (2022) caught many by surprise with a plot that really shouldn’t have worked, at least not on paper.
Regardless, 20th Century Studios embraced its success, which paved the way to see what else Trachtenberg had locked up in his creative cranium. Earlier this year, and once again streaming exclusively on Hulu, Predator: Killer of Killers (2025) was released, oddly in an animated format. Guess what? It slayed, which has raised expectations for a theatrical release, FINALLY. The consensus is that Predator: Badlands could be the best of the franchise.
Predator: Badlands slices its way into actual theaters this Friday, and many are curious to see how it fares with an offering on the big screen for a change. There were some reservations right off the bat. The reason for this was simple: out of the eight previously released films that feature this fierce fighting machine, only one didn’t receive an R-rating. That film was AVP: Alien vs. Predator (2004), and its lack of bloody carnage left it feebly lying on the ground gasping for air. In a bold move, after two VERY bloody entries, a more conservative final work (at least in the ratings) is what we’re given.
SURPRISE!!! Even though Predator: Badlands lacks that restricted badge of honor, you will not notice for a minute while being completely immersed in a piece of cinematic perfection that has it all. Seriously, if no one told you that this was PG-13, nine out of ten people would have bet their bottom dollar that they just watched a “hard R” flick. This speaks to the mastery that Trachtenberg delivers, hitting home runs in all phases.
Starting with the cinematography, Predator: Badlands keeps your eyes locked on the glorious big screen (a large format experience, like IMAX, is highly recommended, and woah!). This planet of strange and delightfully dangerous landscapes and creatures is truly mesmerizing. The same can also be said for the equally satisfying sounds throughout (again, remember IMAX). But the quality doesn’t stop there. The story is gripping and unrelenting. You genuinely become invested in the two main characters’ fates, Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) and Thia (Elle Fanning), and there are even other supporting characters that manage to hook you.
The chemistry throughout is so magnetizing that you find yourself hanging on every word. This is perhaps the best and most surprising aspect of Predator: Badlands: the budding friendship between these two characters from totally different worlds. The banter back and forth brings with it some much-needed levity and good-natured ribbing. If you didn’t know any better, you’d think you might be watching something that Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart would do.
It’s been mentioned a couple of times already, but if you can find your way to a large format screen—whether it be IMAX, Super EMX, Dolby Cinema, Regal RPX, or whatever will allow you the biggest bang for your buck—it’s highly recommended to opt for that route. Predator: Badlands is just that kind of experience. It is a truly cinematic experience in its sight and sound. You’ll be doing yourself a disservice if you drag your feet and wait to see it in a lesser format.
There’s no better way to kick off the November/December big movie months than starting with one of the best movies of 2025, yes I said it. Predator: Badlands opens in theaters everywhere Friday, November 7th.
