Predator: Badlands - An Intergalactic Mashup of Madness

A Challenger Approaches

Get ready to train hard and adjust to your environment, because one of the most beloved science-fiction franchises of all time is back on the big screen! Predator: Badlands is the seventh installment – or the ninth, if you include the spin-off Alien vs. Predator duology – in the acclaimed Predator series, which has seen great success throughout its run. 

Originating back in 1987, this series is renowned for combining elements of science-fiction, action, and horror to craft intense stories with memorable setpieces. Even in the 2020s decade, the series has remained relevant through its consistent quality, with Prey and Predator: Killer of Killers receiving high praise from critics and audiences.

But despite the positive reception, Prey and Killer of Killers never competed in a theatrical run, instead being released exclusively on streaming service Hulu. Now, the series is finally returning to the big screen for the first time since 2018, in one of the most anticipated action films of the entire year. On top of that, Badlands has received similar acclaim to its two predecessors, with some even calling it one of the best in the entire franchise, as it tracks an opening weekend total of around $25-30 million. 

I was ecstatic for this movie ever since the beginning of this year. Predator ranks among my favorite sci-fi/action franchises, largely due to its expertise in providing great entertainment while telling engaging stories. Granted, some films in the series are better than others, but each installment has its own unique approach and setting, adding a great sense of variety to every movie. In fact, this film has a unique approach of its own: making the titular Predator the main protagonist rather than an antagonist, and setting it on an all-new planet. With a fascinating concept like that and the steady stream of quality the franchise already had, the dice were rolled out for this movie to rank among the year’s most well-crafted blockbusters.

Without hesitation, I headed to the nearby Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas Mansfield on Thursday, Nov. 6, and secured a ticket to the earliest showing I could. As the film came to a close, I was left with one question: did this movie maintain the carnage-filled consistency of the Predator series, or was it better to abandon this hunt before it began?

If It Bleeds, We Can Watch It

Predator: Badlands focuses on Dek, a hunter of the Yautja – a ruthless alien species – who is shunned out of his clan by his father. He is sent to the planet Genna, an intergalactic madhouse filled with ravenous creatures and danger at every turn, with the goal of hunting down and killing a monstrous beast known as the Kalisk. Teaming up with a damaged synthetic android named Thia along the way, Dek must survive Genna’s dangerous environment to kill the Kalisk and prove himself as a true Yautja warrior.

Directed by series regular Dan Trachtenberg – who also helmed Prey and Killer of Killers – the feature stars a talented ensemble including Elle Fanning, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, Mike Homik, Reuben De Jong, and Rohinal Nayaran among others.

I am beyond pleased to report that this is not only one of the strongest blockbusters of the year thus far, but also one of the most well-crafted installments in the entire Predator franchise. Badlands prides itself on entertaining viewers not just through action and visuals, but also through effective storytelling courtesy of the script. The plot develops thoroughly throughout the runtime, and stands out from other films in the Predator series thanks to its unique spin on the typical formula.

Usually, a Predator film will see the titular hunter in an antagonistic role, graphically mauling anyone in its path while being tracked down by a human protagonist. However, Badlands establishes the hunter, Dek, as the main hero, a refreshing spin on the previous setup. The new approach allows for the Yautja to be seen in a whole new way, keeping their brutal fighting methods intact while adding an incredible character arc to its protagonist to allow audiences to gravitate towards the monster. 

Without spoiling too much, I will say that Dek experiences hardships early in the runtime which boost his motivation and add a surprising emotional side to his personality. Though he still battles his foes rigorously, the film takes time to develop his character, proving him more than just a menacing killing machine – like the Yautja in the previous films – and cementing him as one of the year’s most well-written heroes. 

The surrounding ensemble is also brought to life in an engaging fashion, with Thia serving as one of the movie’s most memorable characters. Acting as Dek’s guide through Genna, she is committed to not only helping the hunter reach his goal, but also in repairing herself – as seen in the trailers, the android had been greatly damaged by being ripped in half. Despite her physical disadvantage, her accompaniment on the journey is welcome due to her informative and enjoyable dialogue. Whether it be helping Dek to understand Genna’s unpredictable wildlife or expressing concern of an upcoming threat, Thia adds a strong energy to the film, with many of her interactions with Dek feeling natural rather than forced. 

That said, my biggest nitpick with the movie also comes from the dialogue, particularly in how it implements humor. There are some scenarios which play out more exaggerated than grounded in their setup, while Thia adds her own occasional comic relief through her line delivery. These scenarios and dialogue mostly felt unfitting in their delivery, especially in comparison to the intense tone the film establishes. 

There was only one instance which succeeded at making me laugh, while the rest of the humor did not mesh as well with the threatening tone and high-stakes action. Thankfully, this aspect doesn’t take up much of the runtime, so the film does not fall victim to tonal inconsistencies or sloppy writing. But for the most part, the humor did not work for me in the context of the story, with some of it feeling more fitting for a comic book movie. 

A Perilous Planet

One of the biggest selling points of Badlands was how it takes place on an entirely extraterrestrial planet – the first time the series has done so since 2010’s Predators. The setting of Genna is perfect for this series thanks to its ruthless wildlife and unpredictable nature, with threats at every corner. These include plants which can spontaneously combust and tranquilize anyone in their path, and living creatures which can sneakily approach their prey before striking suddenly. The feature introduces a plethora of new species into the series which not only set up great action scenes, but also efficiently expand on the world of Predator. 

In previous installments, the Yautja species are established as intergalactic threats who travel the galaxy in search of challengers and trophies. This film takes that core concept and expands on it through Dek – a more inexperienced hunter – as he traverses through the deadly planet. This side to the story reaches its climax when the monstrous Kalisk is introduced to the picture, not only kicking off an enthralling fight sequence, but also putting all of Dek’s skills to the test as he rigorously battles for his trophy. 

On top of that, the film is visually stunning, largely thanks to the wonderful landscapes of Genna. Not only is the cinematography gorgeous in introducing wide locations with varying colors, but the visual effects on the environment and creature designs are also absolutely stunning. 

The movie makes strong use of both practical and computer-generated effects in a variety of ways, including through the Yautja’s remarkable designs and deadly technology, the vibrant-yet-darkened colors of Genna’s creatures, and the utilization of Thia’s halved state, particularly in a climactic action scene. This film makes incredible use of its visuals in not just bringing unforgettable science-fiction environments to life, but also building upon the world and concept of previous Predator films. 

Predator vs. Prey

Bringing the hunters and androids to life is a talented cast, each with their own terrific personality traits. The film actually does not have a very big cast, with the heavy lifting coming from Fanning and Schuster-Koloamatangi as Thia and Dek, respectively. Both of them do fantastic in their roles, with Fanning providing an energetic but informative approach to the former, while Schuster-Koloamatangi portrays great emotional expression and physicality as the latter. Together, they have great chemistry in their interactions, particularly as they bond throughout the runtime while remaining committed to their goals.

The supporting cast, though not nearly as prominent as the two protagonists, also do a great job at bringing their characters to life. In fact, without spoiling too much of the movie, both Fanning and Schuster-Koloamatangi play dual roles – a concept seen in films like Sinners and Mickey 17 – with their secondary performances serving as great contrasts to their protagonists. They approach their supporting characters differently in not just physicality, but also in dialogue and actions, making for two of the year’s best dual role performances which perfectly counteract the heroes.

On top of that, the film includes many incredible action scenes which not only make terrific use of Genna’s environment, but also introduce fantastic stunt work into the mix. The most prominent examples come from Schuster-Koloamatangi, who becomes one with the Yautja suit to bring the death-defying conflicts and payoffs to the bring screen as Dek. These skills particularly shine in a thrilling fight with the Kalisk midway through the runtime and the elongated final setpiece, which also gives Fanning a chance to showcase her own fighting skills.

I also loved how this film took advantage of a more bloodless environment. Rather than the typical R rating the series has maintained since its beginning, this installment is rated PG-13. Though this may raise suspicion upon first looking at it, the film manages to use the rating to its advantage. Most of the movie’s violence occurs towards other androids and creatures of Genna, there are no humans and very little blood compared to prior entries. This not only keeps the brutality and constant action of Predator consistent with the past, but it also makes this film much more accessible to those who may be off-put by excessive gore in movies, an added bonus to this already amazing feature.

Get to the Chopper!

Overall, though some of the quips and humor may conflict with the tone, Predator: Badlands is an extraordinary addition to the franchise thanks to its fantastic worldbuilding, beautiful visual styles, great acting, effective character dynamics, and unique subversion of the typical Predator formula. This film has plenty to offer in terms of entertainment, but it balances it out with great storytelling, helping it to stand out as one of 2025’s most well-balanced blockbusters.

If you’re a fan of the Predator series, Trachtenberg’s previous works, or the action/science-fiction genres in general, I would definitely recommend this movie. Predator: Badlands is currently playing in theaters nationwide – including Mansfield’s own Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas. If you want to see one of the most beloved modern movie monsters in a whole new environment, this is the perfect way to satisfy your needs!

Creative visions like this prove that this series has not yet lost its spark and is capable of hunting down its trophy with ease, even nearly four decades after its conception. 

My Rating