Predator: Badlandsis the next film in the iconicPredatorfranchise, and it will prove just how invested audiences are in the beloved sci-fi series. ThePredatorfranchise has had a lot of ups and downs, but it has been riding high in recent years, something that fans of the franchisehopePredator: Badlandswill continue.
ThePredatorfranchise is one of the most beloved sci-fi franchises of all time, with it consistently getting new releases since the original was released in 1987. However, many of the sequels didn’t live up to the original, withPredator 2,The Predator, and theAlien vs. Predatormoviesall being commercial disappointments.
2010’sPredatorswas well-received and did garner a cult following, but it wasn’t nearly as big of a hit as the original film.Although the franchise was dormant for a few years after the failure of 2018’sThe Predator, things have gotten back on track thanks to the series' streaming history, somethingPredator: Badlandswill benefit from.
Predator’s Reputation Has Been Restored Through Streaming Recently
Thanks To Prey & Predator: Killer Of Killers
Although the reputation of thePredatorfranchise was not great after the 2018 revival, things finally started getting better in 2022.This was when the prequel moviePreywas released on streaming, with some considering it to be the best entry in thePredatorfranchise. It was a big hit, proving thatPredatorcould still be great.
2025 saw the release of the follow-up,Predator: Killer of Killers. Dan Trachtenberg returned to direct this film, with it being an animated anthology that shows Predators on Earth in different eras. This too was a big critical hit, with it setting high hopes for Trachtenberg’s thirdPredatormovie, 2025’sPredator: Badlands.
Predator: Badlands Will Show Just How Much Audiences Are Interested In The Franchise
The Film’s Box Office Will Answer This Question
Predator: Badlandsdiffers from Trachtenberg’s previous twoPredatorfilmsin a big way: it is being released in theaters. This will be the first theatrically releasedPredatormovie since 2018, meaning that a lot is riding on this one.
Predator: Badlands' box office return will measure whether the streaming movies successfully made audiences hungry for a blockbusterPredatormovie.PreyandPredator: Killer of Killerswere good, but it is hard to measure their success due to streaming numbers not being made available.
Predator: Badlands' success will be directly measurable thanks to its box office numbers, and hopefully it is a big success. Trachtenberg has spent the past few years attempting to rehabilitate thePredatorfranchise, getting rid of the stain ofThe Predator.Predator: Badlandsis the culmination of this strategy, and it needs to pay off.
