Lead: Dan Trachtenberg’s Predator: Badlands opened this weekend in the United States with a stronger-than-expected $40 million, becoming the highest opening in the Predator franchise. The haul surpasses the prior record set by 2004’s Alien vs. Predator ($38 million, unadjusted) and helped arrest a weak October box-office run. The film also earned $40 million overseas, taking its global total to $80 million against a $105 million production budget.
Key Takeaways
- Domestic opening: Predator: Badlands earned $40 million in its first weekend in the U.S., a franchise-best that eclipses the 2004 Alien vs. Predator opening of $38 million (not adjusted).
- Global start: The film added $40 million internationally for an $80 million worldwide total versus a $105 million budget.
- Audience reaction: The picture posted an A- on CinemaScore exit polling, and positive reviews amplified word-of-mouth ahead of release.
- Format mix: Premium large formats (IMAX/Dolby/3D) accounted for 59% of the domestic weekend gross, lifting per-screen revenue.
- Marketplace context: The October theatrical window sank to a 28-year low after multiple flops; November tentpoles including Zootopia 2 and Avatar: Fire and Ash are now tasked with sustaining momentum.
- Competing titles: Second-place Regretting You opened to $7.1 million, while Black Phone 2 collected $5.3 million in its third weekend.
Background
The Predator franchise launched in 1987 with the Arnold Schwarzenegger–led original and has since spawned sequels, reboots and crossovers with the Alien property. Over the decades the series has shifted between R-rated intensity and wider-release PG-13 choices; Badlands’ PG-13 rating broadened its potential audience compared with most prior Predator entries.
After several underperforming releases in October, industry observers were watching early November for signs of recovery. Major studios had counted on autumn openings to regain lost ground after summer’s strong pace slowed; overall domestic box-office returns are now pacing roughly 3% ahead of 2024 but remain about 20% below pre-pandemic levels.
Main Event
Predator: Badlands exceeded pre-release industry forecasts that ranged between $25 million and $30 million, buoyed by positive critical notices and word-of-mouth. The film’s wider theatrical accessibility via a PG-13 rating helped draw families and younger viewers who had been excluded from many recent franchise installments, while a high share of premium-format ticketing boosted revenue per patron.
Director Dan Trachtenberg returned to the franchise after helming 2022’s Prey and the June animated entry Predator: Killer of Killers, both of which bypassed theaters for streaming. Badlands reunites franchise DNA with a standalone story centered on an outcast hunter (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) and an unexpected ally (Elle Fanning) on a perilous journey to confront a lethal threat.
The weekend’s box-office landscape was otherwise fragmented: Regretting You (Paramount) held into second with $7.1 million, Black Phone 2 (Universal/Blumhouse) slipped to third with $5.3 million in its third frame, and a slate of specialty and arthouse titles posted modest openings. Neon’s Sentimental Value finished limited with $200,000 from four theaters, translating to a $50,000 per-screen average.
Analysis & Implications
Badlands’ record opening serves as a litmus test for the value of established intellectual property when paired with wider audience access and strong format mix. The film’s PG-13 rating and heavy premium-format sales suggest studios can optimize grosses by combining franchise recognition with ticketing strategies that elevate average check size.
For Disney and 20th Century, the result is a welcome turnaround after several recent theatrical disappointments. A solid start relieves short-term pressure ahead of higher-stakes releases later this year; however, the $105 million budget means the film will need sustained holds and international growth to reach profitability after marketing and distribution expenses.
Macro trends remain mixed. October’s slump — the lowest monthly intake in 28 years — indicates demand can be fragile, especially for mid-budget originals. If Badlands holds well, it could signal that audiences are willing to return for genre tentpoles that combine recognizable brands with accessible ratings and event-format experiences.
Comparison & Data
| Title | Domestic Opening | International Opening | Global Total (start) | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Predator: Badlands (2025) | $40,000,000 | $40,000,000 | $80,000,000 | $105,000,000 |
| Alien vs. Predator (2004) | $38,000,000 | — | — | — |
| Regretting You (2025) | $7,100,000 | — | $38,500,000 (cume) | — |
| Black Phone 2 (2025) | — | — | $120,000,000 (global to date) | — |
The table highlights how Badlands’ opening compares to prior franchise entries and contemporaneous releases. While the raw $40 million opening is a clear short-term win, the studio will need continued box-office durability and international traction to offset production and marketing costs.
Reactions & Quotes
Neon’s distribution chief called the early per-screen averages encouraging as the company plans an expansion through November.
Elissa Federoff, Neon (distribution executive)
Variety’s lead film critic characterized Badlands as the most compelling and substantively strong Predator entry since the 1987 original, noting its blend of character work and franchise staples.
Peter Debruge, film critic (Variety)
An industry analyst noted that Badlands demonstrates the commercial value of combining brand familiarity with PG-13 accessibility and a premium-format strategy.
Industry analyst (market commentary)
Unconfirmed
- Projections that Zootopia 2 or Avatar: Fire and Ash will exceed $1 billion are speculative and depend on future marketing, release schedules and international reception.
- Longer-term box-office trajectory for Badlands beyond the second and third weekends remains uncertain and will hinge on reviews, demographic reach and competition.
Bottom Line
Predator: Badlands’ $40 million domestic launch is a notable franchise milestone and an immediate box-office success for Disney/20th Century, showing the continuing commercial power of established IP when paired with strategic rating and format choices. The film’s strong premium-format share and positive audience scores give it a clearer path to recoupment than many recent mid-budget releases.
Still, a single weekend does not guarantee profitability: international growth, multiweek holds and ancillary revenue will determine the ultimate return on a $105 million production. For now, Badlands provides a timely uplift to a theater market that had been struggling, and it reshapes the competitive map as November’s tentpoles prepare to open.
Sources
- Variety (entertainment news: original reporting and weekend box-office roundup)
- Box Office Mojo (industry box-office database)
- CinemaScore (audience exit-polling organization)