Predator: Badlands Review – A New Era in the Franchise

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

From Reinvention to Evolution: The Next Chapter of the Hunt

If Prey was a reinvention, Predator: Badlands is the evolution. Dan Trachtenberg returns to the hunt with confidence and focus, steering the series into territory that feels both mythic and intimate. What began as a saga about survival and sport has turned into something far more interesting: a story about culture, legacy, and what it means to be worthy.

Expanding the Universe: The Yautja’s Journey and Alien DNA

After Trachtenberg knocked it out of the park with Prey and Predator: Killer of Killers, it was only natural that he would continue to expand on the Yautja’s journey. At this point, it’s clear we’re in the same world as the Alien franchise. It segues and meshes without pandering to fans of both universes. That shared DNA gives Badlands a sense of cosmic scope while keeping the storytelling grounded and character-driven.

An Unlikely Hero: The Predator Outcast and a New Partnership

The film follows a young Predator outcast, an undersized warrior stripped of his clan’s honor, who finds an unlikely ally on a desolate frontier planet. What begins as a harsh survival story becomes an unexpected partnership, and then something deeper: a meditation on instinct, pride, and belonging. For the first time in the series, the Predator is the hero, and it’s a surprisingly emotional shift that gives the mythology new dimension.

The Heart of the Film: Elle Fanning’s Thia and an Uneasy Alliance

Pairing the “runt” Yautja with Elle Fanning’s Thia, a Weyland-Yutani synthetic survivor, was clever and filled with Star Wars homages. Fanning plays Thia with quiet intensity, balancing warmth, humor, and unease, while the effects that merge her with Weyland-Yutani tech look both futuristic and haunting. Their uneasy alliance gives the film its heart.

Trachtenberg’s Vision: Respectful Expansion and Stunning Spectacle

With Badlands, Trachtenberg opens up the franchise without having to erase or retcon anything from the past forty years. It’s a careful expansion, respectful of what came before but unafraid to shift perspective. The PG-13 rating, which only applies to human blood, turns out to be a fair trade. The Dolby Cinema presentation was razor-sharp, the sound hit like thunder, and the visuals practically begged for a 4K disc release.

Atmosphere and Action: Gritty Tension with a Pulse

The atmosphere is pure Trachtenberg: gritty, wide, and charged with tension. Every frame feels alive with motion, from the shimmer of heat rising off the sand to the way the camera lingers just long enough before the next strike. The action builds slowly, giving each encounter a pulse instead of a punch.

Verdict: A Complete and Earned Story of Understanding

By the end, the story feels complete and earned. Badlands brings the hunt full circle while finding something new to say about the Yautja. The focus isn’t on body counts or one-liners; it’s on survival, understanding, and a strange sense of respect between species. It’s not the bloodiest Predator film, but it’s one of the most alive.

Predator: Badlands is in theaters November 7, 2025 (United States)

• Rating Certificate: PG-13 (for sequences of strong sci-fi violence.)
• Studios & Distributors: Toberoff Productions | 20th Century Studios | Deutsche Filmakademie | Government of Australia | New Zealand FIlm Commission | Québec Film & TV Production Tax Credit
• Director: Dan Trachtenberg
• Written By: Patrick Aison (screenplay) | Dan Trachtenberg (story by) | Patrick Aison (story by) | Jim & John Thomas (characters created by)
• Country: USA | Australia | New Zealand | Canada
• Language: English
• Run Time: 107 Mins.
• Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
• Release Date: 7 November 2025 (United States)