Predator: Badlands is a 2025 American science fiction action film directed by Dan Trachtenberg and written by Patrict Aison. The seventh installment in the Predator franchise, it takes place after the events of The Predator (2018). The film stars Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi in the lead roles. Predator: Badlands was released in the United States on November 7, 2025, by 20th Century Studios.
The story follows Dek, a young exiled Yautja whose father deems him too weak to survive—his brother died protecting him. Dek crash-lands on a hostile planet and must prove himself worthy of the hunt by defeating an apex predator. To survive, he forms an alliance with Thia, an android from the Weyland-Yutani Corporation.
The movie starts strong, featuring one of the most impressive opening scenes in recent memory. We are introduced to the Predator home world, their traditions, code, and the emphasis on strength—part of which involves eliminating the weakest among them. After this compelling introduction, the story follows Dek on his quest, but the tone suddenly shifts from serious to comical. The Predators, traditionally methodical, cold, and silent hunters—the majestic killers we’ve come to love—suddenly display human-like emotions, which undercuts their menace. On the positive side, the action sequences are well-executed, fast-paced, and explosive. While some CGI moments feel clunky, the film is still visually impressive.
In the end, I agree with many critics’ viewpoints—once Disney takes over a franchise, things often go sideways. While that may be true about 80% of the time, backed by some fairly solid data, we actually enjoyed this movie for what it is.
