The hunt is on—and this time, it’s happening at the box office. “Predator: Badlands” claimed the top spot this weekend with a better-than-expected $40 million domestic debut, setting a new franchise record and injecting much-needed energy into a box office that had been gasping for air.
Those ticket sales surpassed 2004’s “Alien vs. Predator” ($38 million, not adjusted for inflation) to become the biggest opening weekend in the long-running sci-fi property’s history—a franchise that launched in 1987 with Arnold Schwarzenegger’s original “Predator” and has spanned sequels, reboots, and crossover films over nearly four decades.
More importantly for Hollywood, “Badlands” is providing crucial momentum after October’s disastrous performance, which saw the month plummet to a 28-year revenue low following painful misfires like Disney’s “Tron: Ares” and A24’s “The Smashing Machine.”
Exceeding All Expectations
Heading into the weekend, Disney and 20th Century’s “Predator: Badlands” was targeting $25 million to $30 million to start. Instead, the film crushed initial projections by approximately 33%, powered by positive reviews, strong word-of-mouth, and an “A-” grade on CinemaScore exit polls.
Several factors contributed to the overperformance:
The PG-13 Rating Expanded the Audience. Unlike most “Predator” films, which carry R ratings, “Badlands” welcomed younger viewers and families—a strategic decision that clearly paid dividends.
Premium Formats Drove Revenue. Imax, Dolby, and 3D screenings, which command higher ticket prices, contributed a substantial 59% of the overall domestic tally—an impressive percentage that demonstrates audiences were willing to pay premium prices for the theatrical experience.
Critical Acclaim Built Buzz. Variety’s chief film critic Peter Debruge praised “Badlands” as the “most interesting — and the strongest film with ‘Predator’ in the title since the 1987 original,” while reviews across the board emphasized the film’s fresh approach to the franchise.
Internationally, “Predator: Badlands” earned another $40 million, bringing its global total to $80 million—a promising start against its $105 million production budget.
A Franchise Resurrected—On the Big Screen
Director Dan Trachtenberg returned to helm “Predator: Badlands” after directing the two most recent franchise entries: 2022’s “Prey” and June 2025’s animated “Predator: Killer of Killers.” However, both of those films skipped theatrical releases entirely, landing directly on streaming platforms.
“Badlands” marks the franchise’s triumphant return to theaters, telling a standalone story about an outcast alien hunter (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) and his unlikely human ally (Elle Fanning) who embark on a dangerous journey to defeat a menacing adversary.
Trachtenberg’s track record with the franchise—particularly the critical and audience success of “Prey”—built anticipation for “Badlands.” The decision to bring this installment to theaters rather than streaming proved wise, as theatrical audiences clearly responded to the spectacle and scale of the production.
Disney’s Return to Form
The success of “Predator: Badlands” represents a crucial win for Disney, which has struggled recently with theatrical releases including “Tron: Ares” and “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere.” Both films underperformed dramatically, contributing to the studio’s rough October and raising questions about Disney’s ability to connect with audiences outside its core animation and Marvel properties.
“Badlands” demonstrates that Disney can still deliver hits when the right creative vision meets smart marketing and theatrical positioning. Looking ahead, Disney appears poised to dominate the remainder of 2025 with “Zootopia 2” and “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” both of which industry analysts expect could earn $1 billion or more globally.
The Competition Didn’t Stand a Chance
“Predator: Badlands” easily claimed the No. 1 spot over several new releases targeting older audiences or arthouse crowds, including:
“Sarah’s Oil” enjoyed the best start among newcomers with $4.5 million from 2,410 theaters, landing in fourth place. Amazon MGM’s inspirational true story about a young Black girl who discovers oil on her land and becomes a millionaire at age 11 earned a rare “A+” grade on CinemaScore exit polls—the highest rating possible and an indicator of exceptional audience satisfaction.
“Nuremberg” debuted at No. 5 with $4.1 million from 1,802 venues. Sony Pictures Classics’ historical drama, featuring Rami Malek as a psychiatrist determining whether Nazi Hermann Goring (Russell Crowe) is fit to stand trial, connected more strongly with audiences (95% on Rotten Tomatoes) than critics (68%).
“Die My Love” stumbled in eighth place with $2.8 million from 1,983 theaters—a disappointing result considering Mubi reportedly paid $24 million for distribution rights. Directed by Lynne Ramsay and starring Jennifer Lawrence as a new mother unraveling from postpartum depression, the deeply unsettling psychodrama received a “D+” CinemaScore grade. While Lawrence earned praise for her performance, the film’s polarizing nature clearly limited its mainstream appeal.
“Christy” fared worst among wide releases, debuting at No. 11 with just $1.3 million from 2,011 theaters. Sydney Sweeney’s star power couldn’t save Black Bear Pictures’ R-rated boxing biopic about trailblazer Christy Martin, marking a disappointing theatrical debut for the distributor.
Holdovers Demonstrated Staying Power
Second place went to “Regretting You” with $7.1 million from 3,196 locations, declining just 8% from the prior weekend. Paramount’s Colleen Hoover adaptation has shown impressive legs, accumulating $38.5 million domestically and $70.9 million globally after three weekends in theaters.
“Black Phone 2” dropped to third place with $5.3 million from 2,943 venues in its third frame, down 36% from last weekend. Universal and Blumhouse’s horror sequel has grossed $70 million in North America and $120 million worldwide—solid numbers, though trailing the original “Black Phone,” which earned $90 million domestically and $170 million globally by the end of its theatrical run.
Limited Release Success
In limited release, Neon’s familial drama “Sentimental Value” amassed $200,000 from just four theaters in New York and Los Angeles, translating to $50,000 per location—the third-highest screen average of the year and among the top 15 of post-pandemic times, according to Neon.
Norwegian filmmaker Joachim Trier (“The Worst Person in the World”) directed the drama starring Stellan Skarsgard as an eccentric filmmaker and Renate Reinsve as his estranged actress daughter who reunite after decades apart.
“We’re excited to see this enthusiasm continue to build as we expand through November,” said Neon’s chief distribution officer Elissa Federoff.
What This Means for the Box Office
“‘Predator: Badlands’ shows how unpredictable and dynamic the marketplace can be. All it takes is one over-performance to get the industry back on track,” says Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends at Comscore. “This is a great lead in for what promises to be one of the better months of November for the industry.”
The timing couldn’t be better. After October’s catastrophic 28-year revenue low, Hollywood desperately needed a win to prove theatrical exhibition remains viable. “Badlands” delivered that win emphatically.
However, context matters. While overall domestic box office returns are pacing roughly 3% ahead of 2024, that gap has shrunk dramatically since summer, when ticket sales were 25% ahead of last year. More concerning, revenues remain approximately 20% behind pre-pandemic levels—a persistent gap that raises questions about whether theatrical exhibition will ever fully recover to 2019 levels.
November’s Crucial Lineup
The industry is banking on November releases to maintain the momentum “Predator: Badlands” generated. The lineup includes:
- “The Running Man” – A reboot of the 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger action film
- “Now You See Me 3” – The third installment in the magician heist franchise
- “Wicked: For Good” – The highly anticipated second part of the “Wicked” adaptation
- “Zootopia 2” – Disney’s animated sequel to the 2016 blockbuster
If these films perform as expected—particularly “Wicked: For Good” and “Zootopia 2,” both of which carry significant blockbuster potential—November could indeed become “one of the better months” for theatrical exhibition this year.
The Lesson Hollywood Should Learn (But Probably Won’t)
“Predator: Badlands” succeeded because it offered something genuinely fresh within a familiar framework. Dan Trachtenberg didn’t simply rehash the original film’s formula; he found new angles to explore, centered a Predator as protagonist for the first time, and earned critical acclaim by taking creative risks.
The film also benefited from strategic decisions: the PG-13 rating broadened the audience without sacrificing the franchise’s essence, premium format availability justified higher ticket prices, and strong reviews built positive word-of-mouth that exceeded initial tracking.
Compare this to October’s misfires, many of which felt like obligatory franchise extensions or poorly conceived nostalgia plays. “Tron: Ares” struggled to justify its existence decades after the original, while other releases failed to generate excitement or differentiation in a crowded marketplace.
The takeaway should be obvious: audiences will show up for theatrical experiences that feel fresh, well-executed, and worth the premium price of admission—especially when premium formats enhance the experience. They’ll skip films that feel like cash grabs or don’t offer compelling reasons to leave their homes.
Whether Hollywood learns this lesson or continues churning out mediocre franchise extensions remains to be seen. For now, “Predator: Badlands” stands as proof that theatrical exhibition isn’t dead—it just needs better movies.
The Bottom Line
With $40 million domestically and $80 million globally in its opening weekend, “Predator: Badlands” has given Hollywood a much-needed shot of adrenaline after October’s dismal performance. The film’s franchise record and better-than-expected debut demonstrate that audiences remain hungry for theatrical experiences—when those experiences deliver quality, spectacle, and something genuinely worth seeing on the big screen.
As the industry heads into the crucial November period, all eyes will be on whether other releases can maintain this momentum. The pieces are in place: high-profile titles, strong marketing campaigns, and renewed audience interest following “Badlands'” success.
For Disney specifically, “Predator: Badlands” represents a return to form after recent struggles, setting the stage for what could be a dominant end to 2025 with “Zootopia 2” and “Avatar: Fire and Ash.”
And for the “Predator” franchise itself, after nearly four decades of ups and downs, “Badlands” proves there’s still plenty of life in the hunt—especially when filmmakers approach the material with fresh eyes and the courage to take creative risks.
The apex predator at the box office this weekend wasn’t just a movie—it was a reminder of what theatrical exhibition can accomplish when everything comes together. Now the question is whether Hollywood can sustain that success, or whether “Badlands” will be remembered as a lone bright spot in an otherwise struggling year.
