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Predator: Badlands Draws Strong Reviews as Franchise Shifts to a Yautja Protagonist

Early reviews praise Dan Trachtenberg's ecosystem-built worldbuilding alongside a PG-13, character-focused pivot.

Overview

  • Now playing in theaters, the film reframes the series through Dek, the franchise’s first Predator (Yautja) lead.
  • Dan Trachtenberg returns to direct, expanding mythology and visual scope while keeping the story largely standalone.
  • Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, Elle Fanning, and Cliff Curtis earn praise for performances that anchor the emotional stakes.
  • Critics note a coming-of-age emphasis and accessible tone, with a PG-13 rating and a reported 1 hour 47 minute runtime.
  • Creature and environment design draws on the ecology of the planet Genna, with VFX work from Weta FX and ILM and nods to broader Alien/Predator continuity.