Overview
- The film earned $15.6 million on opening day, including $4.8 million in previews, and is pacing toward a $37 million domestic weekend, eclipsing 2018’s The Predator and potentially nearing Alien vs. Predator’s $38.2 million unadjusted start.
- Badlands holds a Certified Fresh 85% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, a 96% audience score, and an A- CinemaScore, the best grade ever for the franchise.
- Director Dan Trachtenberg’s future-set entry shifts to PG-13 and features no human characters, broadening access without abandoning sci-fi action.
- The movie leans into Alien universe ties with Weyland‑Yutani branding, MU/TH/UR references, and numerous synthetics, while explicitly avoiding Xenomorphs.
- Industry coverage highlights the $105 million production as a commercial and creative reset that positions Predator for sequels and cross-media expansion under Disney/20th Century.