The Rotten Tomatoes score for Predator: Badlands has been revealed.
After Rotten Tomatoes tabulated 52 reviews, Predator: Badlands debuts with an 87% critical score. If this score holds, this would be the third-highest-rated Predator movie in the franchise, but the lowest in Dan Trachtenberg’s era.
|
Predator Movies By Dan Trachtenberg |
Rotten Tomatoes’ Critical Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|---|---|---|
|
Prey (2022) |
94% |
74% |
|
Predator: Killer of Killers (2025) |
95% |
88% |
|
Predator: Badlands (2025) |
86% |
N/A |
These first reviews are not far off from the initial social reactions for Predator: Badlands. Several critics praised the new sci-fi installment for taking on a heartwarming journey for the protagonist, which is also filled with some fun action pieces. Fanning’s performance stands out for adding levity to what is typically a very serious, toned franchise.
However, the criticism is focused on the movie’s more tamed direction from the franchise’s horror ways. That makes sense since Badlands would be the first movie in the main franchise to be rated PG-13. Other negative aspects pointed out by critics include too much CG for the action sequences.
The upcoming installment will once again revisit the titular character, but this time as the movie’s hero. A young outcast named Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) undergoes a difficult task searching for his adversary with the help from a synthetic ally, Thia (Elle Fanning).
Trachtenberg has become somewhat of a savior to the Predator franchise, with Prey resurrecting the interest. This streak continued with Predator: Killer of Killers, which is currently the highest-rated movie in the series. Both films, however, were exclusively released on streaming on Hulu.
Predator: Badlands would be the first movie in the franchise to get a theatrical release since Shane Black’s 2018 reboot.
Trachtenberg’s reign won’t end with Predator: Badlands. In an interview with SFX Magazine, the acclaimed filmmaker shared that he has one more movie in development, explaining that he had three ideas after Prey was released on Hulu.
“Killers is one, Badlands is two and the third one is something else.“
He has not revealed what that third Predator movie would be, but it’s speculated to be Prey 2.
Predator: Badlands will release in theaters on November 7.
- Release Date
-
November 5, 2025
- Runtime
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107 minutes
- Director
-
Dan Trachtenberg
- Writers
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Dan Trachtenberg, Patrick Aison, John Thomas, Jim Thomas
- Producers
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Brent O’Connor, John Davis, Marc Toberoff, Dan Trachtenberg, Ben Rosenblatt
-
Elle Fanning
Thia / Tessa
-
Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi
Dek / Father