Predator: Badlands: Difference between revisions

 

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””’Predator: Badlands””’ is a 2025 American [[science fiction film|science fiction]] [[action film]] and the ninth installment in the [[Predator (franchise)|”Predator” franchise]]. The film was directed by [[Dan Trachtenberg]] and written by Patrick Aison from a story by Trachtenberg and Aison. [[Elle Fanning]] and [[Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi]] star in leading roles. In the film, Dek, a young Predator exiled from their clan, crash-lands on the hostile planet Genna and must prove himself worthy of the hunt. Struggling to survive, he forms an unlikely alliance with Thia, a damaged Weyland-Yutani synthetic, as they face off against a terrifying apex creature that challenges both human and Predator instincts for survival.

””’Predator: Badlands””’ is a 2025 American [[science fiction film|science fiction]] [[action film]] and the ninth installment in the [[Predator (franchise)|”Predator” franchise]]. The film was directed by [[Dan Trachtenberg]] and written by Patrick Aison from a story by Trachtenberg and Aison. [[Elle Fanning]] and [[Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi]] star in leading roles. In the film, Dek, a young Predator exiled from clan, crash-lands on hostile planet and must prove himself worthy of the hunt. Struggling to survive, he forms an unlikely alliance with Thia, a damaged Weyland-Yutani synthetic, as they face off against a terrifying apex creature that challenges both human and Predator instincts for survival.

”Predator: Badlands” had its world premiere at the [[TCL Chinese Theatre]] on November 3, 2025, and was theatrically released in the United States by [[20th Century Studios]] on November 7, 2025. The film received positive reviews from critics and has grossed $80 million.

”Predator: Badlands” had its world premiere at the [[TCL Chinese Theatre]] on November 3, 2025, and was theatrically released in the United States by [[20th Century Studios]] on November 7, 2025. The film received positive reviews from critics and has grossed $80 million.

==Plot==

==Plot==

Dek is a [[runt]] [[Predator (fictional species)|Predator]] from the planet Yautja Prime. Dek takes a vow to hunt the Kalisk, an unkillable [[apex predator]], on the lethal planet Genna, in order to earn the approval of his father, Njohrr. Before he can leave, Njohrr orders Dek’s brother Kwei to kill him, deeming him too weak to survive. Kwei defies the order and remotely activates his transport ship to take Dek to Genna. Dek is forced to watch helplessly as Njohrr executes Kwei.

Dek a [[runt]] the . , the the , Njohrr orders Kwei to kill him. Kwei defies the order and remotely activates his transport ship to take Dek to Genna. Dek is forced to watch helplessly as Njohrr executes Kwei.

Upon crash-landing on Genna, Dek faces numerous environmental dangers from both flora and fauna. He reluctantly allies with Thia, a damaged [[Weyland-Yutani Corporation]] synthetic whose team was destroyed while attempting to capture the Kalisk. Thia offers to help Dek track the Kalisk in exchange for reuniting her with her severed legs. Later, they are joined by a native creature, which Thia names “Bud,” which marks Dek as clan with its spit. Meanwhile, Thia’s synthetic sister, Tessa, is reactivated and begins tracking Dek’s group.

Upon crash-landing on Genna, Dek faces numerous environmental dangers from both flora and fauna. He reluctantly allies with Thia, a damaged Weyland-Yutani Corporation synthetic whose team was destroyed while attempting to capture the Kalisk. Thia offers to help Dek track the Kalisk in exchange for reuniting her with her severed legs. Later, they are joined by a native creature, which Thia “Bud” Dek with its spit. Meanwhile, synthetic sister, Tessa, is reactivated and begins tracking Dek’s group.

After discovering the remains of her team, Thia contacts Weyland-Yutani and attempts to repair herself. The Kalisk confronts Dek, and though he manages to sever its head, the creature regenerates and defeats him; however, it spares his life after detecting Bud’s scent. The Weyland-Yutani team arrives, captures Dek and the Kalisk, and holds them for study. Tessa begins experimenting on Dek, but Thia intervenes and Tessa deems her weak because of her emotions.

After discovering the remains of her team, Thia contacts Weyland-Yutani and attempts to repair herself. The Kalisk confronts Dek, and though he manages to sever its head, the creature regenerates and defeats him; however, it spares his life after detecting scent. The Weyland-Yutani team arrives, captures Dek and the Kalisk, and holds them for study. Tessa begins experimenting on Dek, but Thia intervenes and Tessa deems her weak because of her emotions.

Thia, slated for deactivation by Tessa, helps Dek escape. Dek realizes that Bud is the Kalisk’s child and decides to rescue both Thia and the captured Kalisk. Lacking his Yautja weapons, Dek uses the ecological resources of Genna to create organic weapons. He and Bud attack the Weyland-Yutani base, destroying many synthetics. Dek helps the Kalisk escape, and it destroys much of the facility. Tessa, now in a [[Aliens (film)|mechanical power loader mech]] and armed with Dek’s Yautja laser weapon, kills the Kalisk, but is ultimately destroyed by Dek and Bud when she attempts to kill Thia.

Thia, slated for deactivation by Tessa, helps Dek escape. Dek realizes that Bud is the Kalisk’s child and decides to rescue both Thia and the captured Kalisk. Lacking his weapons, Dek uses the ecological resources of Genna to create organic weapons. He and Bud attack the Weyland-Yutani base, destroying many synthetics. Dek helps the Kalisk escape, and it destroys much of the facility. Tessa, now in a [[Aliens (film)|mechanical power loader mech]] and armed with Yautja laser weapon, kills the Kalisk, but is ultimately destroyed by Dek and Bud when she attempts to kill Thia.

Some time later, Dek returns to Yautja Prime with an older Bud and Thia, as well as Tessa’s skull as a trophy. He demands a cloaking device as a reward from his father, Njohrr, but when denied, avenges Kwei by disarming and restraining Njohrr in the same way he did to Kwei, before Bud bites off his head. Immediately thereafter, a large spaceship, which Dek states carries his mother, arrives as he draws his sword and prepares for a confrontation.

Some time later, Dek returns to Yautja Prime with an older Bud and Thia, as well as skull as a trophy. He demands a cloaking device as a reward from his father, Njohrr, but when denied, avenges Kwei by disarming and restraining Njohrr in the same way he did to Kwei, before Bud bites off his head. Immediately thereafter, a large spaceship, which Dek states carries his mother, arrives as he draws his sword and prepares for a confrontation.

==Cast==

==Cast==

2025 film by Dan Trachtenberg

Predator: Badlands is a 2025 American science fiction action film and the ninth installment in the Predator franchise. The film was directed by Dan Trachtenberg and written by Patrick Aison from a story by Trachtenberg and Aison. Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi star in leading roles. In the film, Dek, a young Predator exiled from his clan, crash-lands on a hostile planet and must prove himself worthy of the hunt. Struggling to survive, he forms an unlikely alliance with Thia, a damaged Weyland-Yutani Corporation synthetic, as they face off against a terrifying apex creature that challenges both human and Predator instincts for survival.

Predator: Badlands had its world premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre on November 3, 2025, and was theatrically released in the United States by 20th Century Studios on November 7, 2025. The film received positive reviews from critics and has grossed $80 million.

Dek, a Yautja runt, strives to earn the approval of his clan. Despite the warnings from his older brother, Kwei, Dek vows to be the first to successfully hunt the Kalisk on the “death planet”, Genna. However, their father Njohrr designates Dek as weak and orders Kwei to kill him. Kwei defies the order and remotely activates his transport ship to take Dek to Genna. Dek is forced to watch helplessly as Njohrr executes Kwei.

Upon crash-landing on Genna, Dek faces numerous environmental dangers from both flora and fauna. He reluctantly allies with Thia, a damaged Weyland-Yutani Corporation synthetic whose team was destroyed while attempting to capture the Kalisk. Thia offers to help Dek track the Kalisk in exchange for reuniting her with her severed legs. Later, they are joined by a native creature, which Thia nicknames “Bud”. After Dek, Thia and Bud successfully hunt a dangerous Bone Bison, Bud marks Dek with its spit. Meanwhile, Thia’s synthetic sister, Tessa, is reactivated and begins tracking Dek’s group.

After discovering the remains of her team, Thia contacts Weyland-Yutani and attempts to repair herself. The Kalisk confronts Dek, and though he manages to sever its head, the creature regenerates and defeats him; however, it spares his life after detecting Bud’s scent. The Weyland-Yutani team arrives, captures Dek and the Kalisk, and holds them for study. Tessa begins experimenting on Dek, but Thia intervenes and Tessa deems her weak because of her emotions.

Thia, slated for deactivation by Tessa, helps Dek escape. Dek realizes that Bud is the Kalisk’s child and decides to rescue both Thia and the captured Kalisk. Lacking his weapons, Dek uses the ecological resources of Genna to create organic weapons. He and Bud attack the Weyland-Yutani base, destroying many synthetics. Dek helps the Kalisk escape, and it destroys much of the facility. Tessa, now in a mechanical power loader mech and armed with Dek’s Yautja laser weapon, kills the Kalisk, but is ultimately destroyed by Dek and Bud when she attempts to kill Thia.

Some time later, Dek returns to Yautja Prime with an older Bud and Thia, as well as Tessa’s skull as a trophy. He demands a cloaking device as a reward from his father, Njohrr, but when denied, avenges Kwei by disarming and restraining Njohrr in the same way he did to Kwei, before Bud bites off his head. Immediately thereafter, a large spaceship, which Dek states carries his mother, arrives as he draws his sword and prepares for a confrontation.

• Elle Fanning as:
• Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi as Dek, a young Predator outcast for being a runt.^[6]
• Reuben De Jong as Njohrr / Apex Predator / Father, Dek and Kwei’s father, and leader of the Clan, who wants Dek’s death.
  • Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi as Njohrr / Apex Predator / Father (voice)
• Mike Homik as Kwei, Dek’s older brother, who helps him to prepare for his first hunt.
  • Stefan Grube as Kwei (voice)
• Rohinal Nayaran as Bud, a creature of the planet Genna.
• Cameron Brown as Smyth, a Weyland-Yutani drone synthetic.
• Alison Wright as MU/TH/UR (voice), the AI representative for Weyland-Yutani and Tessa’s superior.
• Matt and Ross Duffer as the onboard computer for Kwei’s ship (voice)

In February 2024, it was revealed that a standalone film in the Predator franchise titled Badlands was in development, set to be directed by Dan Trachtenberg, who previously directed and co-wrote the story of Prey (2022) and Predator: Killer of Killers (2025), and co-written by Patrick Aison, who wrote Prey.^[7] Writers Brian Duffield, Bryan Fuller, Patrick Somerville, and Ben Schwartz are credited for “additional literary material (not on-screen)”.^[8] The director cited stylistic and thematic influences from the works of Frank Frazetta and Terrence Malick, Conan the Barbarian, Drax the Destroyer, the films Shane (1953), Mad Max 2 (1981), The Book of Eli (2010), as well as Clint Eastwood Westerns, and the video game Shadow of the Colossus (2005).^[6] In June, Elle Fanning was in talks to join the film in a dual role,^[9] with her casting confirmed in August.^[10]

Drawing influence from the franchise’s expanded universe, Badlands is intended to be a self-contained entry in the series, set on the Predators’ home-world and focusing on the culture of their species.^[11][12] To this end, a consistent written and verbal language for the Predators was developed for the film by linguist Britton Watkins.^[13][14] The film adds the terms “Yautja” and “Yautja Prime” to the Predator film series to refer to the Predator species and their homeworld, respectively.^[6] These terms were first introduced in the franchise’s expanded universe, first appearing in the 1994 novel Aliens vs. Predator: Prey authored by S.D. Perry and Steve Perry, which itself was a spinoff of the Aliens vs. Predator comic book series published by Dark Horse Comics.^[15] In a departure from previous films, the Predator, Dek, is the protagonist rather than an antagonist.^[16] Dek is portrayed by stuntman Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, who also learned the Predator language specifically for the role.^[12] To create Dek’s physical appearance, Studio Gillis designed a creature suit to portray Dek’s body, while Dek’s face was digitally enhanced using motion capture computer animation to convey more subtle emotional expression.^[12][6][11] Wētā Workshop also contributed to the film’s practical effects and designs.^[6] The fictional Weyland-Yutani Corporation featured in the Alien franchise (and created by screenwriter Dan O’Bannon for the 1979 film Alien) appears in the film.^[4]

Principal photography began in New Zealand by August 27, 2024, under the working title Backpack,^[10] and wrapped in late October.^[17] Jeff Cutter served as the cinematographer, after previously working with Trachtenberg on Prey.^[18] Olivier Dumont and Kathy Siegel served as the film’s production visual effects supervisor and visual effects producer, respectively, creating the film’s computer-generated imagery through visual effects vendors Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Wētā FX, Rising Sun Pictures, Trixter, Important Looking Pirates, The Yard VFX, and Framestore.^[19][6] According to Trachtenberg, every shot of the film required visual effects work.^[6]

In October 2025, Sarah Schachner and Benjamin Wallfisch were revealed to have composed the musical score, having previously worked with Trachtenberg on Prey and Predator: Killer of Killers, respectively.^[20]

In June 2025, it was announced that Predator: Badlands would have a Hall H presentation at San Diego Comic-Con later that year.^[21] It had its UK premiere at BFI IMAX in London on October 28, 2025.^[22]

The film had its world premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre on November 3, 2025^{[citation needed]}, and was theatrically released in the United States on November 7,^[23] in RealD 3D and IMAX.^[24] Not counting Alien vs. Predator (2004), Predator: Badlands marks the first film in the mainline Predator series to be given a PG-13 rating by the Motion Picture Association, after its predecessors were all rated R.^[25]

A tie-in prequel comic book, set shortly before the events of the movie, written by Ethan Sacks and illustrated by Elvin Ching, with a cover by Juan Ferreyra, will be published on November 12, 2025, by Marvel Comics.^[26]

As of November 9, 2025^[update], Predator: Badlands has grossed $40 million in the United States and Canada, and $40 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $80 million.^[3]

In the United States and Canada, Predator: Badlands was released alongside Die My Love, Nuremberg, Christy and Sarah’s Oil, and was initially projected to gross $25-$30 million in its opening weekend.^[27] The film made $15.6 million on its first day^[28](including $4.8 million in Thursday box office previews^[29]), rising estimates to $36-$38 million, a record for the Predator franchise.^[30] It would end up debuting to $40 million at the domestic box office in its opening weekend, overtaking the previous franchise record held by Alien vs. Predator, which made $38 million in 2004.^[31] The film collected an additional $40 million from international markets, for a worldwide total debut of $80 million.

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 85% of 188 critics’ reviews are positive. The website’s consensus reads: “Director Dan Trachtenberg continues to take the Predator franchise in exciting new directions with Badlands, a rollicking adventure that transforms one of cinema’s most iconic brutes into a hero worth rooting for.”^[32] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of A- on an A+ to F scale, the highest in the Predator franchise to date, and it received a 78% “definite recommend” on PostTrak.^[33] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 71 out of 100, based on 40 critics, indicating “generally favorable” reviews.^[34]

Liz Shannon Miller of Consequence gave the film an “A-“, stating that “Badlands flips the approach and finds something fresh and wonderful and bold as a result — as if James Cameron had made Terminator 2 entirely from the T-800‘s point of view.”^[35]

In 2025, Trachtenberg has stated he had three initial Predator films in mind to make: Prey, Predator: Badlands, and a third that he intends to direct if Badlands is successful.^[36] Discussions are ongoing with original franchise star Arnold Schwarzenegger about reprising his role as Dutch in a future installment.^[37]