Disney has announced that Predator: Badlands opened at number 1 at the domestic box office, delivering a strong $80 million global opening ($40 million domestic and $40 million overseas). The figure is a franchise record for an unadjusted domestic debut.
Variety has a few more details about the international performance, noting the highest overseas markets were China with $7.4 million, the United Kingdom with $3.2 million, and Mexico with $2.3 million.
Predator: Badlands has benefited from positive reviews from fans and critics and is currently sitting on a Fresh score of 85% on Rotten Tomatoes. The film continues the franchise’s creative resurgence under director Dan Trachtenberg, who previously helmed the highly praised Prey in 2022. The franchise-first PG-13 rating will also definitely help with the box office receipts, as it significantly broadens its appeal to a wider, more mainstream audience than the previous R-rated entries.
Domestically, Predator: Badlands is the highest domestic opening for a Predator film, overtaking 2004’s Alien vs Predator, which earned $38 million. The last theatrical Predator film, 2018’s The Predator, earned $24.6 million domestically in its first weekend. Of course, these figures are unadjusted for inflation. Alien vs Predator would come out at the top at around $60 million after inflation.
The film, directed by Dan Trachtenberg and starring Elle Fanning in the dual roles of synthetics Thia and Tessa cost $105 million. Big blockbusters like this one would have to earn 2.5 times its budget to break even. That would put its target box office at around $265 million, which might prove tricky to achieve. The film will generate more revenue when it comes to streaming platforms and physical media.
Here’s a comparison table with the box office totals of previous Predator films:
| Movie Title | Release Date | Production Budget | Domestic Box Office | Worldwide Box Office | Worldwide Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Predator | Jun 12, 1987 | $18.0M | $59.7M | $98.3M | $285M |
| Predator 2 | Nov 21, 1990 | $35.0M | $30.7M | $54.8M | $145M |
| AVP: Alien Vs. Predator | Aug 13, 2004 | $70.0M | $80.3M | $172.5M | $295M |
| Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem | Dec 25, 2007 | $40.0M | $41.8M | $128.9M | $199M |
| Predators | Jul 9, 2010 | $40.0M | $52.0M | $127.2M | $170M |
| The Predator | Sep 14, 2018 | $88.0M | $51.0M | $159.5M | $205M |
| Prey | Aug 5, 2022 | $65.0M | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Predator: Killer of Killers | Jun 6, 2025 | $50.0M | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Predator: Badlands | Nov 7, 2025 | $105.0M | $40M (Opening Weekend) |
$80M (Opening Weekend) |
TBD |
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By blockbuster standards, Badlands is downright cheap.
I posted this the other day - but a small budget 'proper' predator film on the back of this would go a long way. Not only would it give good numbers, but it's go some way to allaying the fears of the OG crowd who don't like this instalment.
The sad thing is, we're a long way from practical effects now, when films like Avatar or the Marvel films are dominating the box office - but people want more of it, and studios are only happy to deliver.
I don't have a problem with it, per se, but when it (potentially) impacts future projects then it's a shame.
That said, I absolutely cannot wait to see Badlands and think it'll break even at the minimum.
My thought too...
Unless we're talking about the cloaking effect specifically; CGI is a shitload easier than the original optical process.
Predator 1987 had quite a low budget, perhaps back to practical effects would be good. I mean imagine that, that's real love for a film, CGI is "easy" but practical effects, that's hard, and somehow Predator 1987 pulled it off.
The budget is recouped when it doubles its initial investment (x2), and a film is considered a success when it multiplies its budget by at least 2.5 (or more; if it cost $200 million, it would be x3).
This is because roughly half of the total box office revenue has to be deducted and given to theaters, etc.
marketing revenue isn't included. It's recovered through other means.
Therefore, Badlands won't be a blockbuster, but it will be profitable.
Minimum box office to avoid being a failure.
Important make 100M in EEUU.
Once it recoups its budget.
Afterward, it will be a success through Blu-ray sales, streaming, and TV.
Here's an example with Avatar 2 (total box office $2.3 billion, with $1.2 billion for Fox).
https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Avatar-The-Way-Of-Water-Profit.png
Deadline will do the same with Badlands in a few months, and we'll see the total profit.
Taking into account all income (half box office, TV, streaming, etc.)
and expenses (marketing, budget, participation, extra costs, etc
Although studios want a film to be a box office success to warrant a sequel, it doesn't matter if it's successful later if it wasn't successful the first time around in cinemas. There won't be a Badlands 2, but the plans were different, like the third one Dan T wanted, which would have been something different.That can get the green light
If they consider Badlands profitable and a positive addition to the saga, they might film another which is not Badlands 2 but Naru's film (in theory ). one and see if it does as well or better after the good reviews and word of mouth.In a saga that has been mistreated at the box office and by critics so far.
Another possible scenario would be to accelerate the plans.
Maybe Fox will forcing them to film AvP now to have a hit more instead and sure before than the third movie with Naru tan want Dan.
Once Dan T is done with Predator I hope he'll make original movies. He deserves better than superheroes franchises lol
https://x.com/GiteshPandya/status/1990091313102921799?t=YHfelR4Rv-OxmLfYT2AVSw&s=19
I thought Prey did well...
They should stick to the tone of the Dark Horse comics and add the colonial marines. Military science fiction, more of an Aliens vibe.
It needs to be more of an alien movie that happens to co-Star the Yautja than a Yautja movie that has alien as the main antagonist
It also should steer clear of anything remotely controversial like the Xenomorphs alleged origins or alien resurrection references
Badlands doesn't firmly state its era and frankly, it doesn't need to be post-resurrection if you want Dek involved
https://www.the-numbers.com/weekend-box-office-chart
Here's hoping his next movie will do better! (Maybe Star Wars? Or Marvel!!!)
In comparison, The Predator had a drop of 65% during the same time period.
It overperformed on its 1st weekend. It was bound to happen, especially with Now You See Me: Now You Don't and The Running Man releasing.
A complex time for the box office
EEUU âž– $17,0M
InT-- $11,2M
Total: $28,2M
Budgetâž– $110M
Image Link
https://x.com/luiz_fernando_j/status/1990086191773847716?s=46
Think this will end around $85M-$90M total DOM, which I think is excellent for a Predator movie.
EEUU ➖ $66,3M
International -- $70,0M
Total-- $136,3M
100 million in the US can achieve them.
And globally difficult reach 250 million. Perhaps more than double that, more than 210 million sure.
It won't multiply by 2.5.
Maybe by 2.1 its budget
Final box office just enough for profitability but not a success.
Low expectations for the franchise are helpful and important for Fox for demand lower
They'll be somewhat happy and angry at the same time.
It remains in an intermediate point, in no man's la
It could have been a $260 million success, but it could also have been a failure.
There are films that have made 2.5x but when they failed in the US it wasn't enough ( as Covenant ).
That's why it's very important that it reaches $100 million in the US.
Do you have a link, please?
Yep!
Same screening perhaps. Sali 3?
I went to Tennispalatsi on opening night, I was surprised that there were not too many people.
But lots of fans have enjoyed taking their kids to see it so I think it has helped a bit.
I don't think the film will be a bomb at all.
I have the feeling by reading different comments Badlands will struggle to break even...
On my second there was only me and one dad with his kid.
3rd showing was 11/10, which was quieter for sure being Monday. But enjoyed the solo watch on my day off
Seeing it one last time/4th in theaters tomorrow in a normal digital theater & excited to look out for different things this time. Definitely more drop off this weekend it looks like, but hope it keeps pulling in the $$$.
Yeah, it's gonna do at least decently.
2 out of my 3 viewings were far from full too. Still, it appears to be doing fine
'Predator: Badlands' Box Office Was Fueled by Millennials and Gen X — Can Disney Lure Gen Z, Too?
Regarding the situation on people not purchasing physical media as much as they did in say 2018 vs now with streaming.
Sure times have changed, Badlands won't be available to view for free instantly on Disney Plus. Once the window of time has gone by from leaving the theaters, renting or purchasing digital will be the only option first, so obtaining newer subscribers to Disney will probably be minimal at most for when Badlands is free to watch.
One could argue the lost revenue from disc's has only been reaccumulated digitally, however my brief online news scrolling over the last couple years has informed me that studios have lost money with this present age of streaming compared to say 2014 when disc sales made up the bulk of there home sales revenue. You know $20 a month offers a whole network of content Vs. buying a single film on disc mostly costing more.
Which lead me to believe or at least consider that The Predator would probably have gathered more revenue on home release then perhaps what Badlands will bring in.
Feel free to have an opinion on that topic were all friends here.
Nevertheless studios that release films in theaters care the most about the theatrical box office numbers
Badlands is doing good domestically but internationally should have been better, Disney can afford to make another one
but the economics need to be addressed as to how to get more people to show up for the sequel next time for the international markets and therefore the sequel could be delayed .
Just thought I'll point out in comparison with The Predators opening weekend internationally Vs. Badlands international box office take.