The iconic Predator franchise has roared back to life with a vengeance. Predator: Badlands, the highly anticipated new film from director Dan Trachtenberg, has scored a spectacular opening at the North American box office, setting a new high mark for the 38-year-old series.
Record-Breaking Opening Weekend
The film made a thunderous debut, earning a staggering $39 million on its opening day. This phenomenal start makes it the biggest domestic opening in the history of the Predator franchise, a title previously held by 2004's Alien vs. Predator, which opened with $38.2 million.
According to industry reports from Deadline, the film's momentum remained strong throughout the weekend. After its powerful Friday, which included previews, Predator: Badlands collected $14 million on Saturday. This represented only a slight 10% dip from its Friday and preview total of $15.6 million, indicating stable audience interest.
Audience Acclaim and Milestones
The success of Predator: Badlands is not just measured in dollars. The film has also achieved a significant career milestone for its lead actress, Elle Fanning. This opening weekend ranks as her second-highest ever, trailing only behind her roles in Maleficent ($69.4M) and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil ($36.9M).
Beyond the box office revenue, the film has been a hit with viewers. It earned the best CinemaScore in the franchise's history, securing an A- rating. This is a notable improvement over the B+ scores received by the original 1987 film and its 1990 sequel. Furthermore, PostTrak audiences were equally enthusiastic, giving the film five stars and a 78% 'definite recommend' rating, signaling strong word-of-mouth potential for its continued box office run.
A New Chapter for the Franchise
Predator: Badlands is the ninth installment in the sci-fi action series that began with the Arnold Schwarzenegger classic in 1987. Helmed by Dan Trachtenberg and written by Patrick Aison, the film stars Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi.
The film had its world premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre on November 3, before its wide release across the United States on November 7. For Indian audiences, the film was released in English, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu, receiving largely positive reviews from both critics and moviegoers, cementing its status as a triumphant return for the legendary hunter.
