When 20th Century Studios sent 2022’s Predator prequel Prey directly to streaming, many thought that was the end of the road for theatrical Predator outings.
Given the patchy box-office history of the series, particularly domestically, it seemed Disney had thrown in the towel, content to have the Predator stalk VOD.
However, when Dan Trachtenberg’s Prey performed well above expectations, and garnered several Emmy nominations, word reached us that his follow-up movie would be given a full theatrical release.
Fans held their breath, alongside the studio and filmmakers, to see if Predator: Badlands would deliver…
Trachtenberg’s vision has continued to land with audiences, with Predator: Badlands taking the top spot domestically during its opening weekend.
In fact, Badlands tore past its initial opening estimate of $25 million, blazing forward to set a new franchise record. The film ultimately almost doubled its estimate, opening to an impressive $40 million domestically. This tops the previous domestic record for the franchise, held by 2004’s Alien Vs. Predator, of $38 million.
Internationally, the film earned an additional $40 million, taking the worldwide opening total to $80 million.
Performing well both critically and commercially, Badlands cements Trachtenberg as a filmmaker born for the Predator franchise. Since 2022, Trachtenberg has made it his mission to put Predator “back on top,” following years of lukewarm reviews.
Well, evidently, the director has succeeded.
With the Predator series now at an all-time high, of course, talks of a sequel have emerged. According to Trachtenberg, he intends to stay with the franchise, and a third film from him is on the cards. Sources claim that talks with original Predator star Arnold Schwarzenegger are “ongoing,” as the studio eyes his return.
With that exciting news, we’ll keep a close eye on all things Predator related for you.
