Predator: Badlands

It's finally here, a Predator movie that doesn't take itself too seriously, yet remains incredibly well-made and thoroughly entertaining, Dan Trachtenberg, who already delivered the most serious and still the best Predator film to date with Prey, is clearly having a blast with Predator: Badlands, from the very first scene, the movie hooks you with one of the most exciting and promising intros in the franchise.

This is the closest we've ever gotten to seeing the Predator as an actual character, complete with personality, language, and depth, and it works remarkably well, adding to that, Elle Fanning is a great addition to the film, and the little creature named Bud also brings unexpected charm to the film.

Besides being one of the most excitingly entertaining films of the year, Predator: Badlands, in my opinion, the most wholesome buddy cop movie i've seen in a while, the beautifully shot, vast, and dark Predator world gives off Dune vibes for me, while the introduction of fascinating new creatures evokes a touch of Avatar, i genuinely adore the world building they've did in the film, it's visually stunning.

The action and fight sequences are exciting, and the Predator is as badass as ever, while the pacing slows down in the second half, overall, Predator: Badlands is pure fun, exciting, and wildly entertaining, i wouldn't mind another installment, as long as Dan Trachtenberg returns to direct it, because honestly, the best Predator movies are the last three, all under his direction.

Whose idea was it to turn Predator into a beat-for-beat Disney-style adventure film? This is Predator in name only. There is virtually none of the horror, tension, or atmosphere from the original. It feels like a cardboard cutout, generic kids movie. It may as well have been a Disney Channel original.

I could not believe they included every stereotype: the quirky, annoying sidekick who asks endless questions while traveling, the cutesy creature the audience is supposed to adore, the forced found-family dynamic, and the overtly evil villains with shallow motivations. It's seriously reminded me of like this straight to dvd kids movies my parents bought for me when I was a kid. Unbelievable.

So after the Disneyfication of Star Wars and Alien, we finally get around to the abject ruination of the beloved Predator series. True, Shane Black came mighty close with The Predator back in 2018 and best not mention Alien v. Predator: Requiem at all but, in the excellent wake of Prey and Predator: Killer of Killers, hopes were extremely high for whatever Dan Trachtenberg would come up with next.

And then this. Predator meets the Mickey Mouse club or Predator and Stitch. Whatever, you get the picture. What we have been dished up here is the very furthest thing we could possibly have been given from the Predator we know and love.

I won't go into the depressing details of what we actually have to endure for the sake of the poor suckers who are going to spend their hard earned sheckles seeing this mess but I just need to say that Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi give it their best... and that's about it. Too much CGI, not enough horror and absolutely no tension.

This is gonna take a lot of coming back from....

YEESSSS!!! As a big fan of the original 1987 Schwarzenegger movie, I have seen all the Predator (and Alien) movies they have put out...including the ones that were awful and wasted my time (i.e. Requiem).

This "Badlands" movie, "Killer of Killers", and "Prey" have all fully resurrected the fandom's interest in wanting more again, in lieu of being okay if the franchise died. Trachtenberg single-handedly brought the series back to life...it is in good hands.

Still connected to the Weyland-Yutani Industries (see Alien series), this flick totally kicks ass with action, believable CGI, great sounds, cool scenery, a little comic relief, villains, unlikely friendships, adaptation-evolving theme, etc. Production, cinematography, plot...totally spot on. See it in the IMAX if you can!!! You are totally cheering for the Yautja. I thought I would hate the Thia character...but she/synth keeps it grounded and tied back perfectly to earth and the human's need for consumption. I think both the Alien and Predator universes still have more to give.

BEST to worst of the Predator series...(in my opinion): 1. Predator (1987), of course, gotta let the original stand alone.

2. Tie: Killer of Killers (2025) & Predator- Badlands (2025) 3. Prey (2022) 4. Predators (2010) 5. Alien vs. Predator (2004) 6. The Predator (2018) 7. Predator 2 (1990) 8. Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007)...worst ever.

Let's be honest this is just a mix of Jurassic park, Avatar, Starwars all wrapped into one. With a predator falling in love with new pronoun. Hollywood really you need to wake up and go back to the 80s and 90s. We're just getting directors because they come from a certain place and not looking at true cinema.