“Predator: Badlands Dominates Box Office with Record Opening Weekend”

The latest installment of the Predator franchise, titled Predator: Badlands, has achieved remarkable success, grossing $40 million in its opening weekend. This figure positions it as the highest debut in the nearly 40-year history of the series. The film, directed by Dan Trachtenberg, marks a significant pivot for the franchise, following past disappointments at the box office.

In the wake of two underperforming films, Predators (2010) and The Predator (2018), the franchise shifted gears with Prey (2022), which was released on streaming platforms and received both critical acclaim and strong audience engagement. With Predator: Badlands, the decision was made to return to theatrical release, a gamble that appears to have paid off handsomely.

The film premiered as the biggest new release from Hollywood on Friday, swiftly climbing to the top of the domestic box office. According to The Numbers, this opening weekend performance has outpaced the previous record set by Alien vs. Predator, which debuted with $38.3 million in the summer of 2004. This new entry is the first in the franchise to feature one of the extraterrestrial Yautja warriors as a protagonist and is rated PG-13, a notable change for a series traditionally known for its intense violence.

Critics have responded positively to the film, with reviews highlighting its engaging storyline and visual effects. CinemaBlend rated it three-and-a-half stars, contributing to a growing buzz that likely helped drive ticket sales. Audience reactions have been similarly favorable, as reflected in its A- grade from CinemaScore surveys, which is the highest rating any film in the franchise has achieved.

Internationally, Predator: Badlands has also performed well, matching its domestic gross of $40 million. With a total of $80 million within just three days of release, it is set to surpass the overall earnings of earlier installments, including Predators and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, which grossed $127.2 million and $128.9 million respectively during their theatrical runs.

The film’s success comes at a time when the box office needed a boost following disappointing sales from competing releases. Industry analysts note that maintaining this momentum will be crucial as Predator: Badlands faces stiff competition from upcoming films. As a result, the performance of this new entry will be closely monitored in the coming weeks.

In related news, another film, Regretting You, has been holding steady in the box office rankings but has not reached the heights of previous adaptations of Colleen Hoover‘s works. While it earned $7.1 million this weekend, bringing its domestic total to $38.6 million, it has not yet matched the success of It Ends With Us, which grossed $349.7 million globally.

As the entertainment landscape continues to evolve, Predator: Badlands has set a new benchmark for the franchise, and its trajectory will be closely watched as it aims to solidify its place in cinematic history. The upcoming weeks will reveal whether it can sustain its impressive opening and become the definitive box office success of 2025.