A box office upset is brewing: Rebecca Ferguson's star-studded sci-fi venture is getting overshadowed by the ferocious success of the new 'Predator' installment! Just how big is the gap? Let's dive in.
Rahul Malhotra, Collider's Weekend News Writer with a passion for cinema ranging from Francois Ozon to David Fincher (he’ll watch anything once!), has been diligently tracking the box office battles. For over two years, he's covered everything from Marvel's dominance to the Oscars' highs and lows. Rahul also champions diversity in film, showcasing the vibrant Indian film industries to introduce audiences to a whole new world of cinematic storytelling.
It's only been a little over a week since Dan Trachtenberg's Predator: Badlands hit theaters, and it's already making waves. The movie has triumphantly crossed the $100 million mark globally, a massive win for the franchise. More importantly, it's recouped its estimated $105 million budget, all but guaranteeing that we'll see more Predator adventures in the years to come. Trachtenberg was already a name to watch, especially after his critically acclaimed 2022 prequel, Prey. Remember that one? Many argued it deserved a theatrical release instead of being relegated to Hulu. As a clever move leading up to Badlands, Trachtenberg also co-directed the animated spin-off, Predator: Killer of Killers, which premiered directly on streaming and also received positive reviews.
But here's where it gets interesting... With over $60 million earned domestically, Badlands has clawed its way to become the highest-grossing installment in the entire Predator franchise! Yes, you read that right. It's surpassed the original Predator starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, its sequel Predator 2, the 2010 reboot Predators, and even 2018's The Predator. The Predator universe has already crossed paths with the Alien franchise (remember Alien vs. Predator?), and it seems like the studios are gearing up for another potential crossover. New life was previously breathed into the Alien series with Fede Álvarez's Alien: Romulus, which grossed a considerable $350 million worldwide. Badlands still has a long way to go to reach that height, but it's already surpassed several other sci-fi films, including the Johnny Depp-Christopher Nolan collaboration Transcendence, Neill Blomkamp's Chappie, and the eerily similar Life.
And this is the part most people miss... Let's talk about audience reception.
While Predator: Badlands is earning rave reviews and box office glory, let's compare it to Life. Life boasted a star-studded cast: Ryan Reynolds, Rebecca Ferguson, Jake Gyllenhaal, and even Hiroyuki Sanada of Shōgun fame. Penned by Deadpool's Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, and directed by Daniel Espinosa, it should have been a hit, right? Wrong. Despite the talent involved and generally favorable reviews, Life only managed to earn $101 million globally. There were even rumors that Life might be connected to Sony's Venom universe! Life currently holds a 68% score on Rotten Tomatoes. This is in stark contrast to Badlands, which boasts a "Certified Fresh" 85% score. The audience score for the new Predator film is even more impressive, sitting at an almost perfect 95%! Badlands, starring Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, is currently playing in theaters.
Predator: Badlands - Key Details:
- Release Date: November 5, 2025
- Runtime: 107 minutes
- Director: Dan Trachtenberg
- Writers: Dan Trachtenberg, Patrick Aison, John Thomas, Jim Thomas
- Producers: Brent O'Connor, John Davis, Marc Toberoff, Dan Trachtenberg, Ben Rosenblatt
- Franchise: Predator
- Cast (Partial): Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, Elle Fanning
So, what do you think? Does the overwhelming audience approval for Predator: Badlands signal a resurgence for the franchise, or is Life's performance simply a case of missed potential? Was Life unfairly judged, or did Predator: Badlands simply deliver a better cinematic experience? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
