Review: Predator: Badlands is a Massive Upgrade for the Franchise

Written by Ronnie Gorham

Predator: Badlands upgrades more than just its tech in the newest installment.

Since 1987 Predator has carved its place in the sci-fi hall of fame, right next to lightsabers, xenomorphs and phasers. Decades later, the Predator franchise is alive and in good hands thanks to director Dan Trachtenberg who has gifted us with Prey (2022), Predator: Killer of Killers (2025) and now Predator: Badlands.

Until now, The Predator has always been a dreadlocked, cloaking device walking nightmare with enough advanced weaponry and retractable wrist blades to kill an entire army. Predator: Badlands changes that.  

For the first time in the franchise, The Predator is given personality and genuine character development, making us care about him as more than just a hunter, but as a character to root for with something to prove. The film introduces us to Dek, a Predator thought to be the weakest among his clan. In his dad’s eyes, the best way Dek can bring glory to his family is by dying. After an insane twist of fate sees Dek’s brother Kwei die, Dek embarks on a suicide mission to prove his worth to his father and honor his brother by traveling to the planet Genna where Dek tries to slay an unkillable creature called The Kalisk. 

Once Dek crash lands on Genna, the titular Badlands. The title makes immediate sense as Dek’s barely on the ground two minutes before things on the planet try to kill him. It’s here that we are introduced to Dek’s unlikely co-star played to perfection by Elle Fanning. She plays Thia, an android developed by the Weyland-Yutani Corporation, a mega corporation from the Alien franchise who prioritize profit over human life. Unknowingly, Thia and Dek’s paths quickly intertwine in ways neither could predict, putting them right on a collision course of danger, fate and difficult choices each will have to make. The chemistry between Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) and Thia feels authentic, playful and a lot of fun.

What makes Predator: Badlands stand out is its successful attempt at humanizing the hunter. For years, The Predator has been a symbol of unstoppable chaos, a creature who defines himself as the apex predator. But Dek’s journey reframes that legacy, showing us things that we’ve never seen before in a Predator like vulnerability, determination, and even cracking a few jokes. By giving The Predator personality and growth, Badlands doesn’t just expand the franchise, it redefines it. Predator: Badlands proves that the Predator saga still has new territory to conquer.

Everything about this sci-fi thrill ride is just super enjoyable. If you can catch it in a theater, especially IMAX do so as the sound design and soundtrack deliver an awesome combination. Every tree branch leap, sword swing and sound movement is fantastic and done brilliantly by sound design and editor James Miller among a team of others. To add a cherry on top is an excellent soundtrack that flawlessly adds a good layer of awesome by composers Sarah Schachner and Benjamin Wallfisch who both worked previously on other Predator films.

Predator: Badlands is a refreshing sci-fi action movie that injects the franchise with a shot of adrenaline. From the opening sequence to its final shot, the movie proves that director Dan Trachtenberg and writer Patrick Aison know exactly how to evolve the Predator legacy. Where Prey hinted at new possibilities, Badlands kicks the door wide open. Now the question is where they will take the universe next.

Predator: Badlands is now playing in theaters nationwide.