Predator: Badlands Sets Box Office Record With Biggest Opening

Dan Trachtenberg’s Predator: Badlands has made a historic impact at the global box office. The latest installment in the long-running sci-fi franchise opened to record-breaking numbers, setting a new benchmark for the series with its massive opening weekend performance.

Predator: Badlands has the biggest opening in the franchise’s history

Predator: Badlands opened to $80 million worldwide, marking the biggest debut in the franchise’s 38-year history, according to Variety. The film earned $40 million in North America and another $40 million from 52 international markets, surpassing 2018’s The Predator, which previously held the global opening record at $73.5 million. It also overtook 2004’s Alien vs. Predator as the top domestic debut in the series, which had made $38.2 million.

Deadline reported that the film’s $40 million North American debut came from 3,725 theaters, aided by strong Saturday holds and premium format screens like Imax and 3D, which accounted for nearly 59% of total grosses. China led international markets with $7.4 million, followed by the United Kingdom with $3.2 million and Mexico with $2.3 million. The production, directed by Dan Trachtenberg, cost $105 million to make. It stars Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi and Elle Fanning as unlikely allies in a new chapter of the sci-fi franchise.

This release is the ninth installment in the Predator series and the first theatrical film since Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox. Trachtenberg previously directed Prey (2022), which debuted on Hulu to critical acclaim, and Predator: Killer of Killers (2025), an animated spin-off that also premiered on the platform.

The PG-13 rating widened its audience beyond the typical male demographic, drawing in 11% under-17 viewers by Sunday. The film received an A- CinemaScore, the highest ever for the series. Badlands is benefitting from strong word-of-mouth and broad fan engagement, helping boost November’s box office after a slow October.

Originally reported by Vritti Johar on SuperHeroHype.

Source: Comingsoon.net