“Predator: Badlands” is the sci-fi event of the fall Predator: Badlands is the fun 90s sci-fi pulp theaters need. Dylan Fobian , Arts & Culture Reporter November 19, 2025 Predator: Badlands (2025) What Dan Trachtenberg has achieved with the “Predator” franchise is almost astonishing. Following the dreadful 2018 “The Predator,” it seemed like the franchise was dead and long gone. However, in 2022, Dan Trachtenberg changed that with the fantastic “Prey.” Now, in just three years, we have gotten three predator movies from him, two this year. The fact that Trachtenberg was able to save this franchise single-handedly is truly remarkable. “Predator: Badlands” has a first for the franchise as well, as the titular Predator (or as they are called in-universe, Yautja) is the main character. This is the first of many excellent choices Trachtenberg makes to keep reinventing the franchise. The film follows Dek, played by New Zealand actor Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, who is the runt of his clan of Yautja, who goes on his first hunt to prove himself to his father. The story is incredibly simplistic, but it works so well here. Due to the simple story, the film can focus extensively on Dek, who has more depth than any character in the franchise. Another bold move the film does is that all of Dek’s dialogue is subtitled, as the Yajuta do not speak in English. The entire first act of the film features very little dialogue, which leads to some exceptionally visual worldbuilding and storytelling that is refreshing in the IP filmmaking landscape. One of the reasons the movie is so entertaining is that it fills a void that has been in theaters for a while. The sci-fi genre hasn’t had an enormous blockbuster this fun in ages. Star Wars has moved to TV, and it seems that since then, no one has felt the need to try to make a big blockbuster sci-fi movie. “Predator: Badlands” does. The action in the film is entertaining and never stops until the end. It is fun, inventive, and so well choreographed. The predators are known for being intelligent, and watching Dek evolve and utilize the environment as the movie progresses feels very satisfying. The movie relies heavily on Elle Fanning, who plays a pair from Weyland-Yutani (notably from the Alien franchise) tasked with hunting the same animal that Dek is. Fanning is so much fun here, and seeing her really get to chew up the scenes just works. Initially, I was concerned that they would be trying to set up another Alien and Predator movie, but thankfully, “Predator: Badlands” is a fully standalone project. The only fundamental flaw here is that some of the humor just doesn’t land, but it really doesn’t affect how much fun this film is. What makes “Predator: Badlands” so much fun is how it takes a long-running franchise and successfully innovates within it. Trachtenberg continues to prove that he is the next big thing in sci-fi IP-driven storytelling, and the way he continually changes the formula for these movies is incredible. “Predator: Badlands” is the return to pulpy, fun, science fiction action movies I have been dying to see, and I hope that Trachtenberg gets to make however many of these films he wants. 8/10 Source: https://iowastatedaily.com/326977/arts-culture/predator-badlands-is-the-sci-fi-event-of-the-fall/