Predator: Badlands (2025) The Franchise Rises From the Jungle

A young Predator outcast from his clan finds an unlikely ally on his journey in search of the ultimate adversary.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43R9l7EkJwE

Alright folks - grab your thermal vision goggles and broomstick, because I just got back from a trip to the outer rim of the Predator universe and I’ve got thoughts. Yes, I swallowed the Yautja bug and came out ready to share.

I went to see “Predator: Badlands” and let me tell you: if you ever thought the Predator franchise was going to just keep recycling jungles, humans screaming and one bulky alien stomping around, buckle up. This one flips the script. In fact, it flips it so hard it might have whiplash.

Let’s talk protagonist. Yes, I said protagonist. Meet Dek (played by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi). He’s a young Yautja outcast. That’s like if Rocky Balboa got his own franchise - but replace the boxing gym with a planet of death-flora, alien beasts, and laser spears. Instead of humans being the hunted, he’s the hunted by his own clan. Talk about dinner table awkwardness.

And then there’s Thia (Elle Fanning). A damaged synthet­ic from the Weyland-Yutani corporation. Yes, that corporation. That means the Alien franchise junkies in the back row will grin knowingly. There’s a smart nod to lore here instead of just “hey look  -  monster & humans again.” The film is asking: what if the monster had feelings, agency, a journey of its own? Suddenly your Predator poster becomes more than nostalgia.

What I liked:

The action sequences hit. The environment is no cartoon set. This planet (Genna? I think that’s the name) is hostile, unpredictable, visually lush in its alien-ness. The CGI holds up. The franchise has raised its game. Then the crossover angle with Alien lore? That’s a smart inclusion - the Weyland-Yutani stuff doesn’t feel shoe-horned, it adds dimension. And for the longtime Predator fans: yes, there are little Easter eggs (you’ll spot the references), making you feel rewarded for showing up.

Now, let’s get honest. There are a couple of things that made me do the “hmm” face. First: if you’ve seen Star Wars (and let’s be real, you have), you’ll spot echoes - clans, outcasts, droid-like companions, you name it. I’m not mad, but I’m raising an eyebrow. Second: Thia’s companion-synth-machinery? Occasionally the mechanics felt closer to superhero territory than “hunter in a brutal game of survival.” And lastly: some of the narrative foreshadowing is so big you might say, “oh yeah, here it comes,” a few minutes earlier than the film wants. But these are speed bumps, not deal-killers.

Interesting tidbit: there’s a Harvester skull from Independence Day on the trophy wall in the teaser. Yes, I paused. Yes, I snapped. Yes, I forwarded it. And the movie gives you a Predator as the hero for once. That alone deserves popcorn.

But more than popcorn: this film invites the question - what does it mean to be a hunter, a trophy-collector, a clan member? The Yautja culture here is fleshed out (finally), instead of being just “alien monster of the week.” There’s more depth, more world-building, and less “humans as targets for big monster to smash.” That shift is refreshing. This is not “Predator hunts us”; this is “Predator hunts himself, his place, his worth.”

Yes, the film is more accessible (PG-13 rating rather than the old R-rated gore-fest). For some that’s sacrilege; for others it means the umbrella guy next to you can bring his popcorn without worrying about blood geysers. I say: adaptation is survival. The film evolves.

In more than one scene I found myself leaning forward, thinking, okay, here comes the big moment. And when it came, I was entertained. I laughed (in the good way), I tensed, I appreciated the craft. If you’re a fan who’s been waiting for the Predator series to stop just re-running the same formula and start living in its own mythos, this might be your flick.

Would I recommend it to you? Yes - absolutely. Go in with a sense of fun, enjoy the big vistas, the hunts, the aesthetic shifts. And leave ready to talk about it with friends - “Did you catch that reference?” “What did you think about the synth-arc?” “Was the foreshadowing too heavy?” Build a little side convo.

Ranking (yes, I’m that guy): 7.3/10.

Why not 8 or 9? Because I’m stingy, I have eyeballs, and I believe in being honest. It’s good. It’s fun. It’s ambitious. But it’s not flawless. And sometimes ambition hits the ramparts. Still - for fans of grand-scale sci-fi action with a bit of soul and a lot of claws, you’ll get your money’s worth. Let me know if you got mad Guardians of the Galaxy vibes at the end. Like more is coming from this motley crew.