Hold onto your hats, sci-fi fans! Dan Trachtenberg's Predator: Badlands is smashing box office expectations, roaring into theaters with a potential record-breaking opening weekend. This film is not just another sequel; it's a game-changer, poised to dominate the domestic box office. The film is projected to earn a staggering $36 million to $38.5 million in its opening weekend, far exceeding initial estimates of $25 million.
The film's success is fueled by glowing reviews and overwhelmingly positive audience reactions, earning an A- CinemaScore – a feat unmatched by any previous Predator film, including the Alien vs. Predator crossovers. PostTrak scores are through the roof, with a perfect five-out-of-five-star rating.
Predator: Badlands, co-created by Trachtenberg and Prey writer Patrick Aison, is blazing a fresh trail for the nine-film franchise, which began with John McTiernan's 1987 classic, Predator. The franchise, now under Disney's banner following the Fox merger, is in good hands.
But here's where it gets exciting: Badlands is not only set to become the highest-grossing standalone Predator film, but it also has a shot at surpassing AVP: Alien vs. Predator, which debuted at $38.4 million in 2004 (not adjusted for inflation).
Trachtenberg, known for his ability to surprise audiences, has delivered yet again. He previously wowed audiences with 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016) and Prey (2021), which streamed on Netflix. In Badlands, he reimagines the villainous Predator, Dek, played by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, as the protagonist. Dek teams up with Elle Fanning's Weyland-Yutani synthetic, Thia. Dek, cast out by his Yautja clan, embarks on an unsanctioned hunt on Genna, the most dangerous planet in the universe, to prove his worth, and that's where he encounters Thia.
Another surprise is the staying power of *Regretting You, the adaptation of the Colleen Hoover novel. Now in its third weekend, the female-skewing movie is defying expectations. Paramount estimates a mere 7% drop, earning *$7.3 million** and finishing the weekend with a domestic total of $38.8 million, despite new film releases.
Mark Weinstock, former Paramount worldwide president of marketing and distribution, was instrumental in securing the rights to distribute the romance, which was financed and produced by Constantin Films, and he spearheaded the marketing campaign.
What do you think of Predator: Badlands's potential success? Do you agree with the positive reviews, or do you have a different perspective? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
