Overview: Predator: Badlands, which stars Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, is set in the future on a remote planet, where a young Predator (Schuster-Koloamatangi), outcast from his clan, finds an unlikely ally in Thia (Fanning) and embarks on a treacherous journey in search of the ultimate adversary.

Verdict: After years of diminishing returns and sequels that failed to garner real excitement, the Predator franchise got a massive shot in the arm in 2022 with the release of Prey. The 1700s-set, Comanche-centric thriller breathed new life into the property, with stylish visuals, a compelling story, and a fantastic lead performance from Amber Midthunder.

And while the film earned rave reviews, it was hindered from the start by a streaming-exclusive release model that kept it from theatrical greatness. This year’s Predator: Killer of Killers, an animated anthology film also helmed by Prey director Dan Trachtenberg, earned a similarly strong reception but was once again relegated to Hulu.

Now, three years after Prey, Trachtenberg is trying to catch lightning in a bottle again, this time on the big screen. Predator: Badlands is very different in premise from Prey, set in the far future on a distant alien planet, and with a young Yautja, aka Predator, named Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi), as the protagonist rather than the villain.

Indeed, Badlands is also rated PG-13, a first for the Predator franchise (not counting Alien vs. Predator). All of those changes have led some to question whether or not the film will find the same success.