Critics praise ‘Predator: Badlands’ for bold protagonist shift

Critics are hailing Predator: Badlands as a franchise-revitalizing triumph ahead of its November 7 theatrical release, with director Dan Trachtenberg earning widespread praise for making a Predator the sympathetic protagonist for the first time in the series' nearly four-decade history.ign+2

Trachtenberg's Vision Wins Over Critics

The film, which scored an 8/10 from IGN, represents Trachtenberg's third entry in the Predator universe following 2022's acclaimed Prey and this year's animated Predator: Killer of Killers. Critics are praising his ability to subvert expectations while honoring the franchise's core elements.ign

"Dan Trachtenberg ingeniously subverts the series yet again," wrote SlashFilm's Bill Bria. The Wrap's Drew Taylor called it "a tremendous accomplishment — funny, scary, thrilling, emotional, with memorable characters/creatures with smartly staged action and '80s sci-fi fantasy vibes".slashfilm

The story follows Dek, a young Predator outcast played by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, who must hunt the galaxy's most feared creature on the deadly planet Genna to prove his worth to his clan. Unlike previous franchise entries where Predators served as antagonists, Badlands allows audiences to experience the hunt through Yautja eyes.themarysue+2

Elle Fanning's Standout Dual Performance

Elle Fanning's performance as androids Thia and Tessa has emerged as a critical consensus favorite. IndieWire called her work "Oscar-worthy," while multiple outlets have praised her ability to bring humanity to synthetic characters.indiewire+2

"Elle Fanning is a delight in her dual role," noted SlashFilm. Critics particularly highlighted an inventive action sequence where Fanning's bisected android character fights with her torso and legs operating independently.slashfilm+2

Fanning's Thia serves as Dek's unlikely companion after being severed in half by alien creatures, offering to guide him through Genna's lethal landscape in exchange for help reuniting with her fellow androids. Her second role as the cold, calculating Tessa provides a stark contrast that showcases her range.themarysue+2

PG-13 Rating Controversy and Box Office Projections

Badlands marks the first solo Predator film to receive a PG-13 rating, breaking the franchise's 38-year R-rated tradition. Producer Ben Rosenblatt explained the rating stems from the absence of human characters, meaning no "human red blood" appears onscreen.screenrant+2

"Our hope for it is that it can be a PG-13 that feels like an R," Rosenblatt told IGN. Critics have noted the film maintains brutal violence through alien and synthetic characters bleeding white, green, and other non-red fluids.avpgalaxy+2

Early box office projections vary dramatically, with Cinelytic forecasting a potential franchise record of $253.9 million worldwide, while Box Office Theory predicts a more modest $17-25 million opening weekend. The film's reported $100 million budget represents the highest for any Predator entry.slashfilm+2