Critics praise ‘Predator: Badlands’ for bold protagonist shift

Director Dan Trachtenberg’s Predator: Badlands is earning widespread critical acclaim for making a Predator the sympathetic protagonist for the first time in the franchise’s history, with IGN awarding it an 8/10 ratingign.
The film follows Dek, a young outcast Predator played by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, as he’s exiled from his clan and must prove himself by hunting on the deadliest planet in the galaxyign.
Elle Fanning delivers a standout performance as Thia, a Weyland Yutani android who becomes Dek’s unlikely companion, with critics particularly praising a fight sequence where her character’s separated torso and legs work independentlyign.
The film marks the first PG-13-rated entry in the Predator franchise, with the rating possible because all violence involves alien gore rather than human bloodshed, though critics note it still “goes pretty hard”ign.
Trachtenberg, who previously directed Prey and Predator: Killer of Killers, receives praise for balancing familiar franchise elements with bold new storytelling that explores Yautja culture and mythologyign.

Predator: Badlands Reviews Praise Dan Trachtenberg’s Bold Direction

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

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

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

“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

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

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

“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

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