Predator: Badlands is exceeding all expectations when it comes to its box office performance. The movie has achieved a global opening of a whopping $80 million, out of which, $40 million is from the international box office (via Deadline).
This marks the best worldwide debut for the franchise, which has been on for almost forty years. Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, Badlands has surpassed The Predator (2018), which opened to $73.5 million.
In the international market, Badlands has the second-highest opening in the franchise, the first being The Predator, which made $48.9 million. It opened at the number one spot in many countries, such as the UK, Spain, China, Korea, and Mexico. In other countries like France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Brazil, it was the highest-ranking non-local movie.
Keeping up with the “franchise best” expectations, Badlands had the best opening ever for the franchise in markets like the UK, Netherlands, Taiwan, and more. In a rare feat, Badlands became the first major Hollywood studio movie to debut at No.1 in China since July’s Jurassic World Rebirth.
Predator: Badlands Projected Box Office Run
Starring Elle Fanning as Thia, the damaged Weyland-Yutani synthetic, Badlands is reported to have a budget of $105 million, making it the most expensive movie in the franchise yet, second only to The Predator with $88 million (via The Numbers).
In order for it to break even at the box office, Badlands will need to make at least double its production budget and reach somewhere around the $210 million mark.
According to Insight Trends World, the Trachtenberg-directed installment can become the highest-grossing movie of the franchise with a total global run of $253.9 million. Here’s how its predecessors have done, keeping the streaming releases aside:
Does Badlands have what it takes to leave the franchise in the dust when it comes to box office performance? An $80 million opening does give us hope.
Will There Be a Sequel to Predator: Badlands?
Badlands has received a score of 85% on Rotten Tomatoes, and its critical reception has been largely positive. The critical consensus praises Trachtenberg for continuing to take the franchise in “exciting new directions with ‘Badlands’“. Click here to read FandomWire’s review of the movie!
From the box office opening to its positive reception, all signs point to the possibility that Badlands may return with a sequel in the future. However, it still largely depends on how successful it will be at the box office.
So far, it’s looking good. In the coming days, though, Badlands may face some competition from other promising movies on the roster: The Running Man and Wicked: For Good.
Talking to Collider, Trachtenberg opened up about exploring the options in the future, including an animated installment. However, “the holy grail of ‘Predator’ movies” would be bringing Arnold Schwarzenegger back, as per producer Ben Rosenblatt.
In an interview with Deadline, Rosenblatt said,
Arnold and Dan have met a couple of times now. He’s been really interested in what we’re doing, he’s a real fan of what we’ve done so far, from what I understand. And we’re really excited. After Predator: Badlands comes out, we’ll see and have more conversations. Hopefully, we’ll have a chance to do something with Arnold, because that would be awesome
Would Schwarzenegger want to return to the franchise as Major Alan “Dutch” Schaefer, or has he closed that chapter of his life for good? We will find out! Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
Predator: Badlands is available to watch in theaters.
