While Predator: Badlands continues Dan Trachtenberg’s streak of acclaimed Predator entries, which has breathed new life into the series that went off the rails after the 2018 movie, the box office figures paint a whole different picture.
However, it has become the highest-grossing movie in the series, surpassing Alien Vs. Predator‘s figures, the $200 million threshold still appears out of its reach.
PREDATOR: BADLANDS is topping out at just $180M at the global box office, leaving @Disney on the hook for an ~$80M loss, after spending $105M on production + ~$70M in marketing.The third-biggest box office bomb of 2025.Full rankings of this year’s biggest flops dropping soon. pic.twitter.com/fyQHeeSq8h— Global Box Office (@GlobalBoxOff) December 9, 2025
Considering it marked the IP’s return to the big screen after Shane Black’s movie dropped the ball both commercially and critically, despite amassing the highest box office tally in the series, its profitability still remains uncertain.
Did Predator: Badlands Break Even at the Box Office?
Made on a budget of $105 million, as reported by Variety, according to the traditional box office metrics, a movie often needs to rake in 2.5 x its budget to break even. In Badlands‘ case, that figure would be roughly accounted to $262.5 million, and considering it’s reportedly on track to conclude its theatrical run just north of the $180 million mark, the break-even point seems a bit too distant.
Does that mean it’s a failure for Disney? Not exactly, as given the franchise’s recent track record on Disney+, it’s safe to say the movie will bring in substantial figures once it arrives on digital platforms.
It’s important to note that other blockbuster November outings, including Wicked 2 and Zootopia 2, both sequels to enormous movies, crowded the market, especially for an IP that was making its return to the big screen. And given that Trachtenberg has been successful in reviving the brand after years of uncertainty, the saga is expected to continue, albeit its theatrical prospects remain under question.
The Predator Franchise Might Revert to Disney+ Release in the Future
A still from Predator: Badlands | Credit: 20th Century Studios
For an IP that found new legs on Disney+, the theatrical figures for Badlands could push Disney to reevaluate its approach to the series moving forward. While Trachtenberg, who is yet to drop the ball with this series, is expected to return as he’s already brainstorming ideas for a follow-up, there’s a possibility that Disney might revert to the streamer for potential sequels.
Although one would assume that a follow-up to the movie will undoubtedly surpass Badlands‘ total, if they did revert to the R-rating, which is certainly on the cards for this IP, it could further complicate its shot at box office success.
MovieIMDbRotten Tomatoes(Tomatometer / Popcornmeter)Box Office (So far)Predator: Badlands7.4/1086/95%$180.2 million
On the bright side, expect the next entry in the series to bring you another fresh experience, as it has been the mantra for all three of his movies under the Predator banner so far. Hopefully, Disney won’t completely denounce its theatrical prospects. In a less competitive calendar, coupled with the goodwill the franchise has amassed under the Badlands director’s direction, the IP could certainly turn in some juicy figures.
What are your thoughts on Badlands? Comment below!
Predator: Badlands is currently running in theaters.
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