Predator: Badlands Hits $40M, Becomes Franchise's Top US Opener

Predator: Badlands Revives Box Office With Record Debut

The North American box office witnessed a much-needed resurgence this weekend, powered by the stellar debut of the latest sci-fi action film, Predator: Badlands. The movie, released by Walt Disney Co.'s 20th Century Studios, opened to an impressive $40 million in domestic ticket sales, according to studio estimates released on Sunday.

This opening figure is significant for two key reasons. Firstly, it provided a slight lift from the industry's recent autumn slowdown, coming on the heels of the worst box office weekend of 2025. Secondly, and more notably, the $40 million debut has set a new record for the long-running Predator franchise, surpassing the previous high of $38.3 million set by Alien vs. Predator back in 2004.

A Costly Gamble and Critical Acclaim

Directed and written by Dan Trachtenberg, Predator: Badlands is the eighth instalment in the series that began in 1987. The film introduces a novel twist to the sci-fi lore, following the journey of a young, outcast Predator, played by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, who teams up with an android researcher, portrayed by Elle Fanning, on a remote planet.

The gamble seems to have paid off, as the film has been met with positive responses from both critics and audiences. It boasts a strong 85% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and moviegoers awarded it a solid "A-" CinemaScore. However, this success comes with a hefty price tag; with a production budget of $105 million, it is officially the most expensive film in the Predator franchise. The film also added another $40 million from international markets.

How Other New Releases Fared

The weekend's other new releases struggled to make a significant impact against the might of the Predator. The Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson-starrer Die My Love, directed by Lynne Ramsay, had a disappointing start, collecting only $2.8 million from 1,983 theatres. Audiences gave the film a harsh "D+" CinemaScore.

Similarly, Christy, featuring Sydney Sweeney as boxer Christy Martin, opened softly with $1.3 million from 2,011 locations. On a more positive note, Nuremberg, the post-World War II drama starring Rami Malek and Russell Crowe, managed $4.1 million.

The best performer among the other newcomers was Sarah's Oil. The Amazon MGM release earned $4.5 million and was rewarded with a rare and coveted "A+" CinemaScore from ticket buyers. In limited release, Neon's Oscar-tipped film Sentimental Value had a spectacular start, earning $200,000 from just four theatres, resulting in a powerful per-screen average of $50,000.

A Win for Disney and the Top 10 Chart

The successful launch of Predator: Badlands sealed The Walt Disney Co.'s fourth consecutive year of achieving $4 billion in global ticket sales. It also helped the studio recover from recent disappointments like Tron: Ares and Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere. With major upcoming releases like Zootopia 2 and Avatar: Fire and Ash, Disney is well-positioned to cross the $5 billion mark this year.

Here is the official Top 10 list of domestic box office earners for the weekend: