Dan Trachtenberg Shines with ‘Predator: Badlands’ – A Box Office Hit
Dan Trachtenberg has emerged as a cinematic hero with the release of his latest film, Predator: Badlands, which is revitalizing the domestic box office. The film debuted strong, raking in an impressive $15.6 million on its opening Friday, setting the stage for a projected domestic opening weekend of $36 million to $38.5 million. This surpasses initial predictions, which estimated a weekend total of around $25 million. The success of Badlands can be attributed to its stellar reviews and enthusiastic audience reception, making it a standout in the franchise.
Notably, Predator: Badlands is the only film in the Predator franchise, including the crossover titles with Alien, to receive an A- Cinemascore. Audience feedback is exceptional, with PostTrak exits showing an outstanding five out of five stars. Co-created by Trachtenberg and Prey writer Patrick Aison, this new installment charts a fresh course for the now nine-film series that began with John McTiernan’s iconic Predator in 1987. Following the merger with Fox, the franchise found its new home under Disney.
Badlands is on track to achieve the highest opening for a standalone Predator film, with the potential to dethrone AVP: Alien vs. Predator, which debuted with $38.4 million in 2004 (not accounting for inflation) to become the highest-grossing entry in the sci-fi series. Trachtenberg has a history of surprises, beginning with 10 Cloverfield Lane in 2016, followed by Prey in 2021, which was available on Netflix, and the upcoming animated anthology Predator: Killer of Killers, set to air on Hulu in June 2025.
In Badlands, Trachtenberg introduces audiences to a new villainous Predator named Dek, portrayed by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi. Dek, cast out by his Yautja clan, embarks on a perilous journey to prove his worth. He commandeers his brother Kwei’s ship to Genna, the universe’s most treacherous planet, where he seeks to hunt its legendary beast. Along the way, he encounters Thia, a Weyland-Yutani synthetic character played by Elle Fanning.
In addition to the excitement surrounding Predator: Badlands, another film making waves is Regretting You, an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel. Now in its third weekend, this female-focused film is demonstrating impressive staying power at the box office. Paramount estimates a modest 7 percent drop, projecting a weekend total of $7.3 million and a cumulative domestic gross of $38.8 million. Former Paramount worldwide president of marketing and distribution Mark Weinstock played a crucial role in securing distribution rights for this romance, which was financed and produced by Constantin Films, and he was instrumental in crafting its successful marketing campaign.
Stay tuned for more updates as these films continue to make their mark at the box office!
