Predator: Badlands

Predator: Badlands goes all out in this ninth entry in the Predator franchise, and it is pushing it in a different direction. This time we are far in the future following Dek, a runt Predator with something to prove. Dek heads to the planet Genna to take down the supposedly unkillable apex beast, the Kalisk. Predator: Badland is classic rite of passage – young Dek tries to earn a place in the clan.

Young Dek © 2025 20th Century Studios − All right reserved.

The planet Genna is full of unique and deadly alien creatures who turn the table and hunt the Predator. Dek survives when he stumbles across the torso (top half only) of Thia, a Weyland‑Yutani synthetic (from the Alien franchise) played by Elle Fanning. Thia brings a casual, almost too‑cool energy that does not always mesh with the harsh Badlands vibe. However, torso Thia does keep the story moving and adds a bit of humor. Once the small gang of synths show up to claim the Kalisk for themselves, the film shifts into full CGI brawl mode. The synth gang is headed by a Thia look-alike also played by Elle Fanning. Predators vs. synthetics vs. giant space monster. The end of Predator: Badlands is chaotic, but the CGI is well done.

The acting is secondary in the movie – Elle Fanning is the only actor – the main reason this movie exists is to introduce a new apex predator on par with King Kong or Godzilla and set up future stories. Toward the end of Predator: Badlands they made the young Kalisk cute – most likely anticipating a spin-off.

As Predator films go, Badlands is perfectly fine: entertaining enough and visually slick. But for my money, Prey still stands as the high-water mark of the franchise.