Hold onto your seats, because Predator: Badlands isn’t just breaking records—it’s shattering them. But here’s where it gets controversial: while the film is poised to dominate the box office with an opening weekend that outpaces every other Predator movie, it’s the audience reaction that’s truly turning heads. With a staggering 96% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, Predator: Badlands has officially become the highest-rated Predator film by viewers, leaving even the critically acclaimed Predator: Killer of Killers (89% audience score) in the dust. And this is the part most people miss—it’s not just beating its own franchise; it’s surpassing audience scores for iconic films like Alien and Aliens, both sitting at 94%.
Now, let’s break this down. Here’s how Predator: Badlands stacks up against the rest of the franchise, based on audience and critic scores:
- Predator: Badlands: 96% audience, 85% critic
- Predator: Killer of Killers: 89% audience, 95% critic
- Predator (1987): 87% audience, 65% critic
- Prey: 74% audience, 94% critic
- Predators: 52% audience, 65% critic
- Predator 2: 44% audience, 36% critic
- Alien vs. Predator: 39% audience, 21% critic
- The Predator: 32% audience, 34% critic
- Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem: 30% audience, 12% critic
Bold claim alert: Could Predator: Badlands be the franchise’s saving grace after years of missteps? Directed by Dan Trachtenberg and starring Elle Fanning alongside Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, the film takes us to a remote planet in the future. Here, a young, outcast Predator (Schuster-Koloamatangi) forms an unlikely alliance with Thia (Fanning) as they embark on a perilous quest for the ultimate adversary. It’s a fresh take that’s clearly resonating with audiences—but is it enough to dethrone the classics in the long run?
This year has been a renaissance for both the Predator and Alien franchises, with standout releases like Alien: Earth and Predator: Killer of Killers. Yet, Predator: Badlands stands out as a must-watch, even for casual fans. But here’s the question: Will its 96% score hold up over time, or is it benefiting from recency bias? After all, Alien has over 250,000 reviews—a far cry from Badlands’ current thousand-plus. What do you think? Is Predator: Badlands the best in the franchise, or is its success just a fleeting moment? Let’s debate in the comments!
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