Predator Badlands Dominates with $4.8M in Preview Earnings at Friday AM Box Office

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Predator Badlands Dominates with $4.8M in Preview Earnings at Friday AM Box Office

Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, the film Predator: Badlands has made a notable debut, earning $4.8 million during its preview period. This total includes earnings from both Wednesday fan screenings and Thursday night showings.

Comparison to Other Titles

While the preview earnings are impressive, they fall short compared to the $6.5 million generated by Alien: Romulus, another franchise reboot by 20th Century Studios under Disney. It’s essential to note that Alien: Romulus, directed by Fede Alvarez, opened to $42 million in the U.S. as an R-rated film released in mid-August 2024.

In contrast, Predator: Badlands is positioned similarly to Ballerina, which took $3.8 million in previews before achieving a $24.5 million opening in June. Notably, Badlands surpasses the preview earnings of Blade Runner 2049, which reported $3.5 million in previews before a $12.5 million Friday and a final three-day total of $32.7 million.

Franchise Context and Future Expectations

Another encouraging aspect for Predator: Badlands is that its preview numbers exceed those of The Predator, which garnered $2.5 million in Thursday previews back in September 2018. The Predator eventually opened with $24.6 million.

The record for the highest opening in the franchise remains with Alien vs. Predator, which achieved $38.2 million at the domestic box office. Following that, Predators from 2010 stands as the second-best, grossing $24.7 million.

Budget and Critical Reception

The projected earnings for Badlands this weekend are estimated to exceed $25 million, potentially marking it as the second-best opening in the Predator series. The film carries a production cost of $105 million before marketing expenses and was filmed in New Zealand with tax incentives.

Previously, Trachtenberg revitalized the franchise with Prey, released in August 2022, which became the most-watched premiere ever on Hulu at the time. Critics widely believed that Prey deserved a theatrical release, which may explain the current buzz surrounding Badlands.

Audience Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, Predator: Badlands enjoys an impressive 96% audience score, outperforming the original Predator from 1987, which holds an 87% rating. Meanwhile, Prey maintains the highest critical acclaim of the series with a 94% rating.