Predator: Badlands received a strong Rotten Tomatoes score, proving its director may be the new king of the franchise. Predator began as an action sci-fi spectacle in which humans fought back against a lethal alien killer. It started in the jungles in 1987 with Arnold Schwarzenegger, but eventually moved to urban environments and culminated in a clash with Alien‘s Xenomorphs.
In recent years, the franchise has had many failed reboot attempts, such as 2010’s Predators and 2018’s The Predator. However, it wasn’t until 2022’s Prey that the series started to regain some traction. Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, Prey surprised Predator fans and captivated newcomers with a small-scale story that went back to the universe’s roots.
Trachtenberg returned to direct Badlands, the first theatrical entry since 2018. His latest film is currently receiving rave reviews from critics, earning an 89% critic score on RT. It’s his third Predator film in a row with high praise, suggesting Trachtenberg may be the biggest factor to the series’ success.
Dan Trachtenberg Has Directed 3 Vastly Different Predator Movies With High RT Critic Scores
After Shane Black’s 2018 film took Predator to ridiculous heights, the series needed to be brought back to simplicity. Prey delivered exactly that, following a Comanche woman who tries to protect her tribe from a dangerous alien threat. Set in 1719, the film has a unique setup as the main protagonist uses primitive weapons to defeat a technologically advanced hunter.
Prey currently holds a 94% on RT, as critics praised the film for its creative action sequences and captivating lead performance by Amber Midthunder. After the film’s success on Hulu, Trachtenberg returned to direct another Predator film that also took the franchise in another direction.
Released in June 2025, Predator: Killer of Killers is an animated anthology movie that shares the stories of a Viking, a ninja, and a WWII pilot, who all survived Predator encounters. While each story takes place during a different time period, they come together for a finale that introduces several intriguing possibilities for the universe’s canon.
Not every story is as gripping as the others, but critics still enjoyed this project overall, as it holds a 95% critic score on RT. It’s the highest-rated film in the series, and was another win for Trachtenberg and Hulu. With Badlands, the 10 Cloverfield Lane director has created an unofficial Predator trilogy that is full of critical darlings.
What’s even more impressive about Trachtenberg’s accomplishment is that these three movies feel distinct. Prey takes the franchise back to colonial America, Killer of Killers is the first animated/anthology entry, and Badlands is the first chapter to feature a Predator as the main protagonist.
They all have unique angles, but still include the gore, suspense, and action that audiences are accustomed to. Predator: Badlands proves Trachtenberg understands this franchise better than anyone, as he delivers entertaining sci-fi blockbusters that feature something fresh.
- Release Date
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November 5, 2025
- Runtime
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107 minutes
- Director
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Dan Trachtenberg
- Writers
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Dan Trachtenberg, Patrick Aison, John Thomas, Jim Thomas
- Producers
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Brent O’Connor, John Davis, Marc Toberoff, Dan Trachtenberg, Ben Rosenblatt
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Elle Fanning
Thia / Tessa
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Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi
Dek / Father
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
