Predator: Badlands (2025)

Trachtenberg delivers the most ambitious Predator film yet, with a young Yautja as fragile prey who forms an unlikely bond on a death planet. The inventive, heart-pounding action is secondary to the film's exploration of empathy and what it means to face death.

Trachtenberg challenges the franchise's core premise by centering a young Yautja runt as the protagonist and pairing him with a synthetic ally. Elle Fanning delivers an Oscar-worthy performance as the film's emotional core in this inventive, heartfelt entry.

The critic calls it absurd fun and the craziest film in the franchise, praising its energy, gruesome thrills, and Elle Fanning’s sparky performance as the unlikely ally to the alien hunter.

The critic praises Trachtenberg's inventive approach of turning the Predator into the hero in a bloody buddy-movie setup with Elle Fanning as a synthetic ally. It highlights the propulsive, gory action sequences and how the film enriches the franchise without losing its fearsome edge.

Badlands upends the formula by setting the story on the Predators' homeworld and making a young Yautja the central character who bonds with a synthetic. Trachtenberg embraces the universe with clever action and a goofy, charming heart focused on toxic masculinity themes.

The film has a misshapen gait as a Predator movie but is enlivened by Elle Fanning’s fun, semi-stoned robot character Thia, who supplies humor, soul and a compelling new dynamic as she teams with the young Predator Dek.

The review describes the film as a consistently entertaining action-thriller that reconceives the Predator as an underdog hero on a quest, boosted by impressive effects, epic scope, and a taut electronic score. It notes the propulsive set pieces and emotional undercurrent but finds the themes occasionally simplistic.

The film flips the script by making the Predator the hero in a lore-heavy expansion that feels safe and frictionless. It sands down the franchise's edgy, nasty edges in favor of Star Wars-like sweetness and toyetic elements.

The critic praises the film's bold shift to making the Predator the protagonist on an alien world, calling it big popcorn fun with heart and the most enjoyable entry since the original. They single out the winning odd-couple dynamic between the surly Yautja and Elle Fanning's synthetic for praise.

The critic finds the film disappointing because it humanises the Predator and makes the creature sympathetic and vulnerable, at which point it ceases to be the Predator. Elle Fanning’s charm keeps it from flatlining completely.

The critic dislikes the schmaltzy attempt to reimagine the Predator as a sympathetic hero with a tragic backstory and finds the film depressingly flat whenever it focuses on the creature rather than the Elle Fanning subplot.

The review notes that die-hard fans may be disappointed by the changes but finds it a big swing that works as a fun, propulsive action-adventure. The critic highlights the fresh take and the odd-couple dynamic between the Yautja and Elle Fanning's synth as adding laughs and heart.

The critic hails it as one of the best movies of the year, praising its empathetic take on the franchise, character depth, and thrilling action.

The critic calls it the most radical Predator film since the original, praising Trachtenberg and Aison for flipping the franchise's perspective to center on a young Yautja protagonist and his unlikely robot companion while exploring their culture and delivering humor and heart.

Trachtenberg continues to expand the Predator universe in inventive ways, making the franchise better than ever by giving emotional depth to a young Yautja protagonist. The film benefits from a charming two-hander dynamic between the lead Predator and Elle Fanning's synthetic character.

The critic finds the film lightweight and lacking menace, turning the Predator into a silly buddy movie with FX set pieces, though praising the leads' chemistry.

The critic praises the chemistry between the diminutive Predator Dek and the chatty, broken synth Thia (Elle Fanning), hailing the film as an entertaining, pulpy adventure with strong performances, inventive creature designs, and solid set pieces under Trachtenberg's direction. They single out the unlikely two-hander dynamic and the fresh hero's journey for the Yautja as a welcome, if conventional, twist on the franchise.

The film shifts focus to a Predator as protagonist on a deadly alien planet, sidestepping human victims in favor of sci-fi adventure and found-family themes. It excels in creature designs, pacing, and playful homages while softening the series' usual edge.