The newest installment in the iconic Predator franchise,  Predator: Badlands, has been received strongly; however, there have yet to be any record-breaking reviews. The film has earned a solid 87% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the third-highest-rated film in the Predator series. It falls just behind 2022’s Prey (94%) and the animated feature Predator: Killer of Killers (95%).

Collider reports that although Badlands may display an “upward trajectory” for the franchise, it “lacks the novelty and emotional clarity that made Prey such a breakthrough.” The film is once again directed by Dan Trachtenberg, who previously resurrected the series with Prey. Although Prey was released exclusively on Hulu rather than in theaters, it was widely praised for its focus on Indigenous survival, resistance, and cultural identity. Badlands balances brutal action with a more character-driven story but “doesn’t quite achieve the same narrative sharpness.”

While there have been some negative reviews, many critics have praised its ambition. Film critic William Bibbiani of TheWrap wrote, “Like Prey before it, Predator: Badlands is mainstream sci-fi filmmaking at its zenith—proof that big, expensive action spectacles don’t have to suck.” Similarly, in a review for The Hollywood Reporter, Richard Lawson explained that the film “simply wants to be the best version of a zillionth Predator installment that it can be. If it has to complicate—and, yes, soften—the branding to do that, so be it.”

Despite these positive reviews, audiences largely agree that Badlands, while strong, remains in the shadow of Prey. Nonetheless, Badlands remains a film that fans of the franchise are largely pleased with, marking a significant improvement over many earlier sequels, some of which only managed to cross the 40% mark.