Predator: Badlands is suddenly a streaming success. The film has become the No. 1 movie premiere on Hulu since director Dan Trachtenberg’s 2022 movie Prey, pulling nearly 9 million views worldwide in its first five days.
That’s the good headline.
The reality? Fans largely skipped it in theaters and waited to watch it at home.
Fans Waited Instead of Buying Tickets
Despite attempts to spin the theatrical run as a win, Predator: Badlands flat-out underperformed on the big screen.
As I’ve gone over many times, here are the final box office numbers:
- Domestic: $91,083,631
- International: $93,410,824
- Worldwide: $184,494,455
After factoring in production costs, marketing, and distribution cuts, the movie likely lost close to $80 million theatrically, something the shill sites aren’t bothering to report.
And the Hulu debut numbers tell the real story. Nearly 9 million views in five days signals strong interest, just not at theatrical prices. Audiences were willing to watch Badlands, but they preferred doing it as part of their existing streaming subscription rather than buying tickets, just like Prey.
It Wasn’t a Franchise High Point
Among the spin is that outlets are also labeling Badlands as a high mark for the 38-year-old franchise. The numbers say otherwise.
Adjusted for inflation, several previous entries easily outperformed it:
- Alien vs. Predator (2004): $177.4M → $437M today
- Predator (1987): $98.2M → $278M today (domestic alone = $169M today)
- Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007): $130.3M → $202M today
- The Predator (2018): $160.5M → $205M today
- Predators (2010): $127.2M → $187M today
Badlands sits outside the top five in adjusted franchise earnings. It underperformed in raw dollars and when adjusted for inflation.
What today’s numbers reveal is that MORE fans watched it back then than showed up for Badlands. That’s a fact.
There’s no way to honestly frame that as a franchise peak. The fact no sequel has been announced simply proves that.
Predator Works Better on Streaming
What the Hulu debut proves is something the franchise may need to accept – just as I said – Predator performs better on streaming.
Prey is said to be a streaming hit. Now Badlands performs better on Hulu after failing theatrically.
The pattern is clear. Audiences will show up for Disney Predator, just not in theaters.
At this point, the franchise seems more at home as a streaming event where it’s effectively watched “for free” under subscription, rather than as a theatrical tentpole.
No Sequel in Development
There is also currently no Badlands sequel or new Predator movie in development at Disney.
Given the theatrical losses, that’s not surprising.
If the franchise continues, it may be as a streaming-first property rather than a big-budget theatrical gamble.
Director Dan Trachtenberg also recently signed a first-look deal with Paramount.
