“Predator: Badlands” topped the North American box office with a strong opening weekend, grossing an estimated $40 million according to studio estimates released Sunday. This impressive debut marks the highest opening for the “Predator” franchise, surpassing the $38.3 million launch of the 2004 film “Alien vs. Predator.”
Following a particularly sluggish box office weekend, “Predator: Badlands” faced relatively little competition from new releases. The film, directed by Dan Trachtenberg, also performed well internationally, raking in another $40 million overseas for Disney’s 20th Century Studios. The film is notable not only for its box office success but also for being the most expensive installment in the franchise, with a budget of $105 million.
Set on a remote planet, “Badlands” follows an outcast predator, played by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, who teams up with an android researcher portrayed by Elle Fanning. The film has received positive reviews, holding an 85% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and earning an “A-” CinemaScore from audiences.
Amidst this good news, the overall fall season for theaters has been challenging. October recorded the lowest box office revenues in nearly 30 years, with many films struggling to attract audiences. Recently, AMC Theaters reported a staggering $298.2 million quarterly loss, reflecting the industry’s ongoing difficulties.
This weekend also saw a mixed performance among new releases. “Die My Love,” starring Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson, debuted to a disappointing $2.8 million, while the boxing drama “Christy,” featuring Sydney Sweeney, opened with a modest $1.3 million. In contrast, Sony Pictures Classics’ “Nuremberg,” a post-World War II film starring Rami Malek and Russell Crowe, earned $4.1 million. Notably, “Sarah’s Oil” outperformed expectations with a strong $4.5 million opening and an “A+” CinemaScore.
Among the most promising potential awards contenders is Neon’s “Sentimental Value,” directed by Joachim Trier, which opened in four theaters with a strong per-screen average of $50,000, indicating positive reception early on.
The debut of “Predator: Badlands” helps to boost Disney’s overall box office performance, achieving four consecutive years of $4 billion in worldwide ticket sales. With more anticipated hits on the horizon, including “Zootopia 2” and “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” Disney is well-positioned to surpass $5 billion in ticket sales this year.
As the box office navigates through these tumultuous times, the success of “Predator: Badlands” offers a hopeful sign that audiences still crave thrilling cinematic experiences, suggesting a revitalization for theaters as new and diverse stories continue to be told.