Predator: Badlands (2025)

Welcome to the Badlands

Set in the near future, after global wars and ecological disaster have turned parts of the U.S. Southwest into lawless no-man’s land, Predator: Badlands follows a small band of mercenaries, ex-military, and outlaws who control a remote mining outpost. But when one of their own is found skinned and mutilated, they realize something far worse than raiders stalks the sands.

As the Predator picks them off one by one, alliances shatter and tensions erupt. But the desert has birthed its own kind of survivor: Maya Cruz (played by Ana de Armas), a hardened ex-special forces tracker with a mysterious past — and a personal score to settle.

A New Kind of War

While staying true to the franchise’s DNA — the thrill of the hunt, the survivalist intensity, and the chilling sound of that iconic clicking — Badlands reinvents the Predator formula. The setting is raw and lawless, with heatwaves, dust storms, and brutal human enemies creating an environment where even the Predator faces challenges.

The film balances high-stakes action with psychological tension, much like Predator (1987) and Prey (2022), but adds Mad Max-style grit. There’s no military backup. No extraction. Just one rule: kill or be killed.

A Ruthless Predator

This time, the Yautja (Predator species) is more advanced and savage than ever. Nicknamed “The Bone Reaper” by local survivors, it uses brutal melee weapons forged from the remains of past kills. Practical effects are prioritized over CGI, with stunning creature design by ADI (Amalgamated Dynamics) — the original effects team from Alien vs. Predator and Predators (2010).

The film also introduces thrilling one-on-one combat sequences, including an intense final duel in a canyon of shifting sands — already being praised as “the best Predator showdown since the original.”

Early Buzz and Reception

Premiering at San Diego Comic-Con 2025 to massive fanfare, Predator: Badlands has been met with excitement from both hardcore fans and new audiences. Empire Magazine hails it as “a brutal return to form,” while Collider calls it “a scorching blend of sci-fi horror and Western grit.”

With strong performances, an immersive desert setting, and a tone that honors the past while blazing a new path, Badlands may be the sequel the franchise has long deserved.

Final Thoughts

Predator: Badlands proves that even after decades, the thrill of the hunt hasn’t lost its edge. By taking the battle to the harshest corners of a collapsing world — and pitting the Predator against desperate, violent humans — the film reminds us that survival is never guaranteed, and the hunter can always become the hunted.