The latest installment in the Predator series, Predator: Badlands, is hoping to boost box office numbers after a slow October. This is the seventh Predator film (or ninth if you include the Alien vs. Predator movies) and the third directed by Dan Trachtenberg. What makes this film different is that it tells the story from the Predator’s point of view. The movie follows a young Predator named Dek (played by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) who crash-lands on a dangerous alien planet. To survive and prove himself to his clan, he must team up with a human-like synthetic named Thia (Elle Fanning) and hunt a valuable creature as a trophy.
Predator: Badlands is mostly its own story, with few connections to the other Predator movies. It’s a treat for longtime fans, faithfully adapting a Dark Horse Predator comic, but it’s also made to be accessible to newcomers. The PG-13 rating is intended to draw in a younger audience and introduce them to the Predator franchise.
Director Dan Trachtenberg assured IGN that viewers won’t need to do any prior research to enjoy Predator: Badlands. However, if you’re interested in immersing yourself in the world of Predator and understanding the connections to previous films, here are three movies to watch as preparation, plus one extra recommendation.
‘Predator’ (1987)
Arnold Schwarzenegger Kicks Off the Action Franchise
20th Century Fox
The original Predator is a classic action-horror film. Director John McTiernan made it just before Die Hard, and it features Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jesse Ventura – both future governors – along with popular actors like Carl Weathers, Bill Duke, and Shane Black. Predator essentially created the blueprint for all the sequels. Every film that followed has tried to capture what made the first one special, particularly its focus on soldiers battling in a jungle setting.
The original Predator film thoroughly introduces the creature and its technology, showcasing weapons like its plasma cannon and cloaking device, as well as unique traits like infrared vision and a code of honor that prevents it from attacking the defenseless. Its blend of 80s action and slasher horror proved highly influential, inspiring filmmakers like Robert Rodriguez (From Dusk Till Dawn) and Ryan Coogler (Sinners). Whether you’re getting ready to watch Predator: Badlands or not, the first Predator remains a truly enjoyable movie.
‘Prey’ (2022)
Hulu
Before directing Predator: Badlands, Dan Trachtenberg introduced his take on the Predator universe with the Hulu film Prey. Set in 1719, Prey centers on Naru (Amber Midthunder), a young Comanche woman determined to become a skilled hunter, who ultimately encounters a Predator. The film successfully established a new approach for the series – placing a Predator in a unique historical setting – which allowed for fresh visuals and character types.
Prey isn’t just a strong entry in the Predator franchise; it’s a genuinely excellent film. It successfully combines the intense, graphic violence fans expect from Predator with a heartfelt story about self-discovery. Although Prey doesn’t directly connect to the events of Predator: Badlands, both films share similar themes, particularly in the journeys of their main characters, Naru and Dek. This likely contributed to Prey receiving a theatrical re-release alongside Badlands as a double feature.
‘Predator: Killer of Killers’ (2025)
Hulu
2025 was a great year for Predator fans, with the release of both Predator: Badlands and Predator: Killer of Killers. This animated anthology, directed by Trachtenberg, followed the successful format of Prey by presenting three separate Predator stories across different time periods. These stories center around a Viking mother in 841 Scandinavia, a Samurai in 1629 Japan, and a World War II pilot in 1942. Although these narratives begin as independent tales, they ultimately connect in a final act that expands on the established Predator universe.
Predator: Killer of Killers is the most detailed film in the Predator series when it comes to the creatures’ history and culture, and it’s the first movie to officially name the Predators ‘Yautja’. The animation is also stunning, giving each Predator a unique appearance and fighting style, which demonstrates the wide range of possibilities for the Predator franchise in terms of its worlds, visuals, and overall feel. The film revisits Yautja Prime, the Predators’ home planet—briefly seen in Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem—and it’s also featured again in Predator: Badlands.
Bonus: ‘Aliens’ (1986)
20th Century Fox
If you’re excited about Predator: Badlands, you’ll enjoy watching James Cameron’s Aliens. It’s a classic action film that everyone loves, but it’s especially relevant because it introduces the Weyland-Yutani corporation to the Predator universe. While the original Alien film simply referred to the company as “The Company,” Aliens officially names it Weyland-Yutani – a name that has since been carried through other films like Alien: Earth and Prometheus.
Though often overlooked, Predator: Badlands connects the Alien and Aliens films by bringing back MU/TH/UR, the AI computer system from both Alien and Alien: Earth – a system that disappeared from later Alien movies. Given the prominent role of the Weyland-Yutani corporation and hints about the Yautja in Badlands, it looks like this could be a setup for a new Alien vs. Predator movie.
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2025-11-05 01:21