The darkened screen flickered, each frame a heart-stopping reminder of the alien hunter lurking just beyond the tree line. A bead of sweat trickled down my temple as the iconic theme music pulsed through the room. Then I thought, “This needs a bigger screen.” Good news for fans like me: Predator: Badlands is set to begin streaming next week.
You will soon have the opportunity to double-feature 2025’s live-action Predator: Badlands with 2025’s straight-to-Hulu Predator: Killer of Killers, when the former joins the latter on the streamer.
In fact, you can stream the whole Predator lineage on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+, including the 1987 original and 2022’s Prey. Though, I confess, I wouldn’t blame you for forgetting 2018’s The Predator ever existed.
Dan Trachtenberg’s Predator: Badlands is anything but forgettable. It introduces us to new characters (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi’s Dek and Elle Fanning’s Thia), a new setting on an alien planet, and a rather wild idea: positioning a Predator—traditionally a brutal antagonist—as the story’s heroic center. It’s a gamble that appears to have paid off.
A Box Office Bloodbath Becomes a Streaming Feast
Consider the career trajectory of Sylvester Stallone. Once written off, he clawed his way back to the summit. Similarly, the Predator franchise, after a few missteps, has roared back to prominence, with Predator: Badlands standing as the highest-grossing Predator movie to date. It is something of a phoenix. To capitalize on this renewed interest, Hulu and Disney+ are adding 15 “Predator-themed creator videos” to their libraries, should you be so inclined to expand your viewing.
Hulu even released a new trailer to stoke the streaming fires:
Predator: Badlands has been available to rent or buy on digital since early January, but it officially invades Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ starting February 12. If you still collect physical media, you can grab it on Blu-ray and UHD on February 17; a vinyl soundtrack release is also inbound.
Will there be another Predator movie?
The success of Predator: Badlands certainly suggests the possibility of future installments. While nothing has been officially confirmed, the film’s positive reception and box office performance (€TBD) make a sequel or spin-off highly plausible. Plus, with the streaming numbers that are expected to be posted, a sequel seems very likely.
From the Big Screen to Your Living Room
Remember the thrill of seeing the Predator cloak for the first time? The sheer terror of an invisible enemy? Now you can relive that experience (or introduce it to a new generation) from the comfort of your couch. And, while nothing replaces the communal experience of a packed cinema, the convenience of streaming is undeniable.
Where was Predator: Badlands filmed?
Specific filming locations for Predator: Badlands have been kept tightly under wraps, contributing to the air of mystery surrounding the project. Given the alien planet setting, it’s likely that a combination of practical locations (perhaps with unique geological features) and extensive CGI were used to create the film’s otherworldly environments. Perhaps we will see the actual locations revealed in a behind-the-scenes special?
What makes Predator: Badlands different?
Aside from the change in narrative perspective (centering on a Predator as a protagonist), Predator: Badlands sets itself apart with its alien planet setting and fresh characters. This deviates from the familiar jungle or urban landscapes of previous films, offering a visually distinct and narratively innovative chapter in the Predator saga. That makes it the start of a new saga, perhaps?
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