Predator: Badlands Slips to #3 but Continues Its Box Office Hunt — Now Chasing One of 2025’s Most Acclaimed Films

Predator: Badlands
Image Credit: Predator: Badlands/Instagram

Predator: Badlands isn’t slowing down — even after dropping from the No. 1 spot in North America. Now in its second week, Elle Fanning’s 2025 sci-fi actioner has slid to #3 at the domestic box office, but the bigger story is how aggressively it’s chasing one of the year’s most critically celebrated titles.

Despite the dip, the film remains one of 2025’s strongest performers, inching closer to a major milestone that could reshape the franchise’s box office history.

A Massive Start for the Franchise

The 2025 release opened with a $40.01 million domestic debut — the biggest start ever for a Predator movie. Within its first seven days, it became the franchise’s highest-grossing entry globally.

Current box office status:

  • North America: $66.9 million
  • International: $70.2 million
  • Worldwide: $137.1 million

Those numbers put Badlands far ahead of several major Hollywood releases despite its higher production cost and star-heavy cast.

A Monday Dip, But Momentum Remains Strong

On its second Monday, the film collected $913K, marking a 73.7% drop from the previous Monday — a typical fall for big-opening, effects-driven sci-fi titles. Yet its overall momentum remains strong, and analysts expect another jump over the weekend.

Now Targeting ‘One Battle After Another’

Next on Badlands’ hit list is Leonardo DiCaprio’s political thriller One Battle After Another — widely considered one of 2025’s best-reviewed films, with a 94% Tomatometer score.

Despite the acclaim, the DiCaprio starrer hasn’t soared commercially, earning $70.17 million domestically across 52 days.
Badlands is now less than $7 million away from overtaking that total, making the showdown one of the season’s most interesting box office stories.

Why ‘Badlands’ Works

Set in the distant future on a remote planet, the 2025 sci-fi tale follows a young, exiled Predator who forms an unlikely alliance with Thia, a human warrior. Their hunt for the ultimate adversary anchors the film’s emotional and action-driven core.

Elle Fanning’s performance, strong world-building, and a fresh take on the Predator lore are being credited for the film’s staying power.

Final Words

Even with its second-week dip, Predator: Badlands (2025) is proving to be a box office beast. With strong domestic legs, rising global numbers, and a clear path to surpass one of the year’s most critically acclaimed films, it’s on track to become the biggest Predator film ever released.

Anubhav

Anubhav Chauhan is a digital journalist, entertainment writer, and founder of PopcornRealm. Passionate about pop culture, films, and celebrity stories, he covers the latest updates from Bollywood, Hollywood, and the global entertainment industry like KPop. His articles aim to bring fast, factual, and engaging news to readers in a simple way. With years of experience in online media, Anubhav focuses on creating audience-centered stories that connect with everyday readers. His coverage includes movie reviews, K-pop trends, celebrity controversies, TV updates, and exclusive event reports. Anubhav’s goal is to make PopcornRealm a reliable hub for fans who want authentic, timely, and well-written entertainment news.