HOLLYWOOD - “Predator: Badlands” collected a better-than-expected $40 million in its domestic debut.

Variety reported that ticket sales were enough to cement a franchise record, overtaking 2004’s “Alien vs. Predator” as the biggest opening weekend in the long-running property.

The sci-fi series ignited with 1987’s “Predator,” starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, and extended over the years with sequels, reboots and “Alien” crossover films.

“Badlands” is reviving a moribund box office. With a pileup of painful misfires in October, such as Disney’s “Tron: Ares” and A24’s “The Smashing Machine,” revenues for the month had plunged to a 28-year low. November releases, including “The Running Man,” “Now You See Me 3,” “Wicked: For Good” and “Zootopia 2,” will aim to keep up the momentum.

Domestic box office returns are pacing roughly 3% ahead of 2024 — a gap that’s been rapidly shrinking since summer, when ticket sales were 25% ahead of last year. Ticket sales remain around 20% behind pre-pandemic times.

Story Date: November 16, 2025