Predator: Badlands is a massive, visually ambitious sci-fi action film, and on a technical level, it’s top-notch. The production values, world-building, and VFX are incredible, making the hostile planet Genna and the new creatures a true cinematic spectacle. The action sequences are relentless, the pacing is largely fine, and the overall movie is definitely engaging.
However, where the film stumbles is in its story. By focusing on a “sympathetic” young Yautja, the script feels less like a Predator film and more like a template Disney would use for Star Wars or any of its other blockbuster franchises. Stripping away the aesthetic, this is a generic hero’s journey about an outcast proving his worth.
It’s decent general scifi entertainment – I’d give it an extra 1.5 points for the visuals alone… but puerly as a Predator movie, it loses the core identity of the franchise. It’s a 5/10 as a Predator movie.
