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The battle between predators and aliens has always fascinated sci-fi enthusiasts, and now we have real numbers to compare how these iconic franchises perform at the global box office. Dan Trachtenberg’s latest offering, Predator: Badlands, has been making waves in theaters for four weeks now, and the results are quite impressive.
With a current worldwide collection of $175.7 million, Predator: Badlands has secured its position among the top 25 highest-grossing films of 2025. More importantly, it’s sitting pretty as the second-highest earner in the entire Predator franchise, trailing just behind Alien vs. Predator’s $177.4 million by a razor-thin margin.
The question everyone’s asking is: can Badlands overtake its crossover predecessor and claim the throne? With such a small gap of less than $2 million, it’s definitely within reach during its remaining theatrical run.
Breaking Down Predator: Badlands’ Performance
Let’s dive into the numbers that tell the real story. Predator: Badlands has managed to achieve a fairly balanced global performance:
North America has contributed $86.4 million to the total, while international markets have chipped in with $89.3 million. This near-equal split between domestic and overseas earnings shows the film’s universal appeal across different markets.
The Ultimate Franchise Face-Off
Now comes the really interesting part – how does Badlands measure up against the legendary Alien franchise? The results might surprise you, especially when you consider how these films have performed across different decades.
Starting with the classics, Ridley Scott’s original 1979 masterpiece Alien earned $79 million worldwide, while James Cameron’s action-packed sequel Aliens from 1986 brought in $85.2 million. Both of these have already been surpassed by Badlands’ current tally.
The franchise’s third and fourth installments didn’t fare as well commercially. Alien 3 managed $55.5 million in 1992, and Alien: Resurrection collected $47.8 million in 1997 – both significantly lower than what Badlands has achieved.
The crossover films tell an interesting story of their own. Alien vs. Predator became a surprise hit with $177.4 million in 2004, proving that audiences love seeing these iconic creatures battle it out. However, its sequel Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem dropped to $130.3 million in 2007.
The Modern Era Champions
The more recent Alien films have shown the franchise’s continued box office power. Ridley Scott’s return with Prometheus in 2012 was a massive success, earning $403.4 million globally – making it the highest-grossing film in either franchise.
Alien: Covenant followed in 2017 with $240.9 million, while this year’s Alien: Romulus has already collected an impressive $350.9 million, proving that audiences are still hungry for xenomorph action.
Based on these figures, Predator: Badlands has already outperformed six out of nine Alien franchise entries. It’s beaten the original four Alien films plus the second crossover movie. However, it still has some ground to cover to match Alien vs. Predator, and the three most recent big-budget entries seem out of reach for this theatrical run.
What Makes Badlands Special
Dan Trachtenberg has crafted something unique with Predator: Badlands. The film follows an unusual partnership between Dek, played by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, a young Predator who’s been cast out from his clan, and Thia, portrayed by Elle Fanning, a damaged synthetic owned by the notorious Weyland-Yutani Corporation.
This unlikely duo embarks on a perilous journey across hostile wastelands, searching for the ultimate adversary. The fresh take on the Predator mythology, combined with strong performances and Trachtenberg’s direction, seems to be resonating with audiences worldwide.
The Road Ahead
With its current momentum, Predator: Badlands stands a real chance of overtaking Alien vs. Predator to become the highest-grossing Predator franchise film. The gap is small enough that a strong international push or extended theatrical run could make the difference.
While catching up to the recent Alien blockbusters like Prometheus or Alien: Romulus might be ambitious for this run, Badlands has already proven that the Predator franchise still has serious box office teeth.
The success of both Predator: Badlands and Alien: Romulus this year also suggests that audiences are far from tired of these classic sci-fi horror franchises. There’s clearly still appetite for well-crafted stories featuring these iconic creatures.
For now, all eyes are on whether Badlands can close that final $2 million gap and claim the Predator franchise crown. Either way, it’s already a significant win for the series and sets up exciting possibilities for future installments.
The numbers don’t lie – when it comes to box office battles, both the Predator and Alien franchises continue to prove they’re far from extinct. Keep watching this space as we track whether Badlands can complete its hunt for the top spot.
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