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Dan Trachtenberg’s latest sci-fi action thriller Predator: Badlands is wrapping up its impressive four-week theatrical run, and the numbers are looking solid. After earning critical acclaim and audience appreciation, the film has amassed a substantial $175.5 million worldwide, successfully outperforming Sylvester Stallone and Michael B. Jordan’s boxing drama Creed, which earned $174.2 million globally according to Box Office Mojo data.
However, breaking into 2025’s top 20 highest-grossing films remains a challenging target for Badlands. The film would need to surpass Snow White’s $205.7 million global collection to achieve this milestone, which seems unlikely given its current momentum. Despite this, the Predator franchise entry comfortably holds the 23rd position among this year’s releases, trailing just behind the heist sequel Now You See Me: Now You Don’t.
What makes this performance particularly interesting is how close Badlands is getting to overtaking Paranormal Activity 2, the 2010 horror sequel that became a massive success story by earning over 59 times its modest $3 million production budget. The gap between these two films at the worldwide box office is surprisingly narrow.
Looking at the current box office standings, Predator: Badlands has collected $86.2 million domestically and $89.3 million internationally, bringing its worldwide total to $175.5 million. Meanwhile, Paranormal Activity 2 earned $84.8 million domestically and $92.8 million internationally for a global total of $177.5 million.
This means the latest Predator installment is trailing the found-footage supernatural horror by approximately $2 million worldwide. Given the film’s steady performance in its final week, overtaking Paranormal Activity 2 appears well within reach. Industry analysts expect this milestone to be achieved within the next few days as the film completes its theatrical run.
When comparing Badlands against the entire Paranormal Activity franchise, the results are quite revealing. The horror series saw varying degrees of success across its six installments. The original Paranormal Activity (2009) leads with $193.4 million, followed by Paranormal Activity 3 (2011) at $207 million, then Paranormal Activity 2 at $177.5 million.
The later entries showed diminishing returns: Paranormal Activity 4 (2012) earned $142.8 million, Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones (2014) brought in $90.9 million, and Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension (2015) concluded the series with $78.9 million. Predator: Badlands has already surpassed the fourth, fifth, and sixth installments, positioning itself favorably within this comparison.
The film’s narrative follows an intriguing premise directed by Dan Trachtenberg. The story centers on Dek, portrayed by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, a young Predator who finds himself cast out from his clan. His journey takes an unexpected turn when he forms an unlikely partnership with Thia, played by Elle Fanning, who represents a damaged synthetic being owned by the notorious Weyland-Yutani Corporation.
Together, this unlikely duo embarks on a perilous expedition across hostile wastelands, searching for what the film describes as “the ultimate enemy.” This fresh take on the Predator mythology has resonated well with both critics and audiences, contributing to its steady box office performance throughout its theatrical run.
The success of Predator: Badlands demonstrates the enduring appeal of the sci-fi action genre when handled with creative vision and strong execution. Trachtenberg’s direction has been particularly praised for bringing new energy to the established franchise while maintaining the core elements that fans expect from a Predator film.
As the film approaches the end of its theatrical journey, industry watchers will be keen to see if it can indeed surpass Paranormal Activity 2’s worldwide total. This achievement would mark another significant milestone for the Predator franchise and establish Badlands as a commercially successful entry in the series.
The box office performance also highlights the competitive landscape of 2025 releases, where even solid performers like Badlands face challenges breaking into the year’s top-grossing films. However, the film’s ability to outperform established titles like Creed and potentially Paranormal Activity 2 speaks to its commercial appeal and the strength of the Predator brand in the global marketplace.
For fans eagerly following these box office developments, the next few days should provide clarity on whether Predator: Badlands can complete its theatrical run by surpassing the $177.5 million mark set by the horror sequel that turned a tiny budget into massive profits over a decade ago.
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