The Dan Trachtenberg directed Predator: Badlands speared $4.8M million in previews, which includes both Wednesday fan and Thursday night shows.
The preview number is under another sci-fi genre title Alien: Romulus‘ $6.5M which was another franchise reboot for the revived 20th Century Studios under new owner Disney. That Fede Alvarez directed revival went on to open to $42M stateside. But keep in mind that movie was R-rated and had a mid-August release in 2024. Also, Predator: Badlands in its female action hero sensibility is also getting comped by Disney sources to Ballerina, which did $3.8M in previews before a $24.5M opening.
Also good news for Badlands at this point in time, total previews here are ahead of The Predator which did $2.5M in Thursday previews back in September 2018. That pic posted a $10.3M Friday on its way to a $24.6M start.
2004 crossover title Alien vs. Predator owns the franchise opening record at the domestic B.O. with $38.2M. 2010’s Predators from director Nimród Antal and produced by Robert Rodriguez follows as the second best U.S./Canada opening for the series at $24.7M.
1987’s Predator and 1990’s Predator 2 own the best CinemaScores for the Jim and John Thomas conceived series with a B+.
Predator: Badlands cost before marketing $105M net, shot in New Zealand with tax credits.
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