Predator: Badlands is Coming—Here's the essential 6-film guide to the Yautja's terrifying history
The new film, Predator: Badlands, set on a distant future planet, follows an outcast teen Predator, Dek, and his synthetic companion, Thia. It continues the franchise's relaunch.
Last Updated: 06.59 PM, Nov 03, 2025
Fans and beginners alike may relive the horrific Yautja hunters' past as the much-anticipated Predator: Badlands gets ready to hit theatres this week. Prey and Predator: Killer of Killers relaunched the brand under Dan Trachtenberg's direction. Badlands will transport the franchise to a distant planet in the future.
To get you ready for the adventures of the young outcast Predator Dek and his synthetic companion Thia, we have created a comprehensive list of the main films in the franchise, arranged in chronological order, for your viewing pleasure.
Unless you count the two Alien vs. Predator crossover features, which aren't necessarily canonical, this list covers all the live-action and major animated features starring the Predator.
Core Films: Tracking the Ultimate Hunter
The film takes place in the jungles of Central America during the years 1987–1988. A technologically advanced extraterrestrial hunter unexpectedly attacks Major Alan "Dutch" Schaefer (Arnold Schwarzenegger), leading a paramilitary rescue squad on a mission. The first film in the Predator franchise introduced the Yautja species, their code of honour, cloaking technology, thermal vision, and a plasma caster. It also laid the groundwork for the genre's signature "most dangerous game" concept.
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In 1997, a gang war erupted in Los Angeles, California. A new predator has arrived in the urban sprawl to gather trophies, as Lieutenant Mike Harrigan (Danny Glover) of the Los Angeles Police Department finds out while investigating a string of ritualistic murders. The lore was expanded to include the Predator hunting in a crowded urban environment and the species' centuries-long journey to Earth, as proved by the famed trophy wall in the spacecraft.
The planet's use as a game reserve is shrouded in mystery. An alien, bigger clan of predators called the "Super Predators" brings a motley crew of Earth's most lethal human murderers, including Royce (Adrien Brody), to the planet to hunt them. The film probes the concept of rivalry and warfare among predator clans, suggesting that not all Yautja follow the same hunting ethics.
The story takes place in various parts of the planet, beginning with a covert operations facility and culminating in an American suburb. Two distinct predators, including a genetically altered "Upgrade Predator", have descended upon Earth, and a biologist must join forces with a squad of "Loonies" (soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder), including the disgraced Army Ranger shooter Quinn McKenna (Boyd Holbrook). The stakes of the Predator's trips to Earth are raised as they strive to evolve and improve their genetic makeup by utilising DNA from different species.
The story takes place in 1719 on the northern Great Plains of the American frontier. The "Feral Predator" is a primitive but just as dangerous predator, and a young Comanche lady named Naru (Amber Midthunder), who wants to be a hunter, must employ her tracking abilities and courage to defend her tribe. This highly appreciated prequel shows one of the earliest Yautja sightings, highlighting a less sophisticated and more primitive hunt and a welcome return to the series' signature style. Important to watch since it set the tone for Dan Trachtenberg's new creative orientation as Badlands director.
From the Viking Age in 841 AD to feudal Japan in 1609 AD to World War II in 1942 AD, this animated anthology covers all three eras. Three separate human heroes face off against several Predator variants in the film: a Viking woman, a Samurai, and a WWII aviator. The most recent installment, prior to Badlands, further establishes the franchise's exploration of "period piece" hunts. The fact that Dan Trachtenberg is directing it adds credence to the idea that it will have a significant impact on the storyline of the next film.
What to Expect in Predator: Badlands
Releasing this week, Predator: Badlands is a major departure from the previous six films in the main series and the seventh overall. It takes place on a strange continent in the far future and follows the unlikely friendship of two characters—Elle Fanning's synthetic Thia and the outcast teenage Predator Dek—as they work together to defeat a shared enemy. Featuring a Predator as the main protagonist, this chapter violates franchise precedent and is the first main feature with a PG-13 rating. It promises to expand the Yautja culture and its place in the galactic future.
FAQs:
Q: Who is the director of Predator: Badlands?
A: Predator: Badlands is directed by Dan Trachtenberg, who successfully revived the franchise with the critically acclaimed 2022 prequel, Prey, and the animated feature Predator: Killer of Killers.
Q: Is Predator: Badlands a sequel to Prey?
A: No. While Dan Trachtenberg directed both films, Predator: Badlands is a standalone entry set far in the future on a remote alien planet. The story and characters are new, specifically focusing on a young Predator named Dek.
Q: What is the plot of Predator: Badlands?
A: The film is a significant departure for the franchise, featuring a Predator (Dek) as the central protagonist. The plot follows the outcast Predator and his unlikely alliance with a Weyland-Yutani synthetic ally named Thia (Elle Fanning) as they pursue a common, ultimate adversary on a futuristic alien world.
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