The Predator Movies That Actually Matter Before Predator: Badlands
The hunt is on. As Dan Trachtenberg’s Predator: Badlands nears release, the seventh entry promises a clean reset — and while it stands alone, a quick refresher on a few key Predator films will sharpen your edge before you enter the Badlands.
Predator: Badlands is almost here, and yeah, the buzz is loud. It is the seventh movie in the franchise, but Dan Trachtenberg is giving it that clean-slate energy. You can walk in cold. If you want a little context (and a sense of how Trachtenberg plays in this sandbox), there are a few key watches I would line up first.
Quick note before you start the binge: you do not need Predator 2, Predators, or The Predator to follow Badlands. Watch them if you want the extra flavor, but they are not required homework for this one.
Pre-game picks before Predator: Badlands
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Predator (1987) — The original blueprint. Arnold and a jungle full of bad decisions introduce the Yautja, the rules of the hunt, and the vibe this franchise keeps circling back to. If you only watch one, make it this.
Directed by: John McTiernan
Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Kevin Peter Hall
Year: 1987
IMDb: 7.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 64%
Worldwide box office: $98 million
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Where to watch: Hulu -
Prey (2022) — Trachtenberg’s Predator debut, set in 1719, strips the series down to a smart, tense showdown between a Comanche warrior and a Yautja. It is a sharp reset that shows you how Trachtenberg likes to stage these hunts and where his head might be for Badlands.
Directed by: Dan Trachtenberg
Cast: Amber Midthunder, Dakota Beavers, Mike Paterson
Year: 2022
IMDb: 7.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
Worldwide box office: N/A
Studio: 20th Century Studios
Where to watch: Hulu -
Predator: Killer of Killers (2025) — The newest Trachtenberg entry is animated and stitches together three timelines in one movie. There is a late reveal that loops directly back to the 1987 classic, and a post-credit tag that tees up connections you will probably want in your head before Badlands.
Directed by: Dan Trachtenberg
Cast: Lindsay LaVanchy, Michael Biehn, Rick Gonzalez
Year: 2025
IMDb: 7.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
Worldwide box office: N/A
Studio: 20th Century Studios
Where to watch: Hulu
Bottom line: Badlands is a standalone, but those three give you the foundation, Trachtenberg’s rhythm, and a few connective threads that might pay off nicely.
Predator: Badlands hits theaters November 7, 2025 (USA). What are you watching first?