“Predator: Badlands” debuted as the most-watched film premiere on Hulu since Dan Trachtenberg’s 2022 film, “Prey,” drawing nearly nine million viewers within its first five days, according to data released by Disney.
The latest installment in the long-running science fiction action franchise, “Badlands” initially had a theatrical release beginning in November 2025 before becoming available for streaming last week. It surpassed all previous “Predator” films at the box office, setting the stage for its strong performance on Hulu.
The success of “Badlands,” coupled with the streaming debut of Trachtenberg’s 2022 film “Prey” and the 2025 animated series “Predator: Killer of Killers,” has driven viewership of the “Predator” franchise to over 300 million hours streamed globally on Disney+ and Hulu, Disney reported.
The franchise, which began in 1987 with Arnold Schwarzenegger’s iconic portrayal of Dutch Schaefer battling the alien hunter, has expanded over the decades with sequels and crossovers, including those with the “Alien” universe.
Trachtenberg, who recently signed a new deal with Paramount Pictures, addressed the possibility of returning to the “Predator” universe in a recent interview with io9. He emphasized that his new agreement does not preclude future collaborations with Disney on the franchise.
“I’m in this moment that I was in when ‘Prey’ came out, where I was like, ‘What do I do next?’ and got very excited about a Predator protagonist and got very excited about an animated movie with multiple time periods, and then they just happened to move at the same time,” Trachtenberg said. “And so that’s where I’m at with ‘Predator’ now, is, ‘Oh my God, We find so many exciting things we can do.’”
The strong audience response to “Badlands” and “Prey” suggests continued interest in the franchise and potentially opens the door for further installments under Trachtenberg’s direction.
