‘Predator: Badlands’ Continues a Controversial Decision From ‘Alien vs. Predator’

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The new movie, Predator: Badlands, continues a connection established in Alien vs. Predator. While the Alien series has largely ignored the AVP films, the Predator series has accepted them as part of its story. The two franchises have a history of linking up, with nods to Alien appearing in previous Predator movies—like the Xenomorph skull in Predator 2 and a Predator mask combining features from both species in Predators. Predator: Badlands takes this connection further by including a character from the Alien universe: a synthetic being created by the Weyland-Yutani corporation, played by Elle Fanning.

Despite excitement that the new movie, Predator: Badlands, could lead to another Alien vs. Predator film, some fans are worried about its PG-13 rating. The Predator series has almost always been rated R since the original 1987 film, with the 2004 Alien vs. Predator movie being the main exception. Many fans disliked that film being PG-13, feeling it didn’t suit the violent nature of both franchises. Now, some are wondering if Predator: Badlands is making the same mistake. Will a lower rating make the Predator seem less intense? Or are fans overreacting? Reports suggest the PG-13 rating doesn’t mean the movie will be less violent overall, but simply that the type of violence shown will be different than in previous, R-rated installments.

Why and How Did ‘Predator: Badlands’ Get a PG-13 Rating?


20th Century Studios

As a fan, I always found it interesting how Alien vs. Predator got a PG-13 rating! The MPAA gave it that rating because of all the violence, scary stuff, language, and even… slime! Seriously, slime was a reason. The studio clearly wanted more people to see it, especially teens who couldn’t get in to an R-rated movie without a parent. It’s surprisingly gory at times – I remember a cool shot of blood splattering on snow – but a lot of the actual impact isn’t shown, just the aftermath. The violence is mostly between the Predators and the Xenomorphs, and their blood is really unique – bright green for the Predators and this nasty acid for the Xenomorphs.

The PG-13 rating for Predator: Badlands is due to the color of the blood shown on screen. Since the film features no humans, the blood won’t be red – which usually leads to an R-rating. While Badlands will likely be as violent as other Predator films with R-ratings, the unique blood colors – bright green from the Predator, milky white from the synthetic creatures, and even purple for some beasts – allow for more on-screen violence without triggering a higher rating from the MPAA. The MPAA tends to be more forgiving of stylized violence and stricter with realistic gore.

The Motion Picture Association of America’s approach to on-screen violence is illustrated by films like X2: X-Men United and Iron Man 2. X2 was initially rated R due to its violent scenes, including Wolverine’s fights, but a few seconds were removed to achieve a PG-13 rating. In Iron Man 2, the climactic battle features Tony Stark and War Machine destroying numerous drones. This level of violence was allowed because the drones were robots, not controlled by people. For example, War Machine shoots a drone in half, and oil sprays from the impact. Had that been blood, the scene likely would have earned an R-rating, but because it was oil and the opponents weren’t human, the film retained its PG-13 rating.

Just because a movie is rated PG-13 doesn’t mean it’s holding back on action or isn’t intense. The Dark Knight is a great example of a PG-13 film that was still very dark and thrilling. Conversely, an R-rating doesn’t automatically make a movie better. Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem tried too hard to be extreme after the first film received a PG-13 rating, resulting in excessive gore and ultimately becoming the weakest movie in the Alien and Predator series.

The PG-13 Rating Might Help ‘Predator: Badlands’ at the Box Office


20th Century Fox

I’ve been a fan of the Predator movies for years, and it’s amazing how much of a cultural impact they’ve had, even though not every film has been a huge hit in theaters. The first Predator back in 1987 did really well, making almost $60 million in the US with a much smaller budget of $13 million – it was the 12th highest-grossing movie that year! But honestly, most of the other Predator films haven’t quite reached that level domestically, topping out around $50 million, except for Predator 2, which made about $30 million.

Although many fans disliked the 2018 film The Predator, it actually made more money worldwide ($160 million) than any other movie in the Predator series. This success may have influenced Disney’s decision, after acquiring 20th Century Studios, to release the next installment, Prey, directly to streaming, as the Predator films haven’t performed as well in theaters as the Alien movies. However, the franchise is now back in cinemas with Predator: Badlands, following a short period of being exclusive to streaming.

The good reviews for Prey and Predator: Killer of Killers are encouraging for Predator: Badlands, but Disney is probably still cautious. While the budget hasn’t been officially announced, reports suggest Badlands could cost around $100 million – making it the most expensive Predator movie yet. Because of this high cost, Disney and 20th Century Studios may have preferred a story that could have been easily rated PG-13 to appeal to a wider audience.

Dan Trachtenberg successfully developed a concept that satisfied both studio executives and fans of the Predator series. Predator: Badlands isn’t toning down the violence to get a PG-13 rating; it’s cleverly working within the rating system, which allowed Trachtenberg to secure the funding for what appears to be the most expansive Predator film yet.

A more widely accessible Predator movie isn’t necessarily a bad idea, and Alien vs. Predator proved it could work. Despite the initial negative reactions, Alien vs. Predator earned $80 million in the US in 2004 – more than any other Predator film (when not accounting for inflation). Globally, it made $177 million, making it the most successful Predator movie worldwide. While much of its success came from the simple novelty of seeing the Alien and Predator universes collide (a novelty that faded, as seen with the poor performance of Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem), it’s likely the PG-13 rating broadened its appeal.

The film attracted a new, younger audience to theaters and likely introduced them to the Predator series. For many, it was the first Predator movie they’d seen, as the last installment, Predator 2, had been released 14 years prior in 1990. Following Alien vs. Predator, viewers may have been inspired to revisit the original films and watch future sequels.

The new film, Predator: Badlands, aims to appeal to longtime Predator fans, those who enjoyed Alien vs. Predator when it came out, and a fresh audience of younger moviegoers. The PG-13 rating for Predator: Badlands doesn’t indicate a change for the entire series—it’s specific to this film and could actually benefit it. Predator: Badlands will be released in theaters on November 7, 2025.

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2025-11-03 00:34