Predator: Badlands 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Predator: Badlands 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman February 16, 2026

There have been endless debates between fans of Star Trek (in all of its many guises) and Star Wars (in all of its many guises), with aficionados arguing about the ostensible pluses and minuses of each franchise, and how in fact they may have (ultimately) influenced each other. That debate may need to start including the Predator franchise, at least for Trekkies and/or Trekkers (as the case may be), since Predator: Badlands has a "reveal" somewhat late in its narrative which is frankly a (to utilize a now quaint technological term) Xerox copy of the memorable The Devil in the Dark episode from Star Trek: The Original Series: Season 1. The debate might also need to work in another franchise, namely the Alien series, since this film perhaps comically echoes an era of corporate mergers in the real world by working in elements from the Ridley Scott generated franchise into this narrative. On top of that arguably already over crowded aggregation of elements (which in fact may have one overt echo of Star Wars itself, mentioned below), the narrative in this film intentionally reconfigures what may be preconceived ideas about both predators and "synthetic" creations by the infamous Weyland-Yutani Corporation.

Co story writer and director Dan Trachtenberg could arguably be cited as having pretty much single handedly reinvigorating what was a somewhat dormant Predator franchise with Prey in 2023 and then the animated Hulu presentation Predator: Killer of Killers (unavailable on disc as of the writing of this review). Whether one therefore thinks of this big screen live action (with copious CGI adornments) feature as either a sophomore or junior effort there's no serious "slump" involved as the story posits two ostensible "outsiders" who per traditional "buddy film" formulations must learn to work together to defeat a common enemy, despite their obvious oil and water differences.

In this case, young Yautja would be warrior Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) wants to prove his bona fides despite his small size by journeying to Genna, which is a perceived death planet, in order to take out that locale's top predator, a beast known as Kalix. Kalix has already devastated a team from that aforementioned Weyland-Yutani Corporation, and a "survivor" of sorts, the semi functional remnants of an android named Thia (Elle Fanning) becomes Yautja's unlikely partner in his hero's quest. While this may ultimately turn into a veritable "two hander" (with help from a CGI simian who shows up as a sidekick), the story is really more an exploration of Yautja culture and the status of Dek as what might almost be thought of as a handicapped member of his particular species due to his size and lack of overt athleticism.

The first act offers a couple of moments that may be those previously mentioned echoes of Star Wars, in that Dek's martinet father Njohrr (Reuben de Jong) is a somewhat Darth Vader-esque presence and he indeed deprives a character of an appendage in what might be deemed this film's version of a duel with light sabers. And in fact the whole almost Joseph Campbell-esque journey of a potential hero also kind of inevitably links this entry in a subliminal way to the George Lucas franchise.

Perhaps just slightly comically, the story may have echoes of another sort for a certain demographic slice, namely lovers of anime. The whole "coming of age" element for Dek is of course a recurrent feature of that idiom, but another synthetic played by Fanning also shows up late in the story in what is almost a mecha a la Neon Genesis Evangelion and countless other properties. Despite all these "borrowings", whether overt or a bit more masked, what's so commendable about Predator: Badlands is that it rather smartly reinvents elements of both the Predator and Alien franchises while simultaneously paying homage to both of them. While action elements are certainly not forsaken here in any way, shape, or form, this story moves away rather significantly from the pure carnage of some the earlier installments in both franchises.

Predator: Badlands 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note: Screenshots are sourced from the 1080 disc in this package.

Predator: Badlands is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of 20th Century Studios and Disney / Buena Vista with an HEVC / H.265 encoded 2160p transfer in 2.39:1. The IMDb lists the Arri Alexa Mini and a 4K DI as relevant data points. This is another stellar (no pun intended) looking 4K effort from Disney, one that takes all of the positives of their perfectly excellent 1080 presentation and delivers more satisfying detail levels and an especially impressive palette courtesy of the HDR/ Dolby Vision grades. The improvement in detail can be noticed even in picayune offerings like the first view of the vehicle kicking up dust on Yautja Prime, seen way in the distance through a cave opening as the story opens. Both depth of field and fine detail see observable improvements in this 4K version, and that opening vignette is just the first of several examples. Kind of interestingly in terms of actual visual "pop", Yautja Prime kind of emphasizes "desert" tones like taupes and ochres, leaving some of the first "wow" hues to be perhaps unexpected moments like the bright green blood that spills during a showdown between Dek's father and brother. Once things get to Genna, the palette is considerably "normalized", though still obviously toyed with in post, giving the forested scenes a just slightly unreal, (appropriately) alien appearance. Fine detail on all of the practical sets and costumes, along with the location work, is excellent and the CGI elements are very artfully interwoven into the tale, with some appealing textures and detail levels on any number of creatures.

Predator: Badlands 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Predator: Badlands features a Dolby Atmos mix on the 4K disc (with a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 mix on the included 1080 disc). The Atmos mix definitely provides at least a bit more immersion and some good height effects when compared to the DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track on the 1080 disc, but this is another case where I wouldn't stridently argue that those who only get the standalone 1080 release of this film are going to miss anything significant on the 7.1 version. In terms of what struck my ears as at least marginal improvements in the Atmos version were moments like Dek blasting off to Genna or, much later, a climactic explosion toward the end of the story where overhead presence is particularly evidently. One way or the other, the "traditional" side and rear channels are consistently engaged throughout and ambient environmental effects on Genna are especially impressive. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly (with forced subtitles for some alien talk). Otherwise, optional subtitles in several languages are available.

Predator: Badlands 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

4K Disc

• Audio Commentary by Director Dan Trachtenberg, Producer Ben Rosenblatt, Director of Photography Jeff Cutter and Stunt Coordinator Jacob Tomuri

1080 Disc

• Embodying the Predator (HD; 5:43) looks at the transformation Dimitrius underwent to become the character.


• Authentic Synthetics (HD; 6:41) features Elle Fanning and her character(s).


• Building the Badlands (HD; 6:53) focuses on production design and effects work in bringing Genna to life (and/or death).


• Dek of the Yautja (HD; 6:11) offers Trachtenberg and others discussing providing background on this species and their home planet in this story.


• Audio Commentary by Director Dan Trachtenberg, Producer Ben Rosenblatt, Director of Photography Jeff Cutter and Stunt Coordinator Jacob Tomuri


• Deleted & Pre-Visualization Scenes with Optional Commentary (HD; 27:37)

A digital copy is also included, and packaging features a slipcover.

Predator: Badlands 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Dan Trachtenberg is handling the Predator franchise rather smartly so far, and Predator: Badlands is another maybe unexpectedly visceral journey with a Yautja creature. This is a very visually and aurally impressive production even aside from its narrative pluses, and this 4K UHD release makes the most of the format. Supplements are also very enjoyable. Recommended.