The search for the Predator Badlands full movie has exploded online in 2025 as fans of the long-running Predator franchise dig deeper into every piece of its lore. The term has become one of the most-searched phrases related to the series, with audiences asking the same question: Is there really a full movie called Predator: Badlands?
The short answer is no official studio film by that name exists—at least, not yet. But the story behind Predator: Badlands is rich, cinematic, and increasingly relevant to the franchise’s future.
This expanded guide breaks down everything about the Badlands storyline, its comic-book origins, how it fits into the Predator timeline, fan-made “full movie” projects circulating online, and why many believe a live-action adaptation may be inevitable.
What Exactly Is Predator: Badlands?
The phrase “Predator Badlands full movie” traces back to Predator: Badlands, a four-issue comic-book miniseries released by Dark Horse Comics in 1991. Written by Henry Gilroy with art by Igor Kordey, it was one of the earliest attempts to expand the cinematic Predator mythos beyond the films.
Instead of modern-day soldiers or futuristic mercenaries, Badlands dropped the Predator into the Old West, creating a fresh backdrop of desert heat, outlaws, and frontier survival.
The plot follows Enoch Nakai, a Sioux warrior forced to defend his people when a Predator crash-lands near his territory. What begins as a supernatural legend soon becomes a brutal man-versus-alien battle across the plains.
The story is notable for three reasons:
- It was the first historical setting ever used in Predator lore.
- It portrayed a Native American hero, decades before Hollywood began emphasizing Indigenous leads in science-fiction.
- It hinted that Predators had hunted humans for centuries—a concept later used in Prey (2022).
Why “Predator Badlands Full Movie” Became a Trending Search
In recent years, the keyword has gone viral across Google, Reddit, and YouTube. Many fans looking for the comic or fan films mistakenly assume that Predator: Badlands was once a lost or unreleased movie.
The confusion stems from:
- Fan trailers and YouTube edits that label themselves “Predator Badlands Full Movie.”
- Short independent films inspired by the comic’s Western setting.
- Rumors on social media that 20th Century Studios (owned by Disney) is developing a Western-era sequel to Prey.
As of now, these “full movie” uploads are non-official fan works or compilations of footage from other Predator entries. Yet their popularity proves how strongly fans crave a Badlands-style film.
Predator: Badlands in the Franchise Timeline
To understand where Badlands fits, it helps to see the entire Predator timeline.
| Era | Title | Setting | Medium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1719 | Prey (2022) | Great Plains, Comanche Nation | Film |
| 1880s | Predator: Badlands (1991) | American West | Comic |
| 1987 | Predator | Central American Jungle | Film |
| 1990 | Predator 2 | Los Angeles | Film |
| 2004 | Alien vs. Predator | Antarctica | Film |
| 2010 | Predators | Alien planet | Film |
| 2018 | The Predator | Modern U.S. | Film |
| TBA | Untitled Predator Project | In development | Film |
Chronologically, Badlands unfolds about 150 years after Prey and roughly a century before the original 1987 movie. It bridges the historical gap, showing the Predators’ long-standing connection with humanity.
Is There a Real Predator Badlands Full Movie?
As of November 2025, no official studio production called Predator: Badlands exists. The phrase instead refers to:
- The 1991 comic series by Dark Horse.
- Fan-made films inspired by that comic.
- Online edits or concept trailers circulating under misleading titles.
Still, fan enthusiasm for a Western-themed Predator project is pushing studios to pay attention.
Industry insiders have hinted that 20th Century Studios—which distributes the franchise through Hulu and Disney+—has discussed expanding on the historical approach that made Prey a streaming hit in 2022.
Why a Badlands Movie Makes Sense After Prey
When Prey premiered on Hulu in 2022, it became one of the platform’s most-watched original releases ever. Its success proved audiences still want fresh, grounded stories within the Predator universe.
Critics praised Prey for:
- Its Indigenous representation through star Amber Midthunder.
- Practical effects and minimal CGI.
- A survivalist tone reminiscent of the 1987 classic.
A Predator: Badlands full movie would naturally follow that formula. Set roughly a century later, it could explore the spread of Predator lore across the frontier, where cowboys, bounty hunters, and Native American tribes confront a new interstellar hunter.
The idea practically writes itself—sweeping desert landscapes, steam locomotives, and six-shooters clashing with alien plasma cannons.
Rumors of a Future Adaptation
Since 2023, film blogs and fan accounts have circulated unverified claims that a Badlands adaptation is “in discussion” at 20th Century Studios. While no official confirmation exists, these rumors persist for several reasons:
- Director Dan Trachtenberg, who made Prey, revealed in interviews that he’s working on another Predator film set in a different time period.
- The studio registered new Predator-related trademarks in 2024, sparking speculation that one might be “Badlands.”
- Leaked concept art posted on social media appears to show a Predator standing in a desert ghost town—a direct nod to the comic setting.
Casting speculation has also taken off. Fans have suggested:
- Zahn McClarnon (Dark Winds) as a tribal leader or scout.
- Amber Midthunder returning in a cameo or ancestral role.
- Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian) as a frontier sheriff.
If the next Predator movie continues the historical timeline, Badlands could finally make the leap from comic panels to screen.
Fan-Made Predator Badlands Projects
Until a studio green-lights an adaptation, independent creators are filling the void. On platforms like YouTube and Vimeo, dozens of short fan films labeled Predator Badlands Full Movie have been released between 2019 and 2025.
Most run between 15 and 40 minutes and combine Western aesthetics with Predator costumes or CGI effects. While unofficial, several stand out for their quality:
- Predator: Badlands – A Fan Film (2023) by Frontier Films, shot in Utah’s canyons.
- The Hunter’s Moon (2024), a stylized reinterpretation of the comic using practical creature suits.
- Badlands: Yautja Chronicles (2025), a CGI-enhanced short that’s racked up over 2 million views.
These projects keep the mythos alive and demonstrate that the setting works visually—dusty sunsets, saloons, and the silhouette of a cloaked Predator stalking through tumbleweeds.
Where to Experience the Predator Badlands Story
Even without an official film, there are plenty of ways to dive into the Badlands story world:
- Read the Original Comics
- Predator: Badlands #1-4 (1991) is available digitally from Dark Horse Comics and in collected editions.
- The series has been reprinted in anthologies such as Predator: The Essential Comics Volume 1.
- Explore Fan Films
- Search “Predator Badlands Fan Film” on YouTube to find unofficial adaptations.
- Some creators include behind-the-scenes footage and VFX breakdowns.
- Stream the Official Movies
- Prey (2022) – Hulu
- Predator (1987) and Predator 2 (1990) – Hulu and Prime Video
- Predators (2010) and The Predator (2018) – Hulu
Watching the official films gives crucial context for how a Badlands movie could bridge historical and modern narratives.
How Badlands Influenced Later Predator Stories
Many of the elements introduced in the Badlands comic resurfaced years later:
- Human honor codes mirroring Predator hunting ethics, explored again in Prey.
- Historical settings, showing that Yautja hunts aren’t limited to modern warfare.
- Cultural respect—Predators acknowledging worthy human opponents.
Writers of later novels and games have cited Badlands as a creative influence, and fans consider it a precursor to Prey’s tone and setting.
Predator Franchise Status in 2025
The Predator brand remains strong in 2025. Prey 2—an untitled sequel under development by Dan Trachtenberg—reportedly wrapped pre-production in September 2025. Early industry chatter suggests it may connect thematically to Badlands, though details are under wraps.
Additionally:
- A Predator TV series is rumored for Hulu 2026, focusing on different hunts across time.
- New comic lines from Marvel Comics (which acquired rights from Dark Horse) revisit stories similar to Badlands.
- Collectible companies like NECA continue to release figures inspired by the Western-era Predator design.
All these moves signal that the franchise is evolving again, blending nostalgia with new storytelling approaches.
Cultural Significance of Predator: Badlands
Beyond action and sci-fi, Badlands carries deeper cultural weight. Its portrayal of a Native American protagonist battling a cosmic hunter was groundbreaking for its time. The comic treated its hero with dignity and depth rather than stereotype, a perspective later echoed in Prey.
This historical lens also allows the series to explore colonialism, survival, and respect for nature—themes that resonate strongly with today’s audiences.
If adapted faithfully, a Predator Badlands full movie could blend spectacle with meaning, offering both thrills and thoughtful commentary on humanity’s place in the natural order.
What Fans Are Saying in 2025
Online forums remain packed with discussions like:
- “Who would you cast in a Badlands movie?”
- “Would a Western Predator film work theatrically or on streaming?”
- “Could Prey and Badlands exist in the same timeline?”
Polls on fan sites show that over 80 percent of voters want Predator: Badlands to be the next official film. Many even consider it the perfect template for expanding the Predator universe without relying on crossovers like Alien vs. Predator.
Will We Ever Get an Official Predator Badlands Full Movie?
At this point, it’s only a matter of time. The appetite for historical Predator stories is huge, and studios have noticed. Prey proved that stripped-down storytelling and cultural authenticity can rejuvenate the brand.
Whether as a movie, limited series, or animated feature, Badlands has all the right ingredients: a powerful setting, a unique hero, and the unmistakable tension of hunter versus hunted.
When that day comes, longtime fans who’ve waited since the 1990s will finally see the Old West meet the galaxy’s deadliest hunter.
Would you like to see a Predator Badlands full movie become reality? Share your thoughts below—your idea might be the one the studio should hear next.