2) For the first time, the Predator is the hero
In a franchise first, Badlands shifts the spotlight onto the predator and portrays him as a hero. The film follows Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi), a young Yautja (the franchise’s name for the Predator species) outcast desperate to prove himself to his formidable father, Njohrr (Reuben de Jong). 

His trial takes him to Genna, a planet where everything, from the flora to the fauna, is deadly. Along the way, he teams up (reluctantly) with Thia (Elle Fanning), a damaged synthetic (human-looking robot) with a sharp wit and a stubborn streak. The result? A surprisingly emotional odd-couple journey that reveals a more vulnerable side of the Yautja without dulling their fearsome edge. 

3) Alien DNA is in Predator: Badlands’ mix, but this movie isn’t a crossover
While Predator: Badlands is a standalone movie, it does reference the rich lore of the shared Predator and Alien franchises. Most notably, Thia is manufactured by Weyland-Yutani, the sinister mega-corporation at the heart of the Alien franchise. 

Fans will spot familiar touches: Thia has traits in common with synthetics in the Alien movies, including milky-white ‘blood’ and the ability to remain somewhat functional despite being severely maimed. The artificial intelligence system MU/TH/UR, which communicates orders from the corporation, also appears.

These connections aside, Predator: Badlands doesn’t get carried away with creating intricate links to the Alien movies. “I think sometimes people that are dabbling in cinematic universes, there’s a seduction to grab all the action figures and smush them together,” Trachtenberg says at the movie’s San Diego Comic-Con panel. His goal was elegance over excess — subtle nods, not on-the-nose references.

4) There are no human characters
Since it is set further into the future than any Predator or Alien film before it,  Predator: Badlands completely cuts humans from the equation. Every character is either alien or synthetic, giving the movie a sleek, fully sci-fi feel.

It also means a tonal shift in the violence. The carnage is still brutal, but without human bloodshed, the film earned a US PG-13 rating instead of the franchise’s usual R. Cue some fan grumbling — totally par for the course, we reckon. But the trade-off is a sharper focus on world-building, creature design, and character work. Also, the synthetics we see in this movie are the most advanced and humanlike, meaning Fanning can imbue her character with a distinct personality, giving the movie warmth and heart. 

5) Badlands could be the start of a new Predator era
Seeing that this entry is the highest-grossing film in the Predator franchise so far, it’s a safe bet that we might see more Predator movies in the near future. 

The ending of Badlands teases future stories, while Trachtenberg has also floated the idea of returning to the franchise for a direct Prey sequel.

There’s even chatter about Arnold Schwarzenegger returning in some capacity, possibly as a voice role in an animated follow-up to Predator: Killer of Killers (also directed by Trachtenberg). At 78, a full live-action comeback might be a long shot — but in this franchise, never say never.