UPDATE: In a surprising turn of events at the box office, Kevin Costner’s infamous sci-fi film Waterworld has been officially overtaken by the newly released Predator: Badlands, which has garnered both critical acclaim and substantial earnings.
This development comes just after Predator: Badlands opened to rave reviews, marking it as the highest-grossing entry in the franchise. The film, directed by Dan Trachtenberg, has generated a domestic box office total of $88.4 million, surpassing Waterworld’s $88.2 million lifetime earnings.
The renewed competition highlights the ongoing shifts in the film industry, with audiences eager for fresh content. Despite being produced on a reported budget of $105 million, Predator: Badlands is still eyeing the significant milestones of reaching $100 million domestically and $200 million worldwide.
Critics are embracing the film, which currently boasts an impressive 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, alongside a staggering 96% audience score. The consensus celebrates the film as a “rollicking adventure” that breathes new life into the beloved franchise.
In stark contrast, Waterworld, released in 1995, was plagued with production issues and a massively inflated budget that ballooned to $175 million. Initially labeled a box office bomb, it eventually recovered costs through ancillary revenue. However, its reign as a notable sci-fi film has now been eclipsed by the recent entry from the Predator series.
The public’s response to Predator: Badlands underscores a significant shift in viewer preferences, favoring innovative storytelling over nostalgic franchises. As anticipation builds for what happens next, industry watchers will be keeping a close eye on the film’s performance in the coming weeks, especially as it competes for further box office milestones.
Stay tuned as we continue to monitor the latest developments in this unfolding box office battle, which reflects broader trends in cinema and audience engagement.
