Predator: Badlands

Predator: Badlands

Year: 2025

Runtime: 1 h 47 m

Director: Dan Trachtenberg

ActionAdventureSci-FiThriller

Set on a distant, hostile planet in the far future, a young Predator (Dimitrius Schuster‑Koloamatangi) who has been cast out of his clan forms an unlikely partnership with the human Thia (Elle Fanning). Together they navigate a treacherous landscape as the Predator pursues the legendary ultimate adversary that could reclaim his standing.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Predator: Badlands yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – Predator: Badlands (2025)

Trace every key event in Predator: Badlands (2025) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Disobedience and Exile on Yautja Prime

On Yautja Prime, Dek and Kwei clash as their father Njhorr orders Kwei to kill Dek for weakness. Kwei fights his father but loses an arm and helps Dek escape onto a ship bound for Genna. Njhorr decapitates Kwei as the ship departs, leaving Dek to plot his own path.

Yautja Prime
2

Crash-landing on Genna

Dek crash-lands on Genna, a dangerous world where the environment seems alive with lethal plants. Vines lash out and try to grab him, but he hacks through them to press onward. He also fights off explosive worm creatures as he continues his trek.

Genna
3

First contact with Thia

Dek encounters Thia, a Weyland-Yutani Synthetic whose legs were severed by the Kalisk. She adjusts her language so he can understand her and warns him about carnivorous plants that can paralyze with thorns. Thia explains her mission to locate the Kalisk, while Dek begins to see her as a tool rather than a companion.

Genna
4

Bud the blue creature joins

A small blue alien-monkey with impenetrable skin helps them bypass a field of razor-sharp grass, guiding Dek and Thia to safety. The creature, whom Thia nicknames Bud, marks Dek and begins to build a quiet bond. Dek resists forming attachments, still grieving Kwei and viewing allies as means to an end.

Genna
5

Tessa recovered; mission updates

Tessa's body is recovered by Wey-Yu and repaired, and MU/TH/UR reports that the Kalisk mission has failed. Dek is identified as a potential threat to the mission, changing the dynamic of the pursuit.

Wey-Yu facility
6

Kalisk attacks; Dek fights

The Kalisk arrives on Genna and engages Dek in a brutal battle. Dek manages to sever the Kalisk's head, but the beast regenerates and continues the fight. As Dek is pinned, the Kalisk smells Bud on him, halting its attack and drawing it closer to Thia and Dek.

Genna vicinity
7

Tessa arrives; Dek and Kalisk captured

Tessa arrives with other Synthetics, freezes Dek and the Kalisk, and hauls them aboard the Kalisk vessel along with Thia's recovered legs. She begins to torture Dek as part of interrogation, while Thia pleads and tries to stop the machine.

Kalisk ship
8

Dek and Bud discover Bud's mother

Dek reaches a Kalisk footprint and discovers Bud standing there, realizing the Kalisk is Bud's mother. He marks Bud as part of his clan, signaling an alliance beyond mere survival.

Kalisk footprint
9

Escape to Wey-Yu base and sabotage

Dek, Bud, and Thia reach the Wey-Yu base ahead of the Kalisk forces and work to disable the Synthetics, destroy most of the threats, and free Thia's legs. The trio joins the defense, combining their abilities to combat the Kalisk and her captors.

Wey-Yu base
10

The Kalisk devours Tessa and self-destructs

The Kalisk escapes and tears through the Synthetics, eventually devouring Tessa before she can kill Thia. Inside the Kalisk, Tessa activates weapons that cause it to freeze and explode, killing Tessa. Dek impales Tessa, and Bud tears the head and spine from Tessa, delivering the fatal blow.

Wey-Yu base
11

Return to Yautja Prime with Tessa's skull

Dek returns to Yautja Prime to deliver Tessa's skull as his trophy, signaling completion of the hunt and his claim to his father's cloak.

Yautja Prime
12

Njhorr's downfall and Bud's growth

Njhorr refuses to accept Dek and tries to maintain authority, but Dek exposes him with a bold, ship-assisted move. Bud emerges as a fully grown predator and tears Njhorr's head off, ending the old leadership.

Yautja Prime
13

Dek is recognized as Yautja

Thia declares that Dek is officially Yautja, cementing his status within the new clan after the brutal succession.

Yautja Prime
14

Approaching reinforcements: mother's ship arrives

As the story closes, other Yautja arm themselves when another ship descends onto the planet, and Dek recognizes it as his mother's ship, signaling new alliances and further challenges.

Yautja Prime

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:59

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Unlock the Full Story of Predator: Badlands

Don't stop at just watching — explore Predator: Badlands in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Predator: Badlands is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Predator: Badlands Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Predator: Badlands, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Predator: Badlands Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Predator: Badlands

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Predator: Badlands. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Predator: Badlands

More About Predator: Badlands

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Predator: Badlands: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Predator: Badlands

Similar Movies to Predator: Badlands

Discover movies like Predator: Badlands that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.