With Predator: Badlands, starring Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi slashing into theaters November 7th and already turning heads at comic cons worldwide, now’s the perfect time to revisit one of sci-fi’s most iconic species. Before stepping into this bold new chapter, let’s break down everything fans should know about the Yautja — better known as the Predators — because this universe is as thrilling as it is chaotic.
Hailing from the harsh desert planet Yautja Prime, the Predators are an alien race built for the hunt. With superhuman strength, heightened intelligence, and a deeply ingrained warrior culture, these creatures are artists of survival.
Predators never show up unarmed. From the plasma shoulder cannon to their retractable spears and razor-edged throwing discs, these hunters are all about efficiency and intimidation. Their masks offer thermal vision, voice mimicry, and invisibility cloaking which makes them the ultimate stealth predators. (No wonder Predator cosplay is forever iconic.)
Despite their brutality, the Yautja live by a strict code of honor: they only hunt worthy prey: never children, the sick, or the unarmed. Trophies are everything; skulls and spines from defeated foes mark their social rank. The more trophies, the more prestige. And if they lose a battle? Boom! Self-destruct protocol. No evidence, no mercy.
In rare cases, humans earn a Predator’s respect. Danny Glover’s Mike Harrigan (Predator 2) and Sanaa Lathan’s Alexa Woods (Alien vs. Predator) both became “Notables”. Warriors spared and honored by the Yautja. It’s a small club with serious bragging rights
Predators can switch between vision modes beyond thermal, picking up everything from body heat to weapon light. But not all Yautja play by the rules. The “Bad Bloods” which are genetically enhanced rogues — defy their code, turning the hunter into the hunted.
The franchise has evolved from Schwarzenegger’s muddy showdown in Predator to Amber Midthunder’s breakout in Prey. Now, Predator: Badlands ventures into new emotional territory, following a young Predator outcast on a journey of survival, identity, and unlikely alliance.
This fall, the hunt begins again but this time, the prey might just be the Predator himself. Catch Predator: Badlands in theaters November 7th, and prepare to witness the next evolution of Yautja legend.
