“Predator: Badlands” has made a monumental debut at the global box office, clawing its way to $80 million and establishing itself as the biggest opening in the nearly 40-year-old franchise. This impressive figure surpasses the previous record holder, director Shane Black’s 2018 reboot “The Predator,” which earned $73.5 million (not adjusted for inflation). The total includes $40 million from North American ticket sales and another $40 million from 52 international markets. Domestically, “Badlands” also set a new record, overtaking 2004’s “Alien vs. Predator” which garnered $38 million. Internationally, it achieved the franchise’s second-best start with $48.9 million, led by China ($7.4 million), the United Kingdom ($3.2 million), and Mexico ($2.3 million).

Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, “Predator: Badlands” marks the ninth installment in the series and the first theatrical release since Disney acquired 20th Century Fox, the original home of the 1987 classic starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Trachtenberg, who also helmed the recent streaming-only entries “Prey” (2022) and the animated “Predator: Killer of Killers” (June), returns to the big screen with this chapter. Produced on a budget of $105 million, the film follows an outcast alien hunter (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) and his unlikely ally (Elle Fanning) on a perilous quest against a formidable adversary. The film’s success is attributed to several factors, including solid critical reviews, strong word-of-mouth (evidenced by an “A-” CinemaScore grade), and significant interest in Imax and other premium large-format screens, which contributed a substantial 59% to the domestic tally. A key strategic decision was its PG-13 rating, a departure from the R-ratings of most previous “Predator” films, which broadened its appeal to family audiences beyond the traditional demographic of boys and men. Variety’s chief film critic, Peter Debruge, lauded “Badlands” as the “most interesting — and the strongest film with ‘Predator’ in the title since the 1987 original.”

This record-breaking performance of “Predator: Badlands” is seen as a crucial revitalizer for the box office, particularly after a dismal October that saw revenues plunge to a 28-year low due to several painful misfires like Disney’s “Tron: Ares” and A24’s “The Smashing Machine.” Industry analysts, like Comscore’s Paul Dergarabedian, noted that an over-performance like “Badlands” is precisely what’s needed to get the industry back on track, setting a positive tone for November. Upcoming releases like “Wicked: For Good,” “Zootopia 2,” “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2,” Sydney Sweeney’s psychological thriller “The Housemaid,” and “Avatar: Fire and Ash” are anticipated to maintain this momentum and help end the year on a high note, with Disney’s “Zootopia 2” and “Avatar: Fire and Ash” projected to potentially earn over $1 billion each.

Elsewhere in the box office, Paul Thomas Anderson’s comedic action thriller “One Battle After Another,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio, is nearing a significant milestone, having earned $196.8 million globally ($127.4 million overseas) and poised to cross the $200 million mark. This is a notable achievement for an original, R-rated film with a nearly three-hour runtime, making it Anderson’s highest-grossing film, surpassing 2007’s “There Will Be Blood” ($76.4 million globally), and a potential major Oscar contender. However, despite its critical and commercial success, the film, with a production budget exceeding $130 million, is tracking to lose $100 million in its theatrical run due to the split with theater owners.

Sony’s Crunchyroll banner also celebrated a win with “Chainsaw Man – the Movie: Reze Arc,” which surpassed $150 million worldwide, totaling $158 million ($121 million internationally, $38 million domestically). This marks Crunchyroll’s second consecutive success, following September’s sleeper hit “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle,” which stands as the biggest anime film ever with $591 million globally.

Other new releases and holdovers showcased varied performances. Amazon MGM’s inspirational true story “Sarah’s Oil” enjoyed a strong start, securing fourth place domestically with $4.5 million from 2,410 theaters and earning a rare “A+” CinemaScore. “Nuremberg,” a historical drama from Sony Pictures Classics, debuted at fifth place with $4.1 million from 1,802 venues, demonstrating a strong audience reception (95% Rotten Tomatoes) despite mixed critical reviews (68%). Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson’s psychodrama “Die My Love” stumbled in eighth place with $2.8 million, a disappointing return given Mubi’s reported $24 million distribution rights acquisition, and received a “D+” CinemaScore, though Lawrence’s performance was praised. The R-rated boxing biopic “Christy,” starring Sydney Sweeney, debuted weakly at No. 11 with $1.3 million.

Holdover films demonstrated staying power: Paramount’s “Regretting You” saw a scant 8% decline in its third weekend, adding $7.1 million for a global total of $70.9 million, while Universal and Blumhouse’s “Black Phone 2” dropped to third place with $5.3 million in its third frame, bringing its worldwide total to $120 million. In limited release, Neon’s familial drama “Sentimental Value,” directed by Joachim Trier and starring Stellan Skarsgard and Renate Reinsve, achieved an impressive $200,000 from four theaters, translating to a $50,000 per location average, one of the highest of the year post-pandemic, indicating strong critical and audience interest as it plans for wider expansion.