Strictly Business Daily Variety – Box Office: ‘Predator: Badlands’ Bags Bucks for Disney; Edgar Wright Takes a Big Swing With ‘The Running Man’
Nov 10, 2025
Rebecca Rubin, Variety's box office guru, dives into the $40 million opening of "Predator: Badlands," highlighting its impressive performance and Disney's strategy. Meanwhile, Jordan Moreau shares insights from his profile of Edgar Wright, exploring his nuanced adaptation of "The Running Man" and how contemporary themes like AI are woven into the narrative. Wright's insights on ensemble casting and behind-the-scenes anecdotes add a personal touch, making this discussion a captivating blend of box office trends and creative filmmaking.
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Franchise Spectacle Still Sells
- Predator: Badlands overperformed with a $40M opening versus $25–30M projections, signaling franchise durability.
- Nearly 60% of domestic revenue came from premium large formats, showing spectacle still drives ticket sales.
Premium Formats Drive Openings
- Premium formats (IMAX, Dolby, 3D) made up nearly 60% of Badlands' domestic tally.
- That reliance on premium formats reinforced that visual spectacle remains a key theatrical draw.
Audience Breadth Trumps Star Power
- Films targeting older or arthouse audiences underperformed while tentpoles drew broader crowds.
- Die My Love and Christy both landed in low single digits, highlighting limited reach for polarizing dramas.
