The Philadelphia Film Critics Circle have named One Battle After Another as the best film of 2025. I guess it makes sense. When you live in Philadelphia, life is one battle after another.
Best Film Winner: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER Runner-Up: SINNERS
Best Director Winner: Paul Thomas Anderson – ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER Runner-Up: Ryan Coogler – SINNERS
Best Actress Winner: Jessie Buckley – HAMNET Runner-Up: Rose Byrne – IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU
Best Actor Winner: Michael B. Jordan – SINNERS Runner-Up: Ethan Hawke – BLUE MOON
Best Supporting Actress Winner: Teyana Taylor – ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER Runner-Up: Wunmi Mosaku – SINNERS
Best Supporting Actor Winner: Benicio del Toro – ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER Runner-Up: Delroy Lindo – SINNERS
Best Screenplay Winner: SINNERS Runner-Up: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Score/Soundtrack Winner: SINNERS Runner-Up: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Directorial Debut Winner: Charlie Polinger – THE PLAGUE Runner-Up: Eva Victor – SORRY, BABY
Best Breakthrough Performance Winner: Chase Infiniti – ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER Runner-Up: Miles Caton – SINNERS
Best Cinematography Winner: SINNERS Runner-Up: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Documentary Winner: GRAND THEFT HAMLET Runner-Up: ORWELL: 2+2=5
Best Foreign Film Winner: IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT Runner-Up: SENTIMENTAL VALUE
Best Animated Film Winner: KPOP DEMON HUNTERS Runner-Up: ZOOTOPIA 2
Best Ensemble Winner: SINNERS Runner-Up: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER The Steve Friedman Award For a person or film that drives major public discourse on a topic or issue
SINNERS
The Elaine May Award For a deserving person or film that brings awareness to a story from a woman’s perspective
IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU
The Cheesesteak Award (Sponsored by Philips Steaks) Winner: SUPERMAN Runner-up: PREDATOR: BADLANDS
The Las Vegas Film Critics Society has announced its picks for the best of 2025. The winners are in bold.
BEST PICTURE Frankenstein Marty Supreme One Battle After Another Sinners Train Dreams
BEST ACTOR Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another Joel Edgerton – Train Dreams Michael B. Jordan – Sinners Jesse Plemons – Bugonia
BEST ACTRESS Jessie Buckley – Hamnet Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value Amanda Seyfried – The Testament of Ann Lee Emma Stone – Bugonia
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Benicio del Toro – One Battle After Another Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein Delroy Lindo – Sinners Sean Penn – One Battle After Another Stellan Skarsgård – Sentimental Value
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Emily Blunt – The Smashing Machine Elle Fanning – Sentimental Value Ariana Grande – Wicked: For Good Amy Madigan – Weapons Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another
BEST DIRECTOR Guillermo del Toro – Frankenstein Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another Ryan Coogler – Sinners Clint Bentley – Train Dreams
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY Marty Supreme Sentimental Value Sinners Sorry, Baby Weapons
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY Bugonia Frankenstein No Other Choice One Battle After Another Train Dreams
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY F1: The Movie Frankenstein One Battle After Another Sinners Train Dreams
BEST FILM EDITING F1: The Movie Marty Supreme One Battle After Another Sinners Train Dreams
BEST SCORE F1: The Movie Frankenstein One Battle After Another Sinners Tron: Ares
BEST SONG Clothed by the Sun – The Testament of Ann Lee Drive – F1: The Movie Golden – KPop Demon Hunters I Lied to You – Sinners Train Dreams – Train Dreams
BEST DOCUMENTARY The Alabama Solution Come See Me in the Good Light Cover Up John Candy: I Like Me The Perfect Neighbor
BEST ANIMATED FILM Arco Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba The Movie: Infinity Castle In Your Dreams KPop Demon Hunters Zootopia 2
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM It Was Just an Accident Left-Handed Girl No Other Choice Sentimental Value The Secret Agent
BEST COSTUME DESIGN Frankenstein Hamnet Kiss of the Spider Woman Sinners Wicked: For Good
BEST ART DIRECTION Avatar: Fire and Ash Frankenstein Marty Supreme Sinners Wicked: For Good
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS Avatar: Fire and Ash F1: The Movie Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Superman The Fantastic Four: First Steps
BEST ACTION FILM From the World of John Wick: Ballerina Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Predator: Badlands Superman The Running Man
BEST COMEDY Eternity Friendship The Ballad of Wallis Island The Naked Gun One of Them Days
BEST HORROR / SCI-FI 28 Years Later Bring Her Back Frankenstein Sinners The Long Walk
BEST FAMILY FILM How to Train Your Dragon KPop Demon Hunters Lilo & Stitch The Legend of Ochi Zootopia 2
BEST ANIMAL PERFORMANCE Bing, the Great Dane – The Friend Hercules, the Dog – Marty Supreme Indy – Good Boy Olga, the Cat – Sorry, Baby Richard and Baba – The Penguin Lessons
BEST ENSEMBLE Jay Kelly Marty Supreme One Battle After Another Sentimental Value Sinners
BREAKOUT FILMMAKER Clint Bentley – Train Dreams Drew Hancock – Companion Emilie Blichfeldt – The Ugly Stepsister Eva Victor – Sorry, Baby James Sweeney – Twinless
BEST STUNTS F1: The Movie From the World of John Wick: Ballerina Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Predator: Badlands The Running Man
YOUTH MALE PERFORMANCE (UNDER 21) Christian Convery – Frankenstein / The Monkey Jacobi Jupe – Hamnet John Wren Phillips – Bring Her Back Mason Thames – How to Train Your Dragon Miles Caton – Sinners
FEMALE YOUTH PERFORMANCE (UNDER 21) Helena Zengel – The Legend of Ochi Maia Kealoha – Lilo & Stitch Nina Ye – Left-Handed Girl Shannon Mahina Gorman – Rental Family Sora Wong – Bring Her Back
WILLIAM HOLDEN LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Kathryn Bigelow Barbara Broccoli Kathleen Kennedy Delroy Lindo Sigourney Weaver
Here are the 2025 nominations of the Las Vegas Film Critics Society.
BEST PICTURE Frankenstein Marty Supreme One Battle After Another Sinners Train Dreams
BEST ACTOR Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another Joel Edgerton – Train Dreams Michael B. Jordan – Sinners Jesse Plemons – Bugonia
BEST ACTRESS Jessie Buckley – Hamnet Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value Amanda Seyfried – The Testament of Ann Lee Emma Stone – Bugonia
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Benicio del Toro – One Battle After Another Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein Delroy Lindo – Sinners Sean Penn – One Battle After Another Stellan Skarsgård – Sentimental Value
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Emily Blunt – The Smashing Machine Elle Fanning – Sentimental Value Ariana Grande – Wicked: For Good Amy Madigan – Weapons Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another
BEST DIRECTOR Guillermo del Toro – Frankenstein Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another Ryan Coogler – Sinners Clint Bentley – Train Dreams
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY Marty Supreme Sentimental Value Sinners Sorry, Baby Weapons
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY Bugonia Frankenstein No Other Choice One Battle After Another Train Dreams
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY F1: The Movie Frankenstein One Battle After Another Sinners Train Dreams
BEST FILM EDITING F1: The Movie Marty Supreme One Battle After Another Sinners Train Dreams
BEST SCORE F1: The Movie Frankenstein One Battle After Another Sinners Tron: Ares
BEST SONG Clothed by the Sun – The Testament of Ann Lee Drive – F1: The Movie Golden – KPop Demon Hunters I Lied to You – Sinners Train Dreams – Train Dreams
BEST DOCUMENTARY The Alabama Solution Come See Me in the Good Light Cover Up John Candy: I Like Me The Perfect Neighbor
BEST ANIMATED FILM Arco Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba The Movie: Infinity Castle In Your Dreams KPop Demon Hunters Zootopia 2
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM It Was Just an Accident Left-Handed Girl No Other Choice Sentimental Value The Secret Agent
BEST COSTUME DESIGN Frankenstein Hamnet Kiss of the Spider Woman Sinners Wicked: For Good
BEST ART DIRECTION Avatar: Fire and Ash Frankenstein Marty Supreme Sinners Wicked: For Good
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS Avatar: Fire and Ash F1: The Movie Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Superman The Fantastic Four: First Steps
BEST ACTION FILM From the World of John Wick: Ballerina Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Predator: Badlands Superman The Running Man
BEST COMEDY Eternity Friendship The Ballad of Wallis Island The Naked Gun One of Them Days
BEST HORROR / SCI-FI 28 Years Later Bring Her Back Frankenstein Sinners The Long Walk
BEST FAMILY FILM How to Train Your Dragon KPop Demon Hunters Lilo & Stitch The Legend of Ochi Zootopia 2
BEST ANIMAL PERFORMANCE Bing, the Great Dane – The Friend Hercules, the Dog – Marty Supreme Indy – Good Boy Olga, the Cat – Sorry, Baby Richard and Baba – The Penguin Lessons
BEST ENSEMBLE Jay Kelly Marty Supreme One Battle After Another Sentimental Value Sinners
BREAKOUT FILMMAKER Clint Bentley – Train Dreams Drew Hancock – Companion Emilie Blichfeldt – The Ugly Stepsister Eva Victor – Sorry, Baby James Sweeney – Twinless
BEST STUNTS F1: The Movie From the World of John Wick: Ballerina Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Predator: Badlands The Running Man
YOUTH MALE PERFORMANCE (UNDER 21) Christian Convery – Frankenstein / The Monkey Jacobi Jupe – Hamnet John Wren Phillips – Bring Her Back Mason Thames – How to Train Your Dragon Miles Canton – Sinners
FEMALE YOUTH PERFORMANCE (UNDER 21) Helena Zengel – The Legend of Ochi Maia Kealoha – Lilo & Stitch Nina Ye – Left-Handed Girl Shannon Mahina Gorman – Rental Family Sora Wong – Bring Her Back
WILLIAM HOLDEN LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Kathryn Bigelow Barbara Broccoli Kathleen Kennedy Delroy Lindo Sigourney Weaver
Yesterday, the Indiana Film Journalists Association announced its picks for the best of 2025. The winners are listed in bold.
BEST FILM 28 Years Later Black Bag Bob Trevino Likes It Bugonia Frankenstein Friendship Hamnet Jay Kelly The Life of Chuck Marty Supreme No Other Choice One Battle After Another (RUNNER-UP) The Phoenician Scheme The Plague Sinners (WINNER) Splitsville Superman Train Dreams Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery Weapons
Other Best Film Finalists / Top 10 Films: (listed alphabetically)
Bob Trevino Likes It
Hamnet
The Life of Chuck
Marty Supreme
No Other Choice
Train Dreams
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
Weapons
BEST ANIMATED FILM In Your Dreams KPop Demon Hunters (WINNER) The Legend of Hei 2 (RUNNER-UP) Little Amélie Or The Character Of Rain Ne Zha 2 Predator: Killer of Killers Zootopia 2
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM Cloud It Was Just an Accident Left-Handed Girl No Other Choice (WINNER) Reflection In A Dead Diamond Rental Family The Secret Agent Sentimental Value (RUNNER-UP) Universal Language The Voice of Hind Rajab
BEST DOCUMENTARY Are We Good? Deaf President Now! Disposable Humanity Grand Theft Hamlet Hacking at Leaves Orwell: 2+2=5 (RUNNER-UP) Pavements The Perfect Neighbor The Tenderness Tour (WINNER)
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY Noah Baumbach and Emily Mortimer – Jay Kelly Mary Bronstein – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme (RUNNER-UP) Ryan Coogler – Sinners (WINNER) Michael Angelo Covino and Kyle Marvin – Splitsville Zach Cregger – Weapons David Koepp – Black Bag Tracie Laymon – Bob Trevino Likes It Jafar Panahi – It Was Just an Accident Charlie Polinger – The Plague
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another (WINNER) Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar – Train Dreams Guillermo del Toro – Frankenstein Mike Flanagan – The Life of Chuck (RUNNER-UP) Alex Garland – 28 Years Later Dan Gregor, Doug Mand, and Akiva Schaffer – The Naked Gun James Gunn – Superman Rian Johnson – Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery Park Chan-wook, Lee Kyoung-mi, Don McKellar and Lee Ja-hye – No Other Choice Will Tracy – Bugonia
BEST DIRECTOR Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another (WINNER) Clint Bentley – Train Dreams Ryan Coogler – Sinners (RUNNER-UP) Michael Angelo Covino – Splitsville Zach Cregger – Weapons James Gunn – Superman Park Chan-wook – No Other Choice Charlie Polinger – The Plague Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme Steven Soderbergh – Black Bag
BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE Everett Blunck – The Plague Jessie Buckley – Hamnet (RUNNER-UP) Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme (WINNER) David Corenswet – Superman Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another Joel Edgerton – Train Dreams Michael Fassbender – Black Bag Barbie Ferreira – Bob Trevino Likes It Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon Michael B. Jordan – Sinners Liam Neeson – The Naked Gun Josh O’Connor – Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery Jesse Plemons – Bugonia Emma Stone – Bugonia
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE Pamela Anderson – The Naked Gun Miles Caton – Sinners Benicio del Toro – One Battle After Another (WINNER) Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein Nicholas Hoult – Superman Chase Infiniti – One Battle After Another John Leguizamo – Bob Trevino Likes It Amy Madigan – Weapons (RUNNER-UP) Paul Mescal – Hamnet Sean Penn – One Battle After Another Adam Sandler – Jay Kelly Stellan Skarsgård – Sentimental Value French Stewart – Bob Trevino Likes It Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another
BEST VOCAL / MOTION-CAPTURE PERFORMANCE Oona Chaplin – Avatar: Fire And Ash Ebon Moss-Bachrach – The Fantastic Four: First Steps (RUNNER-UP) Will Patton – Train Dreams (WINNER) Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi – Predator: Badlands Zhu Jing – The Legend of Hei 2
BEST ENSEMBLE ACTING Black Bag Bugonia The Life of Chuck Marty Supreme One Battle After Another (RUNNER-UP) The Plague Sinners (WINNER) Superman Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery Weapons
BEST EDITING Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme Barry Alexander Brown and Allyson C. Johnson – Highest 2 Lowest Mike Flanagan – The Life of Chuck Jon Harris – 28 Years Later Andy Jurgensen – One Battle After Another (RUNNER-UP) Kim Sang-bum – No Other Choice Brian Scott Olds – The Naked Gun Sara Shaw – Splitsville Michael P. Shawver – Sinners (WINNER) Steven Soderbergh – Black Bag
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY Autumn Durald Arkapaw – Sinners (WINNER) Michael Bauman – One Battle After Another (RUNNER-UP) Steven Breckon – The Plague Darius Khondji – Marty Supreme Dan Laustsen – Frankenstein Anthony Dod Mantle – 28 Years Later Larkin Seiple – Weapons Steven Soderbergh – Black Bag Fraser Taggart – Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Adolpho Veloso – Train Dreams
BEST MUSICAL SCORE Jerskin Fendrix – Bugonia Ludwig Göransson – Sinners (WINNER) Jonny Greenwood – One Battle After Another (RUNNER-UP) Ryan Holladay, Hays Holladay and Zach Cregger – Weapons David Holmes – Black Bag Johan Lenox – The Plague Daniel Lopatin – Marty Supreme John Murphy and David Fleming – Superman Nine Inch Nails – Tron: Ares Young Fathers – 28 Years Later
BEST STUNT / MOVEMENT CHOREOGRAPHY Wade Eastwood (second unit director / stunt coordinator) – Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (WINNER) Timothy Eulich (stunt coordinator) – Eddington Tyler Hall (stunt coordinator / stunt driver) and Dave McKeown (stunt coordinator) – Splitsville Brian Machleit (stunt coordinator) – One Battle After Another (RUNNER-UP) Mandy Moore (choreographer) – The Life of Chuck Alain Moussi (stunt coordinator), Brahim Chab (fight coordinator), László Kósa (stunt coordinator, Hungary) and Balázs Lengyel (fight coordinator, Hungary) – Fight or Flight Celia Rowlson-Hall (choreographer) – The Testament of Ann Lee Jacob Tomuri (stunt coordinator) – Predator: Badlands
BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS Dennis Berardi, Ayo Burgess and Ivan Busquets (VFX supervisors) and José Granell (miniatures / models supervisor) – Frankenstein (WINNER) Jeff Capogreco (VFX supervisor), Dave Funston (VFX supervisor, OPSIS), Ross McCabe (VFX supervisor, Image Engine), Abishek Nair (VFX supervisor, Industrial Light and Magic / VFX supervisor, second unit), Vincent Papaix (VFX supervisor, Industrial Light and Magic) and Cameron Waldbauer (SFX supervisor) – Tron: Ares Stephane Ceretti, Enrico Damm, Stéphane Nazé and Guy Williams (VFX supervisors) – Superman Olivier Dumont and Sheldon Stopsack (VFX supervisors, Wētā), Kathy Siegel (VFX producer / co-producer) and Karl Rapley (animation supervisor, Wētā) – Predator: Badlands Dan Glass, Chris McLaughlin and Stuart Penn (VFX supervisors) and Dominic Tuohy (SFX supervisor) – Mickey 17 Joe Letteri (senior VFX supervisor), Richard Baneham (VFX supervisor, Lightstorm / virtual second unit director), Eric Saindon (senior VFX supervisor, Wētā Digital) and Daniel Barrett (senior animation supervisor, Wētā Digital) – Avatar: Fire And Ash Charlie Noble (VFX supervisor), David Zaretti (VFX supervisor, ILM), Russell Bowen (VFX supervisor, beloFX) and Brandon K. McLaughlin (SFX coordinator) – The Lost Bus Michael Ralla, Espen Nordahl and Guido Wolter (VFX supervisors) and Donnie Dean (SFX coordinator) – Sinners (RUNNER-UP) Scott Stokdyk (VFX supervisor, Marvel), Robert Allman (VFX supervisor, Framestore), Daniele Bigi (VFX supervisor, ILM), Theodore Bialek (VFX supervisor, SPI) and Alistair Williams (SFX supervisor) – The Fantastic Four: First Steps
BREAKOUT OF THE YEAR Clint Bentley (director / co-writer) – Train Dreams Everett Blunck (performer) – The Plague Miles Caton (performer) – Sinners (RUNNER-UP) Aidan Delbis (performer) – Bugonia Chase Infiniti (performer) – One Battle After Another (WINNER) Jacobi Jupe (performer) – Hamnet Tracie Laymon (director / writer) – Bob Trevino Likes It Charlie Polinger (director / writer) – The Plague Eva Victor (director / writer / performer) – Sorry, Baby Alfie Williams (performer) – 28 Years Later
ORIGINAL VISION Good Boy (WINNER) If I Had Legs I’d Kick You One Battle After Another The Plague Reflection In A Dead Diamond The Testament of Ann Lee (RUNNER-UP) Train Dreams
The Edward Johnson-Ott Hoosier Award
Chase Infiniti – One Battle After Another
Here are the picks of the Seattle Film Critics Society for the best of 2025! The winners are listed in bold.
BEST PICTURE
Bugonia – Yorgos Lanthimos
Hamnet – Chloé Zhao
It Was Just an Accident – Jafar Panahi
Marty Supreme – Josh Safdie One Battle After Another – Paul Thomas Anderson
Sentimental Value – Joachim Trier
Sinners – Ryan Coogler
Sorry, Baby – Eva Victor
Train Dreams – Clint Bentley
Weapons – Zach Cregger
BEST DIRECTOR
Hamnet – Chloé Zhao
Marty Supreme – Josh Safdie One Battle After Another – Paul Thomas Anderson
Sinners – Ryan Coogler
Train Dreams – Clint Bentley
BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another
Joel Edgerton – Train Dreams
Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon
Michael B. Jordan – Sinners
BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE Jessie Buckley – Hamnet
Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
Amanda Seyfried – The Testament of Ann Lee
Emma Stone – Bugonia
Eva Victor – Sorry, Baby
BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Benicio del Toro – One Battle After Another
Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein
David Jonsson – The Long Walk
William H. Macy – Train Dreams Sean Penn – One Battle After Another
BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Ariana Grande – Wicked: For Good
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – Sentimental Value
Amy Madigan – Weapons Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners
Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another
BEST ENSEMBLE CAST
Eephus – Carson Lund
Marty Supreme – Jennifer Venditti One Battle After Another – Cassandra Kulukundis
Sinners – Francine Maisler
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Story – Bret Howe, Mary Vernieu
BEST YOUTH PERFORMANCE
Cary Christopher – Weapons
Shannon Gorman – Rental Family Jacobi Jupe – Hamnet
Jasper Thompson – The Mastermind
Alfie Williams – 28 Years Later
BEST SCREENPLAY
Marty Supreme – Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie One Battle After Another – Paul Thomas Anderson
Sinners – Ryan Coogler
Sorry, Baby – Eva Victor
Train Dreams – Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar
BEST ANIMATED FILM
Arco – Ugo Bienvenu
The Colors Within – Naoko Yamada KPop Demon Hunters – Maggie Kang, Chris Appelhans
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain – Maïlys Vallade, Liane-Cho Han
Zootopia 2 – Jared Bush, Byron Howard
BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM
The Alabama Solution – Andrew Jarecki, Charlotte Kaufman
Come See Me in the Good Light – Ryan White
Pavements – Alex Ross Perry
The Perfect Neighbor – Geeta Gandbhir WTO/99 – Ian Bell
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM It Was Just an Accident – Jafar Panahi
No Other Choice – Park Chan-wook
The Secret Agent – Kleber Mendonça Filho
Sentimental Value – Joachim Trier
The Ugly Stepsister – Emilie Blichfeldt
BEST PACIFIC NORTHWEST FEATURE FILM
Not One Drop of Blood – Jackson Devereux, Lachlan Hinton
To Kill a Wolf – Kelsey Taylor Train Dreams – Clint Bentley
Twinless – James Sweeney
Wolf Land (Director’s Cut) – Sarah Hoffman
WTO/99 – Ian Bell
BEST PACIFIC NORTHWEST SHORT FILM
Charlotte, 1994 – Brian Pittala
A Fateful Weekend – Tony Doupe
Shelly’s Leg – Wes Hurley Songs of Black Folk – Justin Emeka, Haley Watson
Style: A Seattle Basketball Story – Bryan Tucker
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Frankenstein – Dan Laustsen
Hamnet – Łukasz Żal
One Battle After Another – Michael Bauman Sinners – Autumn Durald Arkapaw
Train Dreams – Adolpho Veloso
BEST COSTUME DESIGN Frankenstein – Kate Hawley
The Phoenician Scheme – Milena Canonero
Sinners – Ruth E. Carter
Train Dreams – Malgosia Turzanska
Wicked: For Good – Paul Tazewell
BEST FILM EDITING
F1 The Movie – Stephen Mirrione, Patrick J. Smith
Marty Supreme – Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie One Battle After Another – Andy Jurgensen
Reflection in a Dead Diamond – Bernard Beets
Sinners – Michael P. Shawver
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
F1 The Movie – Hans Zimmer
Frankenstein – Alexandre Desplat One Battle After Another – Jonny Greenwood
Sinners – Ludwig Göransson
Tron: Ares – Nine Inch Nails
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Fantastic Four: First Steps – Kasra Farahani (Production Design); Jille Azis (Set Decoration) Frankenstein – Tamara Deverell (Production Design); Shane Vieau (Set Decoration)
The Phoenician Scheme – Adam Stockhausen (Production Design); Anna Pinnock (Set Decoration)
Resurrection – Liu Qiang, Tu Nan
Sinners – Hannah Beachler (Production Design); Monique Champagne (Set Decoration)
BEST ACTION CHOREOGRAPHY
Avatar: Fire and Ash – Garrett Warren, Steve Brown, Stuart Thorp
From the World of John Wick: Ballerina – Stephen Dunlevy, Jackson Spindell Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning – Wade Eastwood
Predator: Badlands – Jacob Tomuri
Sinners – Andy Gill
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS Avatar: Fire and Ash – Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon, Daniel Barrett
F1 The Movie – Ryan Tudhope, Nicolas Chevallier, Robert Harrington
Frankenstein – Dennis Berardi, Ayo Burgess, Ivan Busquets, José Granell
Predator: Badlands – Olivier Dumont, Alec Gillis, Sheldon Stopsack, Karl Rapley
Sinners – Michael Ralla, Espen Nordahl, Guido Wolter, Donnie Dean
VILLAIN OF THE YEAR Aunt Gladys – Weapons (as portrayed by Amy Madigan)
Col. Steven J. Lockjaw – One Battle After Another (as portrayed by Sean Penn)
Laura – Bring Her Back (as portrayed by Sally Hawkins)
Lex Luthor – Superman (as portrayed by Nicholas Hoult)
Remmick – Sinners (as portrayed by Jack O’Connell)
Here are the 2025 nominations of the Indiana Film Journalists Association.
There’s a lot of them.
BEST FILM 28 Years Later Black Bag Bob Trevino Likes It Bugonia Frankenstein Friendship Hamnet Jay Kelly The Life of Chuck Marty Supreme No Other Choice One Battle After Another The Phoenician Scheme The Plague Sinners Splitsville Superman Train Dreams Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery Weapons
BEST ANIMATED FILM In Your Dreams KPop Demon Hunters The Legend of Hei 2 Little Amélie Or The Character Of Rain Ne Zha 2 Predator: Killer of Killers Zootopia 2
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM Cloud It Was Just an Accident Left-Handed Girl No Other Choice Reflection In A Dead Diamond Rental Family The Secret Agent Sentimental Value Universal Language The Voice of Hind Rajab
BEST DOCUMENTARY Are We Good? Deaf President Now! Disposable Humanity Grand Theft Hamlet Hacking at Leaves Orwell: 2+2=5 Pavements The Perfect Neighbor
The Tenderness Tour
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY Noah Baumbach and Emily Mortimer – Jay Kelly Mary Bronstein – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme Ryan Coogler – Sinners Michael Angelo Covino and Kyle Marvin – Splitsville Zach Cregger – Weapons David Koepp – Black Bag Tracie Laymon – Bob Trevino Likes It Jafar Panahi – It Was Just an Accident Charlie Polinger – The Plague
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar – Train Dreams Guillermo del Toro – Frankenstein Mike Flanagan – The Life of Chuck Alex Garland – 28 Years Later Dan Gregor, Doug Mand, and Akiva Schaffer – The Naked Gun James Gunn – Superman Rian Johnson – Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery Park Chan-wook, Lee Kyoung-mi, Don McKellar and Lee Ja-hye – No Other Choice Will Tracy – Bugonia
BEST DIRECTOR Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another Clint Bentley – Train Dreams Ryan Coogler – Sinners Michael Angelo Covino – Splitsville Zach Cregger – Weapons James Gunn – Superman Park Chan-wook – No Other Choice Charlie Polinger – The Plague Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme Steven Soderbergh – Black Bag
BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE Everett Blunck – The Plague Jessie Buckley – Hamnet Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme David Corenswet – Superman Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another Joel Edgerton – Train Dreams Michael Fassbender – Black Bag Barbie Ferreira – Bob Trevino Likes It Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon Michael B. Jordan – Sinners Liam Neeson – The Naked Gun Josh O’Connor – Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery Jesse Plemons – Bugonia Emma Stone – Bugonia
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE Pamela Anderson – The Naked Gun Miles Caton – Sinners Benicio del Toro – One Battle After Another Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein Nicholas Hoult – Superman Chase Infiniti – One Battle After Another John Leguizamo – Bob Trevino Likes It Amy Madigan – Weapons Paul Mescal – Hamnet Sean Penn – One Battle After Another Adam Sandler – Jay Kelly Stellan Skarsgård – Sentimental Value French Stewart – Bob Trevino Likes It Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another
BEST VOCAL / MOTION-CAPTURE PERFORMANCE Oona Chaplin – Avatar: Fire And Ash Ebon Moss-Bachrach – The Fantastic Four: First Steps Will Patton – Train Dreams Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi – Predator: Badlands Zhu Jing – The Legend of Hei 2
BEST ENSEMBLE ACTING Black Bag Bugonia The Life of Chuck Marty Supreme One Battle After Another The Plague Sinners Superman Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery Weapons
BEST EDITING Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme Barry Alexander Brown and Allyson C. Johnson – Highest 2 Lowest Mike Flanagan – The Life of Chuck Jon Harris – 28 Years Later Andy Jurgensen – One Battle After Another Kim Sang-bum – No Other Choice Brian Scott Olds – The Naked Gun Sara Shaw – Splitsville Michael P. Shawver – Sinners Steven Soderbergh – Black Bag
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY Autumn Durald Arkapaw – Sinners Michael Bauman – One Battle After Another Steven Breckon – The Plague Darius Khondji – Marty Supreme Dan Laustsen – Frankenstein Anthony Dod Mantle – 28 Years Later Larkin Seiple – Weapons Steven Soderbergh – Black Bag Fraser Taggart – Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Adolpho Veloso – Train Dreams
BEST MUSICAL SCORE Jerskin Fendrix – Bugonia Ludwig Göransson – Sinners Jonny Greenwood – One Battle After Another Ryan Holladay, Hays Holladay and Zach Cregger – Weapons David Holmes – Black Bag Johan Lenox – The Plague Daniel Lopatin – Marty Supreme John Murphy and David Fleming – Superman Nine Inch Nails – Tron: Ares Young Fathers – 28 Years Later
BEST STUNT / MOVEMENT CHOREOGRAPHY Wade Eastwood (second unit director / stunt coordinator) – Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Timothy Eulich (stunt coordinator) – Eddington Tyler Hall (stunt coordinator / stunt driver) and Dave McKeown (stunt coordinator) – Splitsville Brian Machleit (stunt coordinator) – One Battle After Another Mandy Moore (choreographer) – The Life of Chuck Alain Moussi (stunt coordinator), Brahim Chab (fight coordinator), László Kósa (stunt coordinator, Hungary) and Balázs Lengyel (fight coordinator, Hungary) – Fight or Flight Celia Rowlson-Hall (choreographer) – The Testament of Ann Lee Jacob Tomuri (stunt coordinator) – Predator: Badlands
BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS Dennis Berardi, Ayo Burgess and Ivan Busquets (VFX supervisors) and José Granell (miniatures / models supervisor) – Frankenstein Jeff Capogreco (VFX supervisor), Dave Funston (VFX supervisor, OPSIS), Ross McCabe (VFX supervisor, Image Engine), Abishek Nair (VFX supervisor, Industrial Light and Magic / VFX supervisor, second unit), Vincent Papaix (VFX supervisor, Industrial Light and Magic) and Cameron Waldbauer (SFX supervisor) – Tron: Ares Stephane Ceretti, Enrico Damm, Stéphane Nazé and Guy Williams (VFX supervisors) – Superman Olivier Dumont and Sheldon Stopsack (VFX supervisors, Wētā), Kathy Siegel (VFX producer / co-producer) and Karl Rapley (animation supervisor, Wētā) – Predator: Badlands Dan Glass, Chris McLaughlin and Stuart Penn (VFX supervisors) and Dominic Tuohy (SFX supervisor) – Mickey 17 Joe Letteri (senior VFX supervisor), Richard Baneham (VFX supervisor, Lightstorm / virtual second unit director), Eric Saindon (senior VFX supervisor, Wētā Digital) and Daniel Barrett (senior animation supervisor, Wētā Digital) – Avatar: Fire And Ash Charlie Noble (VFX supervisor), David Zaretti (VFX supervisor, ILM), Russell Bowen (VFX supervisor, beloFX) and Brandon K. McLaughlin (SFX coordinator) – The Lost Bus Michael Ralla, Espen Nordahl and Guido Wolter (VFX supervisors) and Donnie Dean (SFX coordinator) – Sinners Scott Stokdyk (VFX supervisor, Marvel), Robert Allman (VFX supervisor, Framestore), Daniele Bigi (VFX supervisor, ILM), Theodore Bialek (VFX supervisor, SPI) and Alistair Williams (SFX supervisor) – The Fantastic Four: First Steps
BREAKOUT OF THE YEAR Clint Bentley (director / co-writer) – Train Dreams Everett Blunck (performer) – The Plague Miles Caton (performer) – Sinners Aidan Delbis (performer) – Bugonia Chase Infiniti (performer) – One Battle After Another Jacobi Jupe (performer) – Hamnet Tracie Laymon (director / writer) – Bob Trevino Likes It Charlie Polinger (director / writer) – The Plague Eva Victor (director / writer / performer) – Sorry, Baby Alfie Williams (performer) – 28 Years Later
ORIGINAL VISION Good Boy If I Had Legs I’d Kick You One Battle After Another The Plague Reflection In A Dead Diamond The Testament of Ann Lee Train Dreams
Here are the 2025 nominations of the Seattle Film Critics Society!
BEST PICTURE Bugonia – Yorgos Lanthimos Hamnet – Chloé Zhao It Was Just an Accident – Jafar Panahi Marty Supreme – Josh Safdie One Battle After Another – Paul Thomas Anderson Sentimental Value – Joachim Trier Sinners – Ryan Coogler Sorry, Baby – Eva Victor Train Dreams – Clint Bentley Weapons – Zach Cregger
BEST DIRECTOR Hamnet – Chloé Zhao Marty Supreme – Josh Safdie One Battle After Another – Paul Thomas Anderson Sinners – Ryan Coogler Train Dreams – Clint Bentley
BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another Joel Edgerton – Train Dreams Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon Michael B. Jordan – Sinners
BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE Jessie Buckley – Hamnet Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You Amanda Seyfried – The Testament of Ann Lee Emma Stone – Bugonia Eva Victor – Sorry, Baby
BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE Benicio del Toro – One Battle After Another Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein David Jonsson – The Long Walk William H. Macy – Train Dreams Sean Penn – One Battle After Another
BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE Ariana Grande – Wicked: For Good Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – Sentimental Value Amy Madigan – Weapons Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another
BEST ENSEMBLE CAST Eephus – Carson Lund Marty Supreme – Jennifer Venditti One Battle After Another – Cassandra Kulukundis Sinners – Francine Maisler Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Story – Bret Howe, Mary Vernieu
BEST YOUTH PERFORMANCE Cary Christopher – Weapons Shannon Gorman – Rental Family Jacobi Jupe – Hamnet Jasper Thompson – The Mastermind Alfie Williams – 28 Years Later
BEST SCREENPLAY Marty Supreme – Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie One Battle After Another – Paul Thomas Anderson Sinners – Ryan Coogler Sorry, Baby – Eva Victor Train Dreams – Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar
BEST ANIMATED FILM Arco – Ugo Bienvenu The Colors Within – Naoko Yamada KPop Demon Hunters – Maggie Kang, Chris Appelhans Little Amélie or the Character of Rain – Maïlys Vallade, Liane-Cho Han Zootopia 2 – Jared Bush, Byron Howard
BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM The Alabama Solution – Andrew Jarecki, Charlotte Kaufman Come See Me in the Good Light – Ryan White Pavements – Alex Ross Perry The Perfect Neighbor – Geeta Gandbhir WTO/99 – Ian Bell
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM It Was Just an Accident – Jafar Panahi No Other Choice – Park Chan-wook The Secret Agent – Kleber Mendonça Filho Sentimental Value – Joachim Trier The Ugly Stepsister – Emilie Blichfeldt
BEST PACIFIC NORTHWEST FEATURE FILM Not One Drop of Blood – Jackson Devereux, Lachlan Hinton To Kill a Wolf – Kelsey Taylor Train Dreams – Clint Bentley Twinless – James Sweeney Wolf Land (Director’s Cut) – Sarah Hoffman WTO/99 – Ian Bell
BEST PACIFIC NORTHWEST SHORT FILM Charlotte, 1994 – Brian Pittala A Fateful Weekend – Tony Doupe Shelly’s Leg – Wes Hurley Songs of Black Folk – Justin Emeka, Haley Watson Style: A Seattle Basketball Story – Bryan Tucker
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY Frankenstein – Dan Laustsen Hamnet – Łukasz Żal One Battle After Another – Michael Bauman Sinners – Autumn Durald Arkapaw Train Dreams – Adolpho Veloso
BEST COSTUME DESIGN Frankenstein – Kate Hawley The Phoenician Scheme – Milena Canonero Sinners – Ruth E. Carter Train Dreams – Malgosia Turzanska Wicked: For Good – Paul Tazewell
BEST FILM EDITING F1 The Movie – Stephen Mirrione, Patrick J. Smith Marty Supreme – Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie One Battle After Another – Andy Jurgensen Reflection in a Dead Diamond – Bernard Beets Sinners – Michael P. Shawver
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE F1 The Movie – Hans Zimmer Frankenstein – Alexandre Desplat One Battle After Another – Jonny Greenwood Sinners – Ludwig Göransson Tron: Ares – Nine Inch Nails
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN Fantastic Four: First Steps – Kasra Farahani (Production Design); Jille Azis (Set Decoration) Frankenstein – Tamara Deverell (Production Design); Shane Vieau (Set Decoration) The Phoenician Scheme – Adam Stockhausen (Production Design); Anna Pinnock (Set Decoration) Resurrection – Liu Qiang, Tu Nan Sinners – Hannah Beachler (Production Design); Monique Champagne (Set Decoration)
BEST ACTION CHOREOGRAPHY Avatar: Fire and Ash – Garrett Warren, Steve Brown, Stuart Thorp From the World of John Wick: Ballerina – Stephen Dunlevy, Jackson Spindell Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning – Wade Eastwood Predator: Badlands – Jacob Tomuri Sinners – Andy Gill
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS Avatar: Fire and Ash – Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon, Daniel Barrett F1 The Movie – Ryan Tudhope, Nicolas Chevallier, Robert Harrington Frankenstein – Dennis Berardi, Ayo Burgess, Ivan Busquets, José Granell Predator: Badlands – Olivier Dumont, Alec Gillis, Sheldon Stopsack, Karl Rapley Sinners – Michael Ralla, Espen Nordahl, Guido Wolter, Donnie Dean
VILLAIN OF THE YEAR Aunt Gladys – Weapons (as portrayed by Amy Madigan) Col. Steven J. Lockjaw – One Battle After Another (as portrayed by Sean Penn) Laura – Bring Her Back (as portrayed by Sally Hawkins) Lex Luthor – Superman (as portrayed by Nicholas Hoult) Remmick – Sinners (as portrayed by Jack O’Connell)
“Here, you’re not the predator. You’re the prey.” — Thia
Predator: Badlands, directed by Dan Trachtenberg, marks a significant evolution within a franchise that has captivated audiences for nearly four decades. Known for its intense action and the enigmatic extraterrestrial hunters called the Yautja, the Predator series has continuously explored themes of survival, honor, and primal combat. Trachtenberg’s vision shifts the focus toward a more intimate and nuanced perspective by centering the narrative on Dek, the youngest and smallest member of the Predator clan. Through Dek’s journey, the film delves deep into Predator culture, ritual, and the personal struggles of one cast out from his tribe.
Dek, the youngest and smallest member of his Predator clan, finds himself exiled and cast out due to perceptions of weakness. Determined to prove himself worthy, he crash-lands on the hostile planet Genna—infamously named “The Death Planet”—where he must navigate a dangerous ecosystem full of lethal creatures and unpredictable hazards. Struggling to survive alone, Dek forms an uneasy alliance with Thia, a damaged synthetic android with knowledge of the planet. Together, they embark on a perilous journey that will test their strengths, challenge their beliefs, and redefine what it means to be predator and prey.
The chemistry between Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi and Elle Fanning as Dek and Thia is notably believable and compelling. Their performances breathe life into this unconventional duo—Dimitrius conveys Dek’s internal struggle and fierce determination almost entirely through physicality and subtle expression, while Fanning’s portrayal of Thia is richly layered with intelligence, resilience, and warmth despite her synthetic nature. Their interactions—marked by moments of tension, wit, and genuine connection—ground the narrative emotionally, making their partnership feel authentic even amid the film’s relentless action and alien setting.
At the emotional core of the film lies this evolving relationship, where Thia’s intelligence, wit, and empathy contrast Dek’s warrior stoicism. Physically bound to Dek early on, their partnership forged from necessity deepens into a profound bond that challenges traditional Predator stereotypes of ruthless isolation, opening space for exploration of trust, companionship, and mutual reliance in an unforgiving universe.
Adding to this complexity, Fanning also portrays Thia’s sister Tessa, embodying a dogmatic loyalty to the Weyland-Yutani corporation’s ruthless agenda. This dual role enriches the film’s meditation on identity, autonomy, and control, as the opposing android personas reflect divergent paths of resistance and compliance. The tension between Thia’s compassion and Tessa’s dogmatic obedience mirrors Dek’s own conflict between inherited tribal honor and his emerging personal values shaped by empathy and survival.
The narrative intensifies in the second act as the story shifts from Dek and Thia navigating Genna’s rough terrain to confronting the formidable forces of Weyland-Yutani and their synthetic android enforcers. This escalation brings broader stakes and a shift from survival to active resistance, with Dek’s combat style evolving into inventive use of the alien ecosystem’s deadly plants and creatures. His resourcefulness and adaptability are tested as much as his physical prowess.
Thia’s role grows beyond mere survival partner, serving as a moral compass guiding Dek through escalating challenges. Their deepening bond underscores themes of loyalty and defiance against overwhelming power. The rivalry between Thia and Tessa encapsulates both personal and systemic struggles, enriching the narrative’s emotional and thematic layers.
Action scenes in this act blend visceral intensity with strategic ingenuity, highlighting the evolving dynamic between Dek’s warrior instincts and Thia’s empathetic intelligence. This partnership provides an emotional anchor amid rising external threats.
Visually, while some of the VFX may not reach the technical heights of blockbuster films like Avatar, Predator: Badlands excels in blending digital effects with practical makeup and effects work. This approach makes the portrayal of Dek and the other Yautja—particularly when not helmeted—convincing and tangible. The hybrid effects allow Dek’s Yautja character to emote convincingly, adding crucial depth and relatability to a typically masked and silent character. This tactile realism enhances the immersive quality of the film and brings the Predator characters to life in a way that CGI alone might not achieve.
A distinct departure for the franchise, the film carries a PG-13 rating—a strategic decision enabled by the filmmakers’ exclusive use of non-human characters—synthetic androids and other alien beings—in violent scenes. This choice eliminates the display of red human blood, substituting blue synthetic fluids, thereby maintaining intensity while broadening audience accessibility. Although this approach softens the visceral brutality traditionally associated with the franchise, it allows for sustained creative violence and suspense without an R-rating’s restrictions. Some fans may find the absence of traditional gore reduces the raw impact and immediacy familiar to previous entries.
Throughout, the violence is intentional and purpose-driven, enriching the narrative rather than serving gratuitous spectacle. The film’s conclusion thoughtfully underscores themes of self-determination, as Dek eschews rigid tribal expectations in favor of personal autonomy, while Thia embraces an evolving identity beyond her synthetic origins.
One of the film’s most impressive achievements—and a testament to its commitment to authenticity—is the introduction of a fully constructed Yautja language. Developed by linguist Britton Watkins, who was recommended by Paul Frommer (the creator of the Na’vi language for James Cameron’s Avatar), this language was crafted with respect for the anatomical and cultural traits of the Predator species. Lead actor Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi and his fellow Yautja cast members learned to perform fluently in this language. This effort adds remarkable depth and realism to the Predator characters, creating a linguistic culture that supports the film’s immersive world-building. Scenes featuring Yautja dialogue are carefully subtitled, offering fans a fascinating and detailed glimpse into Predator communication and ritual.
Predator: Badlands is a layered, compelling addition to the saga. It pairs exhilarating action with thoughtful meditations on identity, survival, and connection. The evolving relationship between Dek and Thia, amplified by Elle Fanning’s complex dual roles, grounds the film emotionally and thematically, broadening the Predator mythos in significant ways.
Director Dan Trachtenberg has firmly cemented his position as the franchise’s caretaker, continuing a remarkable three-film streak following the critically acclaimed Prey and the animated Predator: Killer of Killers. Each installment boasts distinctive narrative voices and innovative approaches that have successfully engaged and expanded the fanbase. Trachtenberg’s vision skillfully balances honoring the franchise’s core elements with fresh storytelling, ensuring Predator remains vital and intriguing for both longtime followers and new viewers alike.
When Prey was released straight to streaming on Hulu in 2022, there were many who thought that the film was going to be another Predator franchise entry that would lead to major disappointment. I mean, if it was good, it would’ve had a theatrical release. So, it was a pleasant surprise when it was well-received by most critics and audiences, alike.
Director Dan Trachtenberg had earned much goodwill from those same people as with the executives who ran 20th Century for Disney. That goodwill has allowed Trachtenberg to work on two projects for the House of Mouse both of which are two different ideas to expand the Predator franchise.
The two projects in question are the 3-part animated series for Hulu, Predator: Killer of Killers and the one set for a full theatrical release this November, Predator: Badlands.
The animated series will be about following the stories of the titular hunter set in three different eras (Viking era, Feudal Japan and World War 2). Predator: Killer of Killers may be animated but from the trailer it doesn’t skimp on the gore and violence. The series is set to premiere on Hulu on June 6, 2025.
The feature film Predator: Badlands is set for a November 7, 2025 release and will take a coming-of-age route but from the point of view of a young Predator seen as an outcast from his clan and teaming up with an unlikely ally played by Elle Fanning.
Through the Shattered Lens 