Predator: Killer of Killers has broken a Rotten Tomatoes audience score record for the franchise. The streaming-exclusive animated movie, which was co-directed by Prey‘s Dan Trachtenberg, is the eighth feature-length installment in the sci-fi horror franchise and follows Yautja predators landing on Earth in three different timelines, fighting a Viking warrior (Lindsay LaVanchy) in 841, a ninja (Louis Ozawa) in feudal Japan, and a pilot (Rick Gonzalez) in World War II. The Predator: Killer of Killers cast also includes Michael Biehn, Doug Cockle, Lauren Holt, and Felix Solis.

Rotten Tomatoes has now aggregated more than 500 user reviews for Predator: Killer of Killers, which have given the movie a 91% Popcornmeter score thanks to an average rating of 4.5 out of 5. Audiences are particularly praising its innovative storytelling, emotionally complex character work, and expansion of franchise lore. This gives the movie the best Popcornmeter score of the franchise, beating out the 87% score earned by the original 1987 movie. This news comes shortly after its Certified Fresh 97% Tomatometer score earned it the best critic score in the franchise.

This Popcornmeter score is slightly lower than the Tomatometer score because of a slightly greater number of reviews with more tempered reactions that match the sentiments of ScreenRant‘s own Grant Hermanns, who gave the movie a score of 5 out of 10. Read an excerpt from his Predator: Killer of Killers review below:

Overall, given how well Trachtenberg did with Prey, it’s really disappointing how much of a mess Predator: Killer of Killers is by comparison. It’s a directionless way to continue the franchise and tide audiences over while they wait for Badlands’ release. It’s a cliffhanger ending that not only begs for a sequel but also practically dares 20th Century Studios to not produce Prey 2. It’s something I was once excited about, but am now feeling conflicted over whether I want it.

What This Means For Predator: Killer Of Killers

The Animated Movie Is A Huge Win For The Franchise

While the first four Predator movies have audience scores that are superior to the critic scores on Rotten Tomatoes, Killer of Killers has now become the fourth installment in a row to have an audience score that is lower. However, of those тιтles, it has the second-smallest difference between the two scores, falling just 6%. The smallest drop is still The Predator‘s 2% dip from 34% to 32%, though both of those scores rank among the worst of the franchise. Below, see a breakdown of the Rotten Tomatoes scores of the entire series:

Additionally, Killer of Killers has made franchise history by earning what is only its third-ever positive Popcornmeter score. The threshold past which a movie is considered “Fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes is 60%, and every single installment between the original movie and Prey earned a Popcornmeter score below that number, bottoming out at the 30% earned by the 2007 crossover sequel Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem.

Our Take On The Predator: Killer Of Killers Popcornmeter Score

Predator: Badlands Could Do Even Better

Director Dan Trachtenberg clearly has a way with the franchise, as these Predator: Killer of Killers records come after his 2022 live-action prequel Prey earned the best Tomatometer score and the second-best Popcornmeter score (at the time). This bodes well for his upcoming Predator: Badlands, a live-action theatrical release starring Elle Fanning. While there is little room for it to improve upon Killer of Killers‘ scores, Trachtenberg’s track record shows that if any тιтle can surpᴀss the animated movie, it is Badlands.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes