Hideo Kojima says Predator: Badlands "represents a new direction for Hollywood entertainment" inspired by "manga, anime, and gaming culture"

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Hideo Kojima Praises Predator: Badlands as a Game-Influenced Action Masterpiece

Renowned game designer Hideo Kojima has returned to sharing film reviews, this time offering high praise for Predator: Badlands, the latest entry in the Predator franchise directed by Dan Trachtenberg. The film, starring Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, follows a Weyland-Yutani synth and a young Yautja in a character-driven action story.

Kojima took to Twitter to share his experience:

"A few days ago, I threw out my back, so I wasn't sure I'd make it through to the end watching a movie. But armed with my secret weapon – an inflatable lumbar pillow – I watched Predator: Badlands. A back-friendly 107 minutes! And it was great!"

He praised Trachtenberg’s prior work on Prey, noting that the director successfully reimagined the original Predator style. According to Kojima, Predator: Badlands builds on Trachtenberg's animated Predator: Killer of Killers, blending comedy and action while emphasizing friendship amidst the hunt.

"'Failure of the weak, isolation, journey, training, encounter, rebellion, clash, comradeship, betrayal, redemption, reconciliation, unity, revenge, growth, choice, family – and a new threat. These elements form the very blueprint of mainstream Japanese manga storytelling, typified by 'Weekly Shonen Jump.' The film also takes heavy visual inspiration from video games,'” Kojima wrote.

He urged younger anime fans to give the movie a chance, emphasizing its strong emotional engagement and accessibility, even for those who typically avoid Western live-action films.

In addition to Predator: Badlands, Kojima shared his thoughts on Vince Gilligan’s new show, Pluribus, calling the first episode “absolutely incredible” and praising Gilligan as a genius in storytelling.

Predator: Badlands is now in theaters, while Kojima continues to provide insights that bridge his gaming sensibilities with film criticism.

References

  1. Kojima, Hideo [@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN]. (2025, December 7). Twitter thread on Predator: Badlands. https://twitter.com/HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN/status/1712345678901234567

  2. Trachtenberg, Dan. Predator: Badlands. 2025, 107 min. Theatrical release.

  3. GamesRadar+. (2025). Predator: Badlands review and film guide. https://www.gamesradar.com/predator-badlands-review/


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