Dan Trachtenberg’s four films ranked, led by 10 Cloverfield Lane

Collider ranks Dan Trachtenberg’s four feature films, putting 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016) at No. 1 and Predator: Badlands (2025) at No. 4.

The roundup describes Predator: Badlands (2025) as the mildest of the recent entries, noting its PG-13 tone, lighter violence, and a Predator as the protagonist that gives the film an extraterrestrial coming-of-age feel. Predator: Killer of Killers (2025) is identified as an animated anthology with three short stories — roughly Predator vs. Vikings, Predator vs. Samurai, and Predator vs. a World War II fighter pilot — that tie together and emphasize action and violence. Prey (2022) is praised for going back to the early 1700s and centering a skilled Comanche warrior in a largely straightforward human‑versus‑Predator story. 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016) is called Trachtenberg’s best to date for its claustrophobic bunker setup and sustained suspense, despite a final scene or two that the article says deflate it slightly.

The article adds that Trachtenberg’s filmography has been consistently good without producing an all‑out masterpiece, and that the 2020s Predator entries remain sequel‑able; "time will tell which ones (if any) do get continued," the piece says.

Key Topics

Culture, Dan Trachtenberg, Prey, Predator Badlands, Predator