US actress Elle Fanning (L) and New Zealand actor Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi star in 'Predator: Badlands' LISA O'CONNOR

"Predator: Badlands," the latest installment in the sci-fi horror franchise that started nearly 40 years ago, devoured the competition at the North American box office, debuting at $40 million, industry estimates showed Sunday.

The 20th Century Studios film stars Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi as an outcast Predator who is the hero this time, teaming up with an android (Elle Fanning) on an epic journey to prove himself.

It is the ninth entry in the popular franchise launched in 1987 with Arnold Schwarzenegger as its star.

In second place was Paramount's "Regretting You," the latest film adaptation of a Colleen Hoover novel, at $7.1 million for the Friday to Su

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