When Shane Black unexpectedly revealed he was making a new Predator film, few anticipated that this direct-to-streaming release would revitalize the series and earn its highest Rotten Tomatoes score yet. Now, four years after it was originally intended for theaters, Prey is becoming a hit on streaming platforms.
Before Arnold Schwarzenegger and his team faced the Predator and couldn’t escape in the helicopter, there was Prey. This new film features Amber Midthunder as Naru, a young Comanche woman who must fight to survive after a spaceship crashes and releases a deadly alien with incredible fighting skills.
The new film Prey revitalized the Predator series, offering a unique direction that moved away from the familiar patterns of past sequels, thanks to director Trachtenberg. It became Disney+’s most-watched original film upon release and earned a remarkable 94% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Although viewers gave it a slightly lower score of 74%, most agree that Prey isn’t just a strong Predator film, but a standout movie of recent years.
‘Prey’ Walked on Streaming So ‘Predator: Badlands’ Could Run in Theaters
20th Century Studios
If the pandemic hadn’t closed so many theaters, Prey probably would have been a major box office success. Instead, it premiered on Hulu and Disney+, quickly becoming a record-breaker. Many felt it deserved a theatrical release, and that finally happened three years later. In November 2025, a few cinemas screened Prey alongside Predator: Badlands as a double feature.
Following the lessons learned from releasing Prey only on streaming, it was expected that Predator: Badlands would get a proper cinema release. The film was a hit, earning $184 million worldwide and becoming the most successful Predator movie ever, even surpassing the crossover films with Alien from the 2000s.
While the future of the Predator series hasn’t been officially revealed, director Trachtenberg is reportedly developing the next chapter. After the success of both Prey and the animated anthology Predator: Killer of Killers, expectations are high for upcoming installments, including a Prey sequel and anything that follows Badlands.
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You can watch Prey on Tubi for free. Predator: Badlands is available to rent or buy on digital platforms like Apple and Amazon, where it’s currently very popular.
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2026-01-20 14:47