Prey: Why is the latest film in the Predator franchise a Hulu exclusive?

Last Updated on October 26, 2023

Prey, the latest film in the Predator franchise, is tearing up the Hulu charts. Set in 1719 and focusing on a fierce Comanche warrior’s encounter with a deadly alien species, Prey received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics and fans alike. Many have hailed the movie, directed by Dan Tractenberg (10 Cloverfield Lane), as the best chapter of the franchise since 1987’s original, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. This situation begs the question: Why is Prey a Hulu exclusive? Why not bring Prey to the big screen where audiences can appreciate the movie’s glorious action and gorgeous cinematography on a grander scale? Unfortunately, the answer dresses in a suit and tie and is very corporate indeed.

20th Century Fox owns the Predator IP. Disney acquired 20th Century Fox in 2019, giving them exclusive access to the iconic Predator character. Disney also owns Hulu. I’m sure you can do the math, but let’s dig into it anyway. When Disney gets their paws on a more adult-oriented property, they typically port it to Hulu. This strategy assures that mature content doesn’t run elbows with Disney’s Marvel, Star Wars, and original content. While Hulu performs decently in the Wild West of streaming platform supremacy, it has yet to land a project that does “Holy shit” numbers. Then Prey came along. The movie premiered on Hulu and Disney’s Star+ on August 5, and it’s already the most-watched film premiere on the platform. But why is the movie only on Hulu? Surely it would make a ton of money in theaters, right?

According to Variety‘s Adam B. Vary, Prey falls under a previously established deal to help boost streaming numbers. “It’s the grandfathered 20th Century Fox/HBO deal, the same reason Free Guy went to HBO Max instead of D+. All 20th titles that originated pre-merger w/theatrical release must go to HBO Max. If PREY got a theatrical release, the same would happen. AND THAT IS FORBIDDEN, apparently,” said Vary.

Disney would rather host Prey solely on Hulu than let it play in theaters or stream on HBO Max. I mean, you’ve got to boost those numbers somehow, right? After all, we’re still in the middle of the Great Streaming War. You don’t get to put Netflix in the ground by pushing your chart-topping hit to multiple platforms.

What do you think about Prey only being available on Hulu? Would you pay to see the latest Predator movie on the silver screen? Let us know in the comments below.