Why Prey Is One Of The Best Predator Movies Ever Made

Following 2018’s critical and theatrical disappointment, The Predator, Hulu green lit a prequel that would hopefully reset the franchise. Prey, helmed by 10 Cloverfield Lane director Dan Trachtenberg, hit streaming in 2022, and proved to be an immediate success. And what’s more, it’s the closest the franchise has come to recreating the magic of the original.

The film currently stands at a 94% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and set in motion a highly successful theatrical follow-up, Predator: Badlands, which became Hulu’s biggest film premiere in four years. Prey saved the Predator franchise from certain death with an emotionally rich story, a heroic protagonist, a haunting landscape and cinematography, and thrilling action sequences.

Initially, 20th Century Fox planned a big theatrical release, but once Disney acquired the property, Prey shifted to a streaming-only debut. “We made the movie with the intent of making it a giant cinematic theatrical experience,” Trachtenberg told Variety, adding that his experience in TV, including directing an episode of Black Mirror (“Playtest”), often led to tight storytelling and budget constraints. “That was not the case here,” he said. What results is a film that’s as grounded as it is exhilarating. As a double feature with Predator: Badlands, Prey saw a one-night-only theatrical run in November 2025.

A Brief History Of The Predator Movies

Screenwriters John and Jim Thomas originally conceived 1987’s Predator as Hunter, a story about a group of hunters targeting many different extraterrestrial beings. During the script-writing process, the story condensed to focus solely on one creature, played by Kevin Peter Hall, and combat soldier Dutch, portrayed with roaring machismo by Arnold Schwarzenegger. The kick-off entry defined modern sci-fi/action/horror and resulted in Predator 2 three years later with a cast that included Danny Glover and Gary Busey.

The Predator franchise lied dormant for 30 years before being resurrected in 2010 with a story treatment conceived by Desperado and From Dusk Till Dawn director Robert Rodriguez. He approached the studio in 1994 with the idea, but executives declined to move forward on the production due to budget. The story floundered in purgatory for 25 more years when the studio finally returned to the well in 2009 for Predators. Nimród Antal (Retribution) signed on to direct with Rodriguez producing.

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Predator dove underwater once again for eight years, returning with the much-maligned The Predator, written by Fred Dekker (Night of the Creeps) and directed by Shane Black (Lethal Weapon franchise originator). Black made his comeback to the franchise; he starred as a minor character in the original film. Taking the reins seemed like a no-brainer. Who better to direct a sequel, taking place between Predator 2 and Predators, than someone who was on the ground from the start? Unfortunately, disappointing theatrical receipts ($51 million domestically, per Box Office Mojo) and a poor critical reception (34% on Rotten Tomatoes) all but spelled doom for the franchise.

Prey serves as a stand-alone prequel, set 300 years before the beginning of the first film. Despite being a streaming-only release, Trachtenberg’s story connected deeply with audiences and excavated a dead series that appeared to have no life left. Its instant success led to two more sequels, an unexpected and surprisingly good animated film Predator: Killer of Killers and the live-action theatrical chapter, Predator: Badlands, both released in 2025.

Prey Takes The Predator Franchise Back To What Made The Original Movie Great

The 1987 original film featured remarkable tension, opting for a low-scale production that felt claustrophobic. The sole protagonist gave the story immediacy and a driving character core. Predator wasn’t about seeing how a big budget could create a large-scale cinematic experience. Instead, it honed in on being about the potential end of humanity, how one man could literally save the world, and what we, as a culture, could learn about extraterrestrials. Prey follows suit in a way that feels raw and organic, reconfiguring a franchise that had lost its way decades ago.

Setting the story in the early 1700s was a brilliant move. Following futuristic iterations, seeing the Predator attack in this setting is a breath of fresh air. As a result, the story untangles from the tech of the other sequels. It’s a primitive version of the classic story we all know. For someone who hasn’t necessarily been a franchise fan outside the original, Prey is a return home for the first time since leaving home. Everything you love about the original (e.g., sparseness and characters) finds its way into a powerful story about an indigenous woman fighting ungodly evil.

Amber Midthunder’s Naru Is One Of The Predator Franchise’s Best Heroes

Amber Midthunder (Opus, Novocaine) leaves such an incredible imprint on sci-fi/horror that makes her an irrefutable titan. Her star-making turn as Naru solidifies her as a force of nature, so untameable that there are few other action heroes as impressive. Naru demonstrates her willpower and strength, something unheard of during the time the film is set (the early 1700s). Women (the gatherers) were never seen as contemporaries of men (the hunters), but she could fight with the best of them. She certainly could give all the men in her Comanche tribe a run for their money.

Naru rivals Dutch in the original film for intuitiveness, determination, and unwaveringly stoic demeanor in such a volatile situation. An argument that she actually outpaces Dutch could certainly be made, cemented in the impressively acrobatic action scenes to her metaphorical fight against a rigged system. She possesses an infectious authority, her presence emerging as both stunning and brawny.

She never hesitates and trusts herself. She must protect the tribe, and the stakes could not be higher. She carries a whole group of people on her shoulders, which feels more pressing for indigenous peoples and culture. Naru embodies a bloodthirsty, throaty, and altogether empowering vessel that captures the very spirit of Predator and has more than earned her place in horror history.

Prey’s Brutal Action And Suspense Rival The Original Predator

When Prey revs into overdrive, it’s a full-throttle explosion of action, nestled among a character-driven narrative to further heighten the emotional currency. Dane DiLiegro plays the Predator and seemingly channels Kevin Peter Hall in an electrifying performance. DiLiegro and Midthunder make a remarkable dance duo, as their many set pieces intricately balance their two powers as performers. But it’s their combined talent that makes the film such a modern classic. Their propulsive scenes together feel grounded, raw, and even visceral in a way that not even the original accomplishes.

The final confrontation serves as the perfect showcase for the franchise That’s not an easy feat, but between Midthunder’s commanding lead and MiLiegro’s truly physically demanding performance, Prey does not let up until the epic conclusion that makes the story a rather potent one. Alongside other franchise returns, including David Bruckner’s Hellraiser, also coincidentally released in 2022, Prey will be remembered as an essential turning point for mainstream sci-fi/horror.

Release Date

August 2, 2022

Runtime

100 minutes

Director

Dan Trachtenberg

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