Following the success of the critically acclaimed prequel, *Prey*, the *Predator* franchise is returning to the big screen with special showings of *Predator: Badlands*. *Prey*, which debuted on Hulu three years ago, revitalized the series after the disappointing performance of *The Predator* in 2018. The positive reception and strong viewership of *Prey* led to the animated film *Predator: Killer of Killers* and now, *Predator: Badlands*. Many fans who loved *Prey* will finally get the chance to experience it in theaters, even if only for a limited time.
AMC Theaters is showing a double feature of *Prey* and *Predator: Badlands* on November 5, 2025. The movies will play back-to-back for a total runtime of 3 hours and 30 minutes, just before advance screenings of *Predator: Badlands* start on November 6th, ahead of its official release on November 7th. This is the first time *Prey* will be widely released in movie theaters. Currently, Fandango and other major theater chains aren’t listing this double feature.
Why ‘Prey’ Was Not Released in Theaters in the First Place
20th Century Studios
The release of *Prey* came at a key moment for Disney. After the COVID-19 pandemic, the company was focusing on making original films specifically for streaming services like Disney+ and Hulu. Movies such as *Hocus Pocus 2*, *Disenchanted*, *Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers*, and *Prey* could have easily been shown in theaters in the past – or even now. In 2022, however, all these films went straight to streaming. More recently, Disney has begun releasing larger franchise films in theaters instead of on Disney+, like with *Moana 2*, *Lilo & Stitch*, and *Freakier Friday*. Both *Lilo & Stitch* and *Moana 2* earned over $1 billion at the box office.
Releasing *Prey* directly to streaming seemed like a smart move when the decision was made. While the *Predator* movies were generally well-liked, they hadn’t been huge box office successes, and the 2018 film *The Predator* hadn’t performed well either. Plus, after the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a lot of uncertainty about how people would go to theaters. However, even then, MovieWeb suggested that *Prey* could have actually done surprisingly well in theaters, considering how slow box office numbers were in August 2022.
After the positive response to *Prey*, Disney appeared to adjust its strategy for films from its 20th Century Fox acquisition. *Alien: Romulus*, initially planned for streaming, was given a theatrical release and earned $350 million globally. Now, Disney and 20th Century Studios are heavily investing in the *Predator* franchise, with *Predator: Badlands* taking the spot previously reserved for Marvel’s *Blade*. It took three years, but fans of *Predator* can finally see *Prey* on the big screen.
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2025-10-08 02:02