The recently released Hulu company, Preywhich serves as the prequel and fifth installment of the Predator franchise, has enjoyed huge appreciation on the internet. Beyond the general public and their love for the film, critics also proclaimed their admiration for director Dan Trachtenberg and his genius. With a Rotten Tomatoes score of 92%, the latest Predator effort surpassed its previous installments, even the 1987 original Predator. Therefore, it can be said with complete affirmation that the prequel reinvigorated a franchise that was on the brink of death.
Also Read: How Prey Breathed New Life Into The Predator Franchise
What sets the 2022 film apart from other films in the franchise, and how would it have fared if 20th Century Pictures were aiming for a theatrical release? Chances are, the Amber Midthunder-led attempt wouldn’t have been enough, due to the franchise’s previous mishaps. It’s about whether or not word of mouth would have been strong enough to make Prey a box office success.
The power of word of mouth
When it comes to well received Predator prequel, many fans of the franchise were wary of this attempt to breathe new life into a dying series. Following the disappointment of The predator (2018), fans wondered how Prey would succeed in diverting their interests. Many had voiced their alleged criticism of the film before it even saw the light of day, as having a female lead helped some people ensure that the franchise would hinge on “woke propaganda.”
Also read: Can Predator 5 save a failing franchise?
The Hulu movie, which was released on August 5, 2022, completely shocked longtime audiences beyond comprehension. And frankly, in the best possible way. The future of Predator franchise was changed in an instant. A big thanks to the film’s success also goes to early reviews from critics which shaped people’s perception and promised a worthy premise.
People were pleasantly surprised by the film and its brilliance. As more and more people spoke in a positive light, Prey caught the attention of curious moviegoers and disengaged others Predator Fans. The power of word of mouth and an overwhelmingly positive reception cemented the future of the franchise. And who knows? The next few days could even see a second installment for Prey himself. The Dan Trachtenberg-directed film finally successfully achieved what previous successors to the original 1987 film couldn’t.
Read also: Prey: actress Amber Midthunder “proud and excited” for her new film Predator
What if Prey were released in theaters?
Word of mouth is not always enough for a theatrical release. The history of cinema has witnessed many such attempts where even excellent storytelling and wonderful character progression could do little for box office success. Many film analysts believe that Prey having a theatrical release would have been beneficial amid what people are calling a slow month of box office endeavors. Only with the release of High-speed train, with Brad Pitt, August managed to create a buzz at the box office.
Also Read: ‘Stop Calling Female-Led Movies Woke Propaganda’: Prey Becomes Highest-Rated Film in Franchise Leaving Original Predator Behind
Under such circumstances, a movie like Hulu’s Prey presumably could have become a huge success this month at the box office. However, these are just assumptions of a “what if” scenario. From an empirical point of view, the earliest Predator rejections may have been a potential barrier to The prey room release. But why?
The history of the Predator movies
Let’s take a quick look at the history of the franchise. With the first film, the franchise really cemented itself on what it could promise for its future. It was a critically acclaimed box office hit, and audiences at the time really liked the premise. The film was so successful that it far exceeded its original budget in box office receipts. The future looked bright. Alas, the sequel to the first film, Predator 2, was a fluke compared to its first installment. At the box office, the result is mixed.
Read also: After the incredible success of Prey, the Predator series is in preparation – Rumor explained
Then came a period when the franchise could barely survive, with no movies being made. This followed for years until reinvigorated hope for the franchise came with the release of Aliens versus Predator. However, on its own, Predator still need a self-contained rebound. With the release of predators in 2010, the franchise did well at the box office, but it wasn’t exactly the kind of hit that major production companies were looking forward to. Then, in 2018, came the seemingly final blow to the franchise: The predator. While the international fare was excellent, it failed to earn the status of a domestic box office hit.
The budget for The predator was much higher than the yields. The franchise was supposed to be on its last leg…until now, of course.
The verdict?
While we’ll never know what would have happened to Prey if it was aiming for a theatrical release, presumably the prequel would have made a similar comeback much like the previous one. Predator releases. Could it have exceeded the opening weekend of High-speed train? Maybe, maybe not. Regardless of how the opening weekend would have been, the question hinges on whether or not the film would have succeeded in cementing its value in the coming weeks at the box office. The Hulu film’s word-of-mouth might have been its greatest benefit, as it would encourage more viewers to buy the tickets.
However, with the convenience of an OTT version, would people have gone to the cinema in the first place? Maybe in the following weeks. There’s also been a trend recently where moviegoers, ironic as it may be, strictly prefer consuming content from the comfort of their homes. Therefore, presumably, a streaming version is the definitive best choice. Then again, perhaps the slow August movies and strong critical reception may have given Prey a board. Maybe that would have been a strong enough reason to attract a real movie-going audience.
What can be seen, however, is the fact that the Amber Midthunder-directed film clearly surpassed its predecessors and might have been better at the box office compared to other installments in the franchise.
What the future holds Predator is yet to be seen. Perhaps fans would be rewarded with a theatrical release for a potential sequel to Prey. And maybe Dan Trachtenberg will usher in a new and better era of Predator movies. Only time can tell.
