Prey, the acclaimed Predator prequel that debuted on Hulu over a year ago, is now getting a physical release on 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD. Disney announced that it will be available on October 3rd.
The physical release of Prey will include over two hours of bonus content, such as a making-of feature, a panel discussion with director Dan Trachtenberg and star Amber Midthunder, and an alternate opening scene. Additionally, there will be two deleted scenes included.
While some may find it strange that Prey is getting a physical release when it is already available on Hulu, physical media still holds importance in 2023. As IGN streaming editor Amelia Emberwing pointed out, when you stream content, you are essentially licensing it and your access to it can be revoked at any time.
This becomes especially relevant as streaming platforms like Max and Disney+ remove content, even original content produced for those platforms. An example of this is the sci-fi movie Crater, which was pulled from Disney+ just two months after its release. Creators like Mike Flanagan have long advocated for physical releases to ensure their work remains accessible.
Prey was warmly received upon its release in August 2022, with IGN’s Tom Jorgensen giving it an 8/10 rating and describing it as a film that delivers on the Predator franchise’s brutal kills and features a compelling story. Amber Midthunder’s performance was also praised.
The physical release of Prey is a welcome option for fans who prefer collecting media in a tangible format. It allows them to own the movie and enjoy the additional content that the release offers. Hopefully, this trend of physical releases for streaming platform content will continue, ensuring that audiences have long-lasting access to their favorite films and shows.
