There's something about free streaming that gives forgotten movies a second chance at glory. Eight years after its theatrical release, Shane Black's The Predator is unexpectedly trending on Tubi in the United States, peaking at #5 on May 10 and holding strong in the top 10 throughout the week. For a film that was once considered a franchise-killer, this ad-supported revival is a surprising twist in its afterlife.
Released in 2018, The Predator arrived with high expectations. Directed by Shane Black—who had a small role in the original 1987 classic—the film boasted a star-studded cast including Boyd Holbrook, Trevante Rhodes, Jacob Tremblay, Keegan-Michael Key, Olivia Munn, Thomas Jane, Alfie Allen, and Sterling K. Brown. The plot followed a young boy who accidentally triggers the return of the alien hunters to Earth, forcing a ragtag group of ex-soldiers and a scientist to face a genetically upgraded Predator threat. Despite the talent involved, the movie was a critical and commercial disappointment, earning a 34% critics' score and a 32% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
At the box office, The Predator grossed $160.5 million worldwide against an $88 million budget—a modest return that left Disney and 20th Century Fox without the franchise reset they had hoped for. The film's messy tone, mixed reviews, and sequel-bait ending failed to reignite interest in the Predator universe. For a brand-name sci-fi action revival, it was a clear misfire.
But now, in May 2026, the film is finding a new audience on Tubi. Its chart performance—#7 on May 7, #8 on May 8, #6 on May 9, #5 on May 10, and #6 on May 12—may not be record-breaking, but it signals a shift in perception. Free streaming has a way of softening old wounds, and The Predator works better as a chaotic, curiosity-driven watch than it ever did as the future of the franchise.
This streaming redemption isn't unique. Other films have found second lives on platforms like Tubi and Netflix, as seen with Liam Neeson's 'Retribution' and Dennis Quaid's 'Frequency'. For The Predator, the Tubi bump doesn't erase its troubled past, but it does rewrite its legacy as a cult oddity worth revisiting.
Where 'The Predator' Fits in the Franchise
The Predator franchise began with the 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger classic, followed by Predator 2 (1990), Predators (2010), The Predator (2018), Prey (2022), and the upcoming Predator: Badlands (2025). There were also crossover films Alien vs. Predator (2004) and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007). While The Predator didn't kill the franchise, it did end that particular reboot attempt. The series found new life with Prey, which stripped the mythology down to survival-horror basics and proved the hunter works best in a leaner, period setting. That film gave Disney and Hulu a cleaner path forward, leaving The Predator as a fascinating footnote.
For fans of sci-fi horror and franchise curiosities, The Predator is now available to stream for free on Tubi. It's a reminder that even the biggest misfires can find redemption in the streaming era—especially when they're free.
