The article you’re reading was initially published on August 5, 2022. It has since been revised to incorporate the recent confrontation between a group of valiant warriors and a ruthless alien in Predator: Killer of Killers. We’ll return with another update when we cover Predator: Badlands.
Franchises frequently begin with individuals who have great ideas, even if they’re relatively unknown. The concept for “Predator,” for instance, emerged from the minds of two unrecognized talents, brothers Jim and John Thomas, who were struggling screenwriters. They pondered what it would be like to create a sequel to “Rocky,” where he fought an extraterrestrial creature. Initially titled “Hunter,” their script eventually landed in the hands of prolific producer Joel Silver, fresh off the success of “Commando” with Arnold Schwarzenegger. At this point in his career, Schwarzenegger was still relatively unknown, but his movies were gaining momentum, transitioning from being labeled as trashy to having a touch of prestige, although it might not be entirely accurate to call them ambitious – perhaps more appropriately, they were gradually becoming more expansive.
Arnold Schwarzenegger and his tough-guy friends engage in combat with an extraordinary alien, crafted by Stan Winston Studio, boasting massive size, hideous beauty, mandibles, long hair, and the power to vanish. This creature versus Arnold guarantees a blockbuster hit. Critics may have been indifferent towards Predator, but audiences adored it. As a result, Arnold’s fame grew, leading screenwriters to create Wild Wild West, and thus, the franchise was born.
Following a disappointing sequel, it wasn’t until 15 years later that a new group of filmmakers, who had grown up watching Predator on VHS, revived the franchise. The debut of the animated movie Predator: Killer of Killers now allows us to rank the eight Predator films, including those featuring the alien from Alien as well.
8. Alien vs. Predator: Requiem
Year: 2007
Directors: Greg Strause and Colin Strause
Runtime: 1h 42m
A significant portion of modern Hollywood focuses on protecting the brand, ensuring that movies don’t become so poorly made that they ruin a franchise. However, “Alien vs. Predator: Requiem” was so terrible that it effectively ended the Alien vs. Predator franchise (being its sole sequel) and significantly harmed the other two installments to such an extent that they needed a complete overhaul in the following four years. Directed by the creators of special-effects company Hydrax, “Requiem” appears as if it was made by letting the special effects team take charge to minimize CG costs. Regrettably, the human characters, who unfortunately play a larger role than the title creatures in this film, are not computer-generated imagery (CG), though you may occasionally recognize their faces in the dimly lit scenes. This is the type of movie where one can imagine the agents for both Alien and Predator requesting to have their names removed from it.
7. Predator 2
Year: 1990
Director: Stephen Hopkins
Runtime: 1h 48m
Instead of sticking to the straightforward concept of the original film where humans were hunted by an alien in a jungle, the plot of ‘Predator 2’ became intricate, focusing on drug dealers, a sweltering Los Angeles heatwave, and police department politics. One might wonder why they didn’t let the Predator continue its hunt as planned. However, despite its gritty late-80s aesthetic reminiscent of ‘RoboCop’, which can be off-putting but not entirely devoid of substance, ‘Predator 2’ wasn’t a complete failure. In fact, it broadened the Predator concept, introducing multiple Predators towards the end. They aren’t monsters, after all; they are hunters, much like us. The film is also notable for an outtake featuring Danny Glover dancing with several Predators, which might justify its existence.
6. The Predator
Year: 2018
Director: Shane Black
Runtime: 1h 58m
The remake aimed for a somewhat unconventional, playful tone, recognizing the outdatedness of the original movie while appreciating its raw R-rated essence. Regrettably, one of the most amusing aspects of The Predator is realizing that Shane Black, who was among Arnold Schwarzenegger’s team members in the 1987 film, also co-wrote and directed this reboot. However, the influence of Black’s style didn’t have much positive impact: Even the man behind films like Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and The Nice Guys, who managed to blend comedy, action, and character development seamlessly, couldn’t rescue this franchise. Boyd Holbrook, Trevante Rhodes, Keegan-Michael Key, and Olivia Munn form a likable group of heroes battling the Predator, but the film falls short compared to Black’s finest works, attempting too hard to replicate the anything-goes spirit of ’80s movies without ever feeling fresh or original. To put it another way, The Predator feels like the uninspired restart of a franchise that characters in a Shane Black script would mock themselves.
5. Alien vs. Predator
Year: 2004
Director: Paul W. S. Anderson
Runtime: 1h 49m
As a devoted fan, I’d like to share an alternate history perspective: If I were in James Cameron’s shoes, I might have been disheartened when I learned that Fox opted for an “Alien vs. Predator” film instead of my planned fifth “Alien” script. I would have voiced my concerns, stating this proposed movie felt like a haphazard fusion of iconic characters, akin to Universal’s infamous “Frankenstein Meets Werewolf.” (Cameron’s prophetic insights indeed shaped the subsequent two decades of pop culture.)
Fortunately, the world didn’t end, nor did the “Alien” franchise. The movie, while not without its flaws, wasn’t the catastrophe some might have predicted. Interestingly, basing it on a comic book rather than previous films allowed for creative freedom, enabling “Alien vs. Predator” to steer clear of being a carbon copy of McTiernan or Cameron’s work and instead delivering pure, unadulterated entertainment.
Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson in his signature style, the film featured a surprisingly heartfelt and dedicated performance from Sanaa Lathan. This cheesy, enjoyable flick embraced its assignment wholeheartedly, offering fans a mindless, thrilling ride.
4. Predators
Year: 2010
Director: Nimród Antal
Runtime: 1h 47m
In his early career, following the successes of “El Mariachi” and “Desperado,” but before the release of “Spy Kids,” filmmaker Robert Rodriguez held a strong affinity for the movie “Predator.” He had penned a script that disregarded the events of “Predator 2,” instead focusing on a group of ruthless assassins who found themselves on an alien planet, pursued by Predators. This screenplay remained untouched for fifteen years until Fox executives expressed interest in producing it. With some adjustments and Hungarian director Nimrod Antal at the helm, they revitalized the franchise, assembling a talented cast that included Laurence Fishburne, Alice Braga, Walton Goggins, Danny Trejo, Topher Grace, an unknown Mahershala Ali, and Adrien Brody in peak muscular form. “Predators” may not be flawless — it falters towards the end — but it’s original, creative, and visionary for its time, attempting to resurrect a franchise through a fresh, unexpected approach. It’s a B-movie that embraces its B-movie identity with enthusiasm.
3. Prey
Year: 2022
Director: Dan Trachtenberg
Runtime: 1h 39m
Similar to the film “Predators”, the movie “Prey” aims to bring a fresh perspective to the series. Unlike its predecessors, the title doesn’t directly reference the predator character. Director Dan Trachtenberg maintains the essence of the original but keeps it simple and straightforward. The story is set in the early 18th century, focusing on Naru (played by Amber Midthunder), a determined Comanche warrior striving to protect her tribe from a terrifying extraterrestrial threat. While it can be simplified as a Predator movie meets “The New World” with more action scenes and eerie-looking aliens, the Canadian landscapes are breathtakingly beautiful.
Trachtenberg’s portrayal of Indigenous North Americans avoids harmful stereotypes that would have been prevalent in the 1987 original, and it even subtly addresses colonization. However, what truly stands out about “Prey” is its ability to create suspenseful action sequences and introduce a captivating protagonist, Naru, who has not been matched in terms of depth since Dutch declared, “If it bleeds, we can kill it.” Although some may overrate “Prey” due to the absence of bad Predator movies for a long time, it’s undeniably enjoyable, even if watching it on Hulu instead of in theaters was disappointing.
2. Predator: Killer of Killers
Year: 2025
Director: Dan Trachtenberg
Runtime: 1h 30m
A little-known film titled “Predator: Killer of Killers” was produced covertly prior to the release of Predator: Badlands this year, directed by Dan Trachtenberg. This animated and fast-paced production thrives on low expectations and minimal ties to a larger universe. It’s an anthology movie, with three soldiers – a Viking, a samurai warlord, and a World War II pilot – being hunted, defeating, and then united across time and space to take down a superior Predator. The game-like plot offers enough flexibility for Trachtenberg to express his creativity: It’s remarkably violent yet fulfilling, and its availability on Hulu doesn’t diminish its appeal much. Despite being compact in scale, it delivers an enjoyable experience. Its themes of sacrifice, camaraderie, and the emptiness of vengeance are subtly impactful.
1. Predator
Year: 1987
Director: John McTiernan
Runtime: 1h 47m
The initial plan was a rescue operation; however, it evolved into a brutal clash against an enigmatic alien warrior. Few films embody the spirit of the 1980s quite like the original Predator, where Arnold Schwarzenegger portrayed Dutch, a charismatic commander of an undercover special forces team sent to Central America, only to encounter an extraterrestrial assassin. Blending elements of films like Rambo and Aliens, Predator showcased the excessiveness typical of its era, merging action-packed spectacle with a clever plot device. John McTiernan, an emerging action director (who would later direct Die Hard and The Hunt for Red October), worked alongside Schwarzenegger on this project.
While the film’s iconic memes and dialogue are often quoted, less remembered is the appeal of seeing Schwarzenegger matched against an opponent his own size, and even larger in some instances. (To be honest, one of the most terrifying moments in Predator is when the alien effortlessly lifts Arnold off the ground, leaving the strongman’s feet dangling helplessly.) As Carl Weathers, Bill Duke, Jesse Ventura, and the rest of Dutch’s team are eliminated, he is left to transform into a wild survivalist to combat the Predator. This metamorphosis brings out a raw, unexpected vulnerability in the most muscular action star of that decade. Despite its cheesy, gruesome, somewhat foolish nature, Predator remains endearing due to its infectious enthusiasm, making it a timeless classic.
Grierson & Leitch frequently discuss movies and run a film-focused podcast. To stay updated, check them out on Twitter or their website.
Read More
2025-06-09 22:55