Moviegoers first embarked on the Predator journey back in 1987, lured into the cinematic jungle by the one and only Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose muscles had muscles and whose quips were as deadly as the alien creature he was facing. “Get to the chopper!” he famously roared, and we’ve been joyfully running along ever since. The titular alien’s fashion sense captivates, and so does its code of honor and arsenal of high-tech gadgets, making it the ultimate cosmic sportsman in a universe where humans are less apex predators and more moving targets.
This dreadlocked, mandible-mouthed menace from the stars keeps audiences returning to the series, and so do the human protagonists. They’re rough, tough, and stuffed with quotable one-liners that provide welcome relief from the horror. Much like the Predator itself, the franchise is unstoppable, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. And we wait for the next hunt; here is a complete list of the Predator movies.
Predator (1987)
Predator melded biceps and extraterrestrial thrills into a cinematic smoothie we didn’t know we needed. With a cigar clamped in his jaw and an unsettling sharp gaze, Arnold Schwarzenegger led a band of commandos not into battle, but into an interstellar hunter’s game of cat-and-mouse. Set in the wild, Predator unfolds like a macho man’s fever dream – brawn, bravado, and big guns.
But the real star? The Predator itself, an alien with a penchant for trophies that goes beyond your average sports enthusiast. This creature, equipped with gadgets that make James Bond’s arsenal look like a child’s toy box, hunts our muscled heroes, turning the hunters into the hunted. A genre blend of action, sci-fi, and a touch of horror, Predator remains one of the most iconic films in history.
Predator 2 (1990)
Predator 2 takes a sharp left turn from the rainforest and drops us into the urban jungle of Los Angeles. Gone is the bulging brawn of Schwarzenegger, replaced by Danny Glover’s hard-boiled Lieutenant, Mike Harrigan. Harrigan might not flex muscles the size of small countries, but his tenacity and ‘I’m too old for this’ attitude give the original Predator a run for its money.
In this sequel, the Predator isn’t just a hunter; it’s a tourist of sorts, sightseeing in LA during a heatwave and gang war. There’s a certain joy in watching the Predator leap from building to building, turning the city into its personal hunting ground, with Harrigan in hot pursuit. While Predator 2 might not have the same cult status as its predecessor, it’s a wild ride that proves the Predator can make any place its playground.
Alien vs. Predator (2004)
Affectionately dubbed AvP by fans and foes alike, Alien vs. Predator is what happens when two of sci-fi’s most feared extraterrestrials decide to crash the same party. Think of it as the ultimate showdown, a cosmic WrestleMania, but with more acid blood and fewer folding chairs. The film, a melting pot of the Alien and Predator franchises, takes the ‘enemy of my enemy is my friend’ adage to interstellar heights, pitting human characters, who are as brave as they are outmatched, against the double threat of stealthy Predators and hissing Xenomorphs.
Set in a mysterious pyramid beneath the icy wastes of Antarctica (because where else would you host an alien grudge match?), the film combines futuristic horror with ancient mythology. The humans, led by Sanaa Lathan’s Alexa Woods, find themselves unwitting referees in this age-old rivalry. There’s an undeniable charm in watching these iconic creatures from two cinematic universes duke it out, with humanity caught in the middle like a bewildered parent breaking up a sibling fight.
Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007)
Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem takes the alien face-off to a small town, proving that no place is too quaint for an extraterrestrial showdown. This time, the battleground is not an ancient pyramid or a distant planet but the streets of Gunnison, Colorado, where the unsuspecting residents become the audience (and sometimes participants) in an interstellar gladiator match.
The film introduces us to a new hybrid, the Predalien – think of it as the ultimate ‘two-for-one’ special in the world of sci-fi horror. This creature, a mix of Predator and Xenomorph DNA, is like the universe’s most terrifying science experiment gone awry. The human characters, caught in the crossfire, navigate the chaos with horror and bewilderment that mirrors the audience’s reactions. It’s like watching a high-budget backyard wrestling match between two iconic movie monsters, with the small-town setting adding an almost comedic normalcy to the bizarre events.
Predators (2010)
2010’s Predators (2010) swoops in like an intergalactic safari, turning the Predator franchise on its head by dropping a ragtag ensemble of Earth’s deadliest humans onto an alien planet – the ultimate ‘out-of-the-frying-pan-into-the-fire’ scenario. Gone are the days of the Predator hunting in our backyard; this time, humans are the exotic game on an alien hunting reserve. Adrien Brody leads this band of misfits, straying far from the piano and into the jungle, proving that slender, brooding intensity can compete equally with bulk.
The film plays out like a deadly game of chess, with the Predators as the kings and queens of their jungle kingdom and the humans scurrying like pawns, albeit heavily armed ones. There’s an ironic twist in seeing these hardened Earth warriors, including a yakuza, a death row inmate, and a mercenary, grapple with being the underdogs in a game they can barely comprehend. Predators breathes fresh life into the series, taking a ‘what if’ scenario and turning it into a heart-pounding, leaf-rustling adventure.
The Predator (2018)
The Predator crashes into the franchise like a boisterous uncle at a family reunion, revamping the series with dark humor and newfangled alien tech. This installment introduces us to a bigger, badder Predator. The film’s motley crew of outcasts, led by Boyd Holbrook’s Quinn McKenna, a sniper with a knack for biting sarcasm, offers a new spin on the human-predator dynamic by spicing up the usual terror with a sprinkle of irreverence.
Set in the suburban jungles of small-town America, The Predator turns everyday settings into extraterrestrial battlegrounds. Imagine mowing your lawn one minute and dodging plasma bolts the next. The film tosses in a few curveballs, including genetically modified Predators and a young boy who inadvertently becomes the world’s most unlikely Predator expert.
Prey (2022)
The latest entry in the Predator franchise, Prey takes a bold leap back in time, trading the futuristic firepower for the raw, untamed wilderness of the 18th-century Great Plains. This prequel turns the clock around, not just on technology, but on the Predator lore itself, introducing us to a time when the deadliest weapon was a tomahawk, not a plasma cannon. The film stars Amber Midthunder as Naru, a Comanche warrior whose determination is as sharp as her blade.
In a twist, Naru turns the Predator into the Prey, offering a refreshing perspective in a series known for its muscle-bound heroes. The Predator, stripped of its usual urban or jungle haunts, faces a new challenge: a protagonist who knows the land like the back of her hand and isn’t easily intimidated by extraterrestrial theatrics. The film is a breath of fresh air in the Predator universe, blending historical drama with sci-fi thrills.
(featured image: 20th Century Fox)
