The Predator series, originating in the late 1980s, introduced audiences to the fearsome extraterrestrial species known as the Yautja, or more popularly, the Predators. These alien hunters are characterized by their advanced technology, particularly their invisibility cloaks and shoulder-mounted plasma casters, as well as their ritualistic hunting of other dangerous species, including humans. Their dreadlocked appearance and iconic thermal vision quickly made them a staple in the sci-fi horror genre. The audience just went nuts when they first went to see the first Predator movie. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger in front of the movie was similar in many ways to the Alien series. However, instead of being on a spaceship and being hunted by a very scary and intimidating alien monster this time, the battle took place on the good old planet Earth. Everyone loved Arnold so the movie worked really well.
Of course, when the movie does so well there’s always going to be sequels and in this case, there were a lot of them. Interestingly, the movie series even merged with the Alien series for a bit just like many comic book-based type series do like Superman versus Batman, and so forth. We love the Predator series of movies of course the first one will always be the best one but that’s usually the way it goes and all huge movie series.
1 – Predator (1987)
Released on June 12, 1987, Predator was directed by John McTiernan. Set in the jungles of Central America, a team of commandos led by Major Alan “Dutch” Schaefer (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger) is on a mission to rescue hostages from guerrilla territory. However, they quickly find themselves being stalked and hunted by an extraterrestrial hunter, the Predator. The film delves into the team’s desperate attempt to survive against this seemingly invincible foe. Predator was a box office success, grossing over $98 million worldwide. Its mix of action, suspense, and sci-fi horror set the tone for future entries in the series.
2 – Predator 2 (1990)
Predator 2 was released on November 21, 1990, with Stephen Hopkins as the director. This sequel shifts the setting from the jungle to the urban sprawl of Los Angeles. LAPD Detective Mike Harrigan, played by Danny Glover, finds himself up against the alien hunter, which is on a new hunting spree in the city. While the film wasn’t as critically well-received as its predecessor, it introduced fans to more of the Predator’s culture, including a glimpse into their ship. The movie grossed over $57 million worldwide.
3 – Predators (2010)
After a long hiatus, the series returned with Predators, released on July 9, 2010. Directed by Nimród Antal, this installment follows a group of elite warriors who find themselves on an alien planet, realizing they’ve been brought there as prey for a new breed of Predators. The cast featured Adrien Brody as Royce, a mercenary who becomes the group’s reluctant leader. The film attempted to return to the suspenseful roots of the original and grossed over $127 million globally.
4 – The Predator (2018)
The Predator, was released on September 14, 2018, and saw Shane Black (who acted in the original Predator) as the director. The story revolves around a young boy who accidentally triggers the Predators’ return to Earth. An evolutionary step-up, these are the most lethal hunters of the species. Only a ragtag crew of ex-soldiers and a disgruntled science teacher can prevent the end of the human race. The film stars Boyd Holbrook as Quinn McKenna, a former Army Ranger who discovers the existence of the Predators. The movie, despite mixed reviews, grossed over $160 million worldwide.
The Predator series, over the years, has been expanded upon with comics, novels, and crossovers, most notably with the Alien franchise, resulting in the “Alien vs. Predator” films. These extraterrestrial hunters have solidified their place in popular culture, with each entry attempting to delve deeper into the lore of the Predators.
# 6 – Prey (2022)
The most recent installment in the Predator series was released on July 21, 2022, when it made its debut at Comic-Con. Unlike all the other Predator movies that take place in the present, Prey goes way back in time to the year 1719. The movie starred a great cast including Amber Midthunder, Dakota Beavers, Dane DiLiegro, Michelle Thrush, Stormee Kipp, Julian Black Antelope, and Bennett Taylor. The film takes a look at gender issues while also showcasing an action-packed film that is not to be missed. This is easily the best in the series since the first one.
Predator Movies article published on BigCityReview.com© 2023
BigCityReview.com claims ownership of all its original content and Intellectual property under United States Copyright laws and those of all other foreign countries. No one person, business, or organization is allowed to re-publish any of our original content anywhere on the web or in print without our permission. All photos used are either Amazon affiliate photos in which we make a commission on any products purchased from Amazon, public domain creative commons photos or photos licensed officially from Shutterstock under license with BigCityReview.com. All photo credits have been placed at end of the article.
We are not responsible for any items purchased or locations visited based on our recommendations as we do not sell or manufacture any of the items we have reviewed. All health and beauty reviews are for entertainment purposes only and are not a substitute for medical advice.