“If it bleeds, we can kill it.”
The Predator stands out among cinematic extraterrestrials as a merciless hunter: a masked, technologically advanced warrior that stalks its prey from the shadows. Cloaked by a near-invisible device and armed with heat-seeking weapons, it methodically hunts humans, often keeping the skulls and spinal cords of its victims as trophies. Unlike most alien antagonists that kill from instinct or survival, the Predator hunts for sport—turning the chase into a ritual.
Since John McTiernan’s original Predator premiered in 1987, the franchise has expanded into several sequels, spin-offs, comics and video games. It has crossed paths with other iconic figures, appearing alongside the Xenomorph, clashing with comic book heroes, and even turning up in more unexpected crossover scenarios. With a prequel announced for 2022, this feature revisits the main films in the franchise and ranks them from weakest to strongest, highlighting what works and what falls short.
4. The Predator (2018)
“It’s like an alien Whoopi Goldberg.”
Shane Black’s 2018 entry aimed to blend 1980s action sensibilities with modern blockbuster pacing, but it struggles to find a consistent tone. Black’s trademark sharp dialogue and character interplay are present at moments, yet the film often feels disjointed—likely a result of studio reshaping during post-production. Where Black’s earlier work thrives on tightly controlled banter and carefully crafted scenes, this installment frequently oscillates between crude comedy and forced action beats.
The humor undercuts tension more than it enhances it: repeated jokes and awkward attempts at edgy comedy dilute the threat posed by the alien hunters. Visually, the film relies heavily on CGI rather than the tactile practical effects that made the original Predator so unsettling, and that choice blunts much of the visceral impact. As a result, The Predator registers as an overproduced action piece rather than a satisfying continuation of the franchise’s suspenseful hunting motif.
3. Predator 2 (1990)
“Hey, kid. Welcome to the war.”
Predator 2 transports the alien hunter from jungle foliage to a concrete jungle—Los Angeles. The change of setting is intriguing in concept but inconsistently realized in execution. Much of the action is confined to streets, alleys and interiors, and the film rarely takes advantage of vertical urban spaces or rooftops, which would have been a natural adaptation of the Predator’s arboreal hunting style.
Despite these shortcomings, Predator 2 offers notable performances that distinguish it from the weaker entries. Danny Glover brings intensity and grit as Lieutenant Harrigan, a cop drawn into a mystery of brutal killings that turn out to be the Predator’s doing. Supporting actors contribute energy—Bill Paxton lends familiar toughness, and Gary Busey injects unpredictable antagonism—yet the film leans heavily on a subplot about gang violence and futuristic L.A. politics that can distract from the main attraction: the alien itself. On balance, Predator 2 is an ambitious but uneven expansion of the franchise.
2. Predators (2010)
“You want to survive? You dig in deep. You stay hid.”
Predators manages to recapture much of the original film’s grim, survival-driven tone while updating the premise for a new generation. Director Nimród Antal and producer Robert Rodriguez assemble a compelling ensemble—Adrien Brody, Walton Goggins, Laurence Fishburne and a memorable early turn from Mahershala Ali—and place them in an elevated, high-stakes environment: an alien hunting reserve far from Earth.
The film’s strengths lie in its pared-back focus on survival and the paranoia of being prey. The opening sequence—a chaotic parachute drop—establishes disorientation and vulnerability, and several set pieces successfully build tension through traps and moral dilemmas. Predators also introduces Predator-on-Predator violence, raising the stakes and expanding lore. While it doesn’t surpass the original’s cultural impact, this entry is a smart, entertaining evolution that honors what worked in the franchise while offering fresh ideas.
1. Predator (1987)
“There’s something out there waiting for us, and it ain’t no man. We’re all gonna die.”
The original Predator remains the pinnacle of the series and a standout action film of the 1980s. Director John McTiernan transforms a straightforward mercenary mission into a tense, atmospheric thriller: an elite team in a sweltering jungle slowly realizes they are being hunted by an unseen, technologically superior foe. The first act establishes character and camaraderie with muscular 1980s bravado, but the film then pivots into darker, bloodier territory that redefines the stakes.
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Dutch is an ideal antagonist for the Predator—formidable, resourceful and charismatic. The film balances physical showmanship with strategic ingenuity: survival depends on wits as much as on weapons, culminating in a final, suspenseful duel where mud and cunning become literal camouflage. Alan Silvestri’s propulsive score amplifies the action, and Stan Winston’s creature design gives the Predator an instantly iconic silhouette—dreadlocked, mandibled and primal. Together these elements created one of cinema’s most enduring genre hybrids: part slasher, part science-fiction, part action spectacle.
Which of these films do you rank highest? Does the original still hold the top spot for you after subsequent sequels and reboots? Share your thoughts and keep exploring the franchise that turned hunting into a dark rite of cinematic spectacle.
Written by Scott Z Walkinshaw
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