Predator
An elite commando team becomes prey when an invisible alien hunter turns a Central American rescue mission into a brutal jungle survival game.
Overview
A team of elite soldiers faces an extraterrestrial predator in the heart of the jungle.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Breakneck
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- propulsive
- claustrophobic
- sardonic
- action movie night
- late night horror marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found Predator derivative and thinly scripted but effective as fast-paced action entertainment, praising its atmosphere, location photography, creature design, and special effects.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Dutch's heavily armed commando team is gradually outmatched by an unseen hunter, making adaptation more important than firepower.
The supposed rescue operation becomes an alien hunt after the team discovers both deception and an otherworldly stalker.
Dense Central American vegetation conceals the Predator, limits visibility, and turns movement through the jungle into suspenseful exposure.
The commando team's weapons, bravado, and physical dominance prove insufficient against a hunter that changes the rules of combat.
Films like Predator, and why
Aliens
military action, alien menace, claustrophobic survival tension, and hard-edged 1980s spectacle
The Terminator
muscular action hero, relentless pursuit, jungle survival, and science fiction horror
The Thing
elite soldiers confronting a brutal supernatural creature in hostile wilderness
Predator 2
squad-based combat, monster hunting, graphic violence, and propulsive genre entertainment
Movie Details
- Director
- John McTiernan
- Release Date
- 1987-06-12
- Runtime
- 107 min
- Rating
- 7.6 / 10 (9544)
Cast
- Arnold Schwarzenegger
- Carl Weathers
- Kevin Peter Hall
- Elpidia Carrillo
- Bill Duke
- Jesse Ventura
- Sonny Landham
- Richard Chaves
- R.G. Armstrong
- Shane Black
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- YouTube TV
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Predator about?
- An elite commando team becomes prey when an invisible alien hunter turns a Central American rescue mission into a brutal jungle survival game.
- What is Predator like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Predator as breakneck, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Predator violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Predator as graphic.
- What did critics think of Predator?
- Critics broadly found Predator derivative and thinly scripted but effective as fast-paced action entertainment, praising its atmosphere, location photography, creature design, and special effects.
- Which films are like Predator?
- Films with a similar feel include Aliens, The Terminator, The Thing, and Predator 2.
- How long is Predator?
- Predator runs 107 minutes.
- Where can I watch Predator?
- In United States, Predator streams on YouTube TV.
