Predator
Rent & Buy
A team of elite commandos on a secret mission in a Central American jungle come to find themselves hunted by an extraterrestrial warrior.
What critics thought
DivisiveContemporary critics were largely dismissive, calling out a thin script and special effects substituting for genuine suspense — though even skeptics granted it delivered efficient action. Audience enthusiasm and a gradual critical reappraisal have since elevated it to genre-classic status, making the gap between its mixed original reception and its current reputation the most interesting thing about it.
“arguably one of the emptiest, feeblest, most derivative scripts ever made as a major studio movie”
Michael Wilmington·Los Angeles Times
“unfortunately, special effects have also been substituted for suspense”
Adam Barker·Monthly Film Bulletin
“Predator moves at a breakneck pace, it has strong and simple characterizations, it has good location photography and terrific special effects, and it supplies what it claims to supply: an effective action movie.”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
“Predator has gradually become a sci-fi and action classic. It's not difficult to see why. John McTiernan's direction is claustrophobic, fluid and assured, staging the action with aplomb but concentrating just as much on tension and atmosphere... A thumping piece of powerhouse cinema.”
Chris Hewitt·Empire
Accolades
Genres
Action, Adventure, Horror
Cast & Crew
John McTiernanDirector
Arnold SchwarzeneggerMajor Alan "Dutch" Schaefer
Carl WeathersAl Dillon
Kevin Peter HallThe Predator / Helicopter Pilot
Elpidia CarrilloAnna Gonsalves
Bill DukeMac Eliot
Jesse VenturaBlain Cooper
Sonny LandhamBilly Sole
Richard ChavesJorge "Poncho" Ramirez
R.G. ArmstrongMajor General Homer Phillips
Shane BlackRick Hawkins
Peter CullenPredator (voice) (uncredited)
Steve BoyumHostage Executed by the Russian (uncredited)
Alan SilvestriComposer
Donald McAlpineCinematographyPredator
A team of elite commandos on a secret mission in a Central American jungle come to find themselves hunted by an extraterrestrial warrior.
What critics thought
DivisiveContemporary critics were largely dismissive, calling out a thin script and special effects substituting for genuine suspense — though even skeptics granted it delivered efficient action. Audience enthusiasm and a gradual critical reappraisal have since elevated it to genre-classic status, making the gap between its mixed original reception and its current reputation the most interesting thing about it.
“arguably one of the emptiest, feeblest, most derivative scripts ever made as a major studio movie”
Michael Wilmington·Los Angeles Times
“unfortunately, special effects have also been substituted for suspense”
Adam Barker·Monthly Film Bulletin
“Predator moves at a breakneck pace, it has strong and simple characterizations, it has good location photography and terrific special effects, and it supplies what it claims to supply: an effective action movie.”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
“Predator has gradually become a sci-fi and action classic. It's not difficult to see why. John McTiernan's direction is claustrophobic, fluid and assured, staging the action with aplomb but concentrating just as much on tension and atmosphere... A thumping piece of powerhouse cinema.”
Chris Hewitt·Empire
Accolades
Genres
Action, Adventure, Horror
Cast & Crew
John McTiernanDirectorArnold SchwarzeneggerMajor Alan "Dutch" SchaeferCarl WeathersAl DillonKevin Peter HallThe Predator / Helicopter PilotElpidia CarrilloAnna GonsalvesBill DukeMac EliotJesse VenturaBlain CooperSonny LandhamBilly SoleRichard ChavesJorge "Poncho" RamirezR.G. ArmstrongMajor General Homer PhillipsShane BlackRick HawkinsPeter CullenPredator (voice) (uncredited)Steve BoyumHostage Executed by the Russian (uncredited)Alan SilvestriComposerDonald McAlpineCinematographyRent & Buy