Predator

Name: Predator
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Released: June 12, 1987
Duration: 107 min
Rating: 45
Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Kevin Peter Hall

1987

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 15 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 584 Ratings

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8.7

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8.7	User Score Universal acclaim based on 584 Ratings

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Predator

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Movie Details & Credits

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation | Release Date: June 12, 1987 | R

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Kevin Peter Hall

Summary: Schaefer (Schwarzenegger) and his elite military unit are recruited to rescue hostages held by guerrillas in the Latin American jungle. But once there, they encounter an enemy more deadly than any on earth! (20th Century Fox)

Director: John McTiernan

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Rating: R

Runtime: 107 min

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Awards & Rankings

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Neil Smith

Directed by John McTiernan, it’s an ’80s classic full of still-thrilling action, quotable one-liners (“Get to the chopper!” “Stick around!”) and sly digs at Uncle Sam’s penchant for unwinnable jungle wars. Read full review

Duane Byrge

Structurally, Predator is a classic behind-enemy-lines/buddy movies. Nothing much new, just well done. Read full review

Roger Ebert

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. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

A slightly above-average actioner that tries to compensate for tissue-thin-plot with ever-more-grisly death sequences and impressive special effects. Read full review

Dave Kehr

McTiernan, regrettably, seems more interested in spectacle than suspense, and the attack sequences are filmed for splashy visual impact. And an apocalyptic finale that raises the antiwar message to the nuclear level is more than McTiernan's metaphor can bear. [12 June 1987, Friday, p.J]

Peter Stack

The movie, a rather pointless thing when you get down to it, has little of the provocative intelligence that was found in "Terminator." But at least it's self-propelling in terms of suspense and cheap thrills. [12 June 1987, Daily Datebook, p.78]

Michael Wilmington

It's arguably one of the emptiest, feeblest, most derivative scripts ever made as a major studio movie. There's no need to do a Mad magazine movie parody of this; it's already on the screen. Read full review

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User Reviews

jimm.

Oct 8, 2009

The greatest movie ever

10 of 11 users found this helpful

Kai82

Jan 20, 2020

It is the quintessential action movie made of adrenaline, action, one liners and testosterone seasoned with horror elements, dread and a small portion of humour. The best description I have heard for this movie is: You have an action movie with a squad of badass soldiers who finished aIt is the quintessential action movie made of adrenaline, action, one liners and testosterone seasoned with horror elements, dread and a small portion of humour. The best description I have heard for this movie is: You have an action movie with a squad of badass soldiers who finished a mission in the jungle of central America. Then the predator invades the movie to hunt them done. This works very well. It is the whole cast that carries this performance. Yes you have Arnold Schwarzenegger who is of cause a badass but his whole squad are also badasses that would do well in every action movie. Their enemies are no match for them as they clearly out gun them with ease. Then comes the Predator who delivers these battle hardened men a feeling of dread, fear and hopelessness. It is a naked battle for survival against a superior enemy that outmanoeuvres them easily. This is the strength of the movie. It delivers this serious threat and the impact perfectly. It gets even more intense the longer the movie goes. Then there is the final battle which I wont spoil. Its a battle of wits. Each one knows the strengths of their enemies and try to outmanoeuvre the other. As far as action movies go this is one of the best if not best and a cult classic. Each sequel tries to recapture this formula but so far all have failed.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Lambo442

Jan 23, 2019

This is how the phone call from my friend went before I went over to his to watch Predator, when I was 8 years old...

Friend: Dude, you have to come over, my bro rented me this awesome film with Arnie in, and he has to fight an alien! Me: Really? I think I know it, my parents wouldn't letThis is how the phone call from my friend went before I went over to his to watch Predator, when I was 8 years old...

Friend: Dude, you have to come over, my bro rented me this awesome film with Arnie in, and he has to fight an alien!
Me: Really? I think I know it, my parents wouldn't let me watch it. Does the alien have a laser or something?
Friend. Yeah, he has a big friggin laser on his shoulder. Me: Arnie, Aliens and lasers!? Dude I'll be right over!… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

GarethB

Oct 5, 2018

A great action/horror/scifi flick, intense and good action throughout shot well by the director of die hard. Arnie is great and there are some great one liners!

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

bfoore90

Aug 11, 2017

Outside of Terminator, Predator is probably one of Arnold's more underrated sci-fi action movies. An interesting premise tops off cool, practical effects with an interesting villain in the Predator.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

MovieManiac83

Apr 23, 2015

More than just another dumb '80s Schwarzenegger actioner, 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 andMore than just another dumb '80s Schwarzenegger actioner, 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.

It's cheesy as hell, of course, but enormously entertaining and deeply cool, with a ton of quotable lines - 'I ainít got time to bleed' - while The Predator itself is an utterly unforgettable villain. But most bad guys are only as good as their heroes and, long before he became a shambling self-parody, Arnie delivers - and not just in the walking and talking without falling over sense. He's an awesomely indestructible figure here, at the height of his physical powers. He's the archetypal immovable force meeting an irresistible object. Only Arnie at his most iconic could convincingly defeat the Predator (as those who've seen Danny Glover in 'Predator 2' know).

There's also something ironic in the climax, where immigrant Arnie - now fully embraced by the U.S. - kicks the tar out of a real illegal alien. We could go into the sexual subtext, but maybe we're just reading too much into it.

A thumping piece of powerhouse cinema.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

JHill

Dec 20, 2009

Good special effects; otherwise cartoonish and boring.

2 of 21 users found this helpful

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