Predator (1987)
★★★★ — Predator (1987)
Predator arrived in the summer of 1987, a period when Schwarzenegger was arguably the biggest box office draw on the planet, fresh from Commando and Raw Deal and with the Terminator franchise already behind him. Director John McTiernan was working only his second feature (his debut, Nomads, had been a modest horror thriller in 1986), and would follow this with Die Hard just a year later, establishing himself as arguably the defining action director of the late 1980s. The original screenplay, by brothers Jim and John Thomas, was a spec script sold to Lawrence Gordon's production company, and filming took place on location in the jungles of Palenque, Mexico, a shoot that proved punishing on cast and crew alike. Jean-Claude Van Damme was originally cast as the creature before being replaced by the considerably taller Kevin Peter Hall.
An absolute classic of ‘80s action cinema Predator is testosterone-fuelled brilliance with a sci-fi twist. It starts like a standard military rescue mission, full of muscles, cigars, and quotable one-liners (“If it bleeds, we can kill it”) then halfway through, it flips the script and becomes a survival horror. And it works. Arnold is at his peak here, leading a crew of walking action figures through the jungle as they’re picked off by a nearly invisible alien hunter with thermal vision and honour code. The design of the Predator is iconic, and the reveal is still absolutely terrifying. The tension is immaculate, the pacing is tight, and the jungle setting adds a layer of claustrophobia that’s perfect. Alan Silvestri’s score slaps, too. It's not trying to be deep but it’s smartly made, surprisingly atmospheric, and stands the test of time. Arnie covered in mud, screaming in the jungle is iconic. I wish he was in some of the sequels.
Rating: ★★★★ | Year: 1987 | Watched: 2025-04-10
Where to watch (UK)
Stream: Disney Plus
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Related on Movies With Macca
More from John McTiernan: Last Action Hero (1993) · Die Hard (1988)
More with Arnold Schwarzenegger: Batman & Robin (1997) · End of Days (1999) · Last Action Hero (1993) · Terminator Genisys (2015)
More from the 1980s: Nightmare City (1980) · A Better Tomorrow (1986) · Style Wars (1983) · Garlic Is as Good as Ten Mothers (1980)
More science fiction: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) · Fantastic Planet (1973) · Nightmare City (1980) · The Long Walk (2025)
More action: A Better Tomorrow (1986) · The General (1926) · Hand of Death (1976) · Daredevil (2003)
