Predator Movie Series Overview
The Predator franchise includes theatrical films, direct-to-video sequels, crossovers, and television series. The core series began with Predator in 1987 and continued through Predators in 2010 and The Predator in 2018. The franchise also includes crossovers such as the Alien vs. Predator films and the 2010 film Predators, which is a standalone sequel to the original 1987 movie. The latest mainline entry is Prey, a prequel set in the Comanche Nation in 1719, released on Hulu in 2022. The series is produced and distributed by 20th Century Studios, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, following the acquisition of 21st Century Fox assets in 2019. For background on the studio, see the official Disney corporate page The Walt Disney Company.
The original 1987 Predator film starred Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Jesse Ventura, and Sonny Landham. The film was directed by John McTiernan and grossed approximately 98 million dollars worldwide against a 15 million dollar budget. The franchise has since expanded to include multiple sequels, crossovers, and reboots, with a mix of critical and commercial results. The series is known for its depiction of an advanced alien species that hunts other species for sport, often using active camouflage, plasma weaponry, and thermal vision. The franchise's central creature design was created by special effects artist Stan Winston, and the iconic skull emblem has become a widely recognized symbol in pop culture.
Box Office and Critical Performance
Predator (1987) earned around 98 million dollars worldwide. Predator 2 (1990) grossed approximately 57 million dollars worldwide. Predators (2010) earned roughly 248 million dollars worldwide. The Predator (2018) earned about 160 million dollars worldwide. Prey (2022) earned around 237 million dollars worldwide, including streaming and international markets. The Alien vs. Predator crossover films, Alien vs. Predator (2004) and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007), earned approximately 172 million and 128 million dollars worldwide respectively. These figures are based on publicly reported box office data from industry tracking sources such as Box Office Mojo, which provides detailed franchise breakdowns Box Office Mojo.
Critical reception has varied across the franchise. The original Predator and Prey (2022) are generally considered the strongest entries by critics and audiences. Prey holds a 94 percent critics score on Rotten Tomatoes as of the latest available data, while The Predator holds a lower score. The franchise has been recognized for its practical effects, action choreography, and creature design, particularly in the original 1987 film and the 2022 prequel. The series has also been noted for its influence on the sci-fi action genre and for launching the careers of several actors, including Arnold Schwarzenegger and Adrien Brody.
Cast, Characters, and Franchise Expansion
The Predator series features a rotating cast across films, with notable actors including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Danny Glover, Adrien Brody, Alice Braga, Boyd Holbrook, and Amber Midthunder. Prey introduces Naru, a skilled Comanche warrior, portrayed by Amber Midthunder, marking a significant shift in the franchise's lead representation. The franchise also includes recurring human characters such as Alan "Dutch" Schaefer from the original film