Predator (1987)
86%RT Audience Score: 87%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
3 wins & 6 nominations total
Predator: Part sci-fi, part horror, part action — all muscle
Predator is the ultimate macho movie that will make you want to flex your muscles and roll around in mud. It’s mindless entertainment at its finest, with a strong cast and an exceptional monster. Sure, the script may be empty and derivative, but who cares when you’re watching Arnold Schwarzenegger take on an alien in the jungle? Director John McTiernan delivers a full-assault experience that will knock your socks off. If you’re a fan of Rambo and Rocky, you’ll love Predator. Just don’t expect any deep emotional moments – this movie is all about the thrill ride.
Production Company(ies)
ARTE Bavaria Film International, Corazón International,
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Jalisco, Mexico
MPAA / Certificate
R
Year of Release
1987
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Mono
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 47m
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Language(s):English, Spanish, Russian
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 12, 1987 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 26, 2000
Genre(s)
Action/Adventure
Keyword(s)
starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jesse Ventura, Carl Weathers, Elpidia Carrillo, Bill Duke, Sonny Landham, directed by John McTiernan, written by Jim Thomas, John Thomas, action, adventure, R rating, box office performance, $54.4M, reviewed by Michael Wilmington, Michael H Price, Neil Jillett, Joe Pollack, Scott Cain, Duane Byrge, Dan Geringer, Taylor Baker, Jim Rohner, Sergio Benítez, Mattie Lucas, produced by Joel Silver, Lawrence Gordon, John Davis, 20th Century Fox, Predator, alien, intergalactic slayer, search and rescue mission, jungle, muscle, sci-fi, horror, thriller, violence, one-liner, cult classic, Arnold Schwarzenegger on his A-Game, awesome characters, thrilling action sequences, cool premise, machismo, tension, bucket full of testosterone, steroids, rebel village, Predator concept, forgettable follow-on movies, Alien cross-overs, landmark 80s picture, phenomenal, best alien design, entertainment, mindless entertainment, fast-paced, skillfully structured, exciting, extremely violent, bloody, obnoxious, feeble, derivative, Mad magazine movie parody, major studio movie, emotional vulnerability, physical vulnerability, best film, muss-’em-up thrillers, originality, pep, full-assault experience, range of shots, fast precision, full-blast effect, flat (1.85:1), surround sound mix, 1h 47m, English, Joel Silver, Lawrence Gordon, John Davis
Worldwide gross: $98,268,458
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $262,301,595
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 562
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 28,604,318
US/Canada gross: $59,735,548
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $159,448,208
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 490
US/Canada opening weekend: $12,031,638
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $32,115,268
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 416
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $15,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $40,038,523
Production budget ranking: 956
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $21,560,745
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $200,702,327
ROI to date (est.): 326%
ROI ranking: 428
Carl Weathers – Dillon
Jesse Ventura – Blain
Elpidia Carrillo – Anna
Bill Duke – Mac
Sonny Landham – Billy
Director(s)
John McTiernan
Writer(s)
Jim Thomas, John Thomas
Producer(s)
Joel Silver, Lawrence Gordon, John Davis
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
3 wins & 6 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (54) | Top Critics (14) | Fresh (43) | Rotten (11)
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.
April 22, 2022
Michael Wilmington
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
The emotional and physical vulnerability that Predator imposes on Schwarzenegger make this easily his best film of an often impressive round of muss-’em-up thrillers.
April 22, 2022 | Rating: 6/10
Michael H. Price
Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com
TOP CRITIC
If you get a kick out of watching men with big muscles roll around in mud to the accompaniment of portentous music, Predator may have some appeal. But I suspect even Rambo and Rocky fans will find it boring.
April 21, 2022
Neil Jillett
The Age (Australia)
TOP CRITIC
There are some really obnoxious things about Predator, the new Arnold Schwarzenegger movie, but the bottom line is that it is a fast-paced, skillfully structured, exciting, extremely violent and bloody piece of totally mindless entertainment.
April 21, 2022
Joe Pollack
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
TOP CRITIC
At a moment when Rambo-style blood-baths are thought to have fallen from favor, along comes Predator, which may not be the daintiest movie ever made but is a knock-your-socks-off thriller. Originality and pep still go a long way in moviemaking.
April 21, 2022
Scott Cain
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
TOP CRITIC
Visually, Predator is a full-assault experience. Director John McTiernan mixes his range of shots with fast precision and full-blast effect.
June 12, 2019
Duane Byrge
Hollywood Reporter
TOP CRITIC
Although it could stand to lose a few pounds from its mid-section, Predator benefits greatly from a strong cast and an exceptional monster.
April 22, 2022
Dan Geringer
Philadelphia Daily News
Episode 8: Sex, Lies and Predator
August 28, 2021 | Rating: 86/100
Taylor Baker
Drink in the Movies
Predator isn’t reinventing the wheel, but it’s having a lot of fun with what it’s doing.
April 14, 2021
Jim Rohner
Battleship Pretension
One of the best climaxes I have had the pleasure of seeing on a film of the genre. [Full Review in Spanish]
April 15, 2020
Sergio Benítez
Espinof
One of the most energetic and intense action films of the 1980s.
June 3, 2019
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row
A whole mess of talent working at the top of their games in front of and behind the camera came together at the perfect times in their careers to create the lightning in a bottle that is Predator.
October 31, 2018
Ed Travis
Cinapse…
Plot
A team of special force ops, led by a tough but fair soldier, Major “Dutch” Schaefer, are ordered to assist CIA man, Colonel Al Dillon, on a rescue mission for potential survivors of a Helicopter downed over remote South American jungle. Not long after they land, Dutch and his team discover that they have been sent in under false pretenses. This deception turns out to be the least of their worries though, when they find themselves being methodically hunted by something not of this world.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film Predator on Fresh Kernels.
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