TOPLIST – The Predator movies all started with the 1987 original, which grew into a franchise with a relatively simple storyline but a very well-acted action horror. However, Predator films took a break from 2018’s The Predator until 2022’s Prey, a prequel film. Print editions, video games and crossover films are just the tip of the iceberg. Here’s a ranking of the franchise from worst to best.

Aliens vs Predator: Requiem (2007)

Aliens vs Predator: Requiem is the second crossover film and the worst Predator film. It introduces the Alien-Predator hybrid, the Predalien, and the gory subplot. However, all of this does not excuse how unbearably dull this sequel is.

Unfortunately, this is a sequel that is a disgrace to both franchises. The focus is taken away from both alien races and shifted to humans living in a small town. Teen romance dominates much of the story until the two races start to fight. What’s more, much of Aliens vs Predator: Requiem is barely watchable, as the highly dark cinematography hides much of the action.

The Predator (2018)

The Predator follows a team of soldiers and a scientist working together against advanced creatures. There’s no shortage of violence, but the whole film is a mix of extremely convoluted action and comedy. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and attempted to revive the long-running franchise.

This 2018 instalment probably makes the slightest sense of all the standalone Predator films, including the goofy story and lame acting. In addition, the jokes are often idiotically sexist and misogynistic, which adds to the tendency to see this film as real junk in the junk category.

Alien vs Predator (2004)

The Predator and Alien films caused a lot of hype around the possibility of an Alien vs Predator crossover. The very idea was like a fan’s dream come true. But director Paul W.S. Anderson ultimately failed to live up to the hype fully. The Mayan pyramid setting generates more intrigue than in the sequel, but the mythology makes little sense.

Alien vs Predator is a low-key, PG-13 adventure with toned-down brutality that will tear the eyes of both Predator and Alien fans. Still, there is something exciting about seeing the two creatures on screen together. This is genuine B-movie material that ultimately entertains, even if it doesn’t quite deliver what audiences expect from it.

Predator 2 (1990)

The first sequel to the Predator films took the battle to Los Angeles, set 10 years after the 1987 classic. Predator 2 tried to expand the mythos and provide a different atmosphere, moving from the jungle to the city. But not just for aesthetic reasons. The film comments on violent crime as tensions escalate throughout the city.

Predator 2 was initially released with negative reviews, but many fans of the franchise have grown to love it over the years. As a result, the film has become a cult classic. Danny Glover gives a solid performance, and his deliberately exaggerated scenes make it far from the worst Predator film.

Predators (2010)

The third Predator film, directed by Hungarian director Antal Nimrod (Kontroll), is called Predators. A team of skilled killers find themselves on an alien planet where they are forced to engage in a game between two warring Predator tribes. The Predators cast includes Adrien Brody, Topher Grace, Alice Braga, Walton Goggins and Laurence Fishburne.

Predators is an action-packed adventure with plenty of blood. It focuses more on the number of dead bodies than anything else, but it still represents the better quality within the Predator series. The fights are exciting, and the atmosphere of the strange planet is consistently captivating, leaving the viewer wanting more.

Prey (2022)

Prey is the latest of the Predator films, but it’s actually a prequel to the original. The plot is set in 1719 in the Comanche clan, returning to the basics that made the original a success. The focus is on survival between humans and Predators, but it never neglects an engaging narrative that stands on its own.

It’s the only franchise entry that went straight to a streaming service and the second-best instalment. (I have plenty as good as the original. – BadSector) Prey is an earlier evolution of the Predator than fans may already be familiar with, but Dane DiLiegro gives a solid performance as the Predator. Meanwhile, Amber Midthunder is captivating as the lead character Naru and is tremendous strength in an otherwise extremely bloody action-horror film.

Predator (1987)

The original Predator from 1987 is still the best of the series, although it’s a very close “match” with the current 2022 film. An elite rescue team heads into a Central American rainforest to rescue hostages but encounters a deadly Predator. It’s a straightforward and stripped-down story, but the professional direction and performances of the actors make it stand out from other sci-fi action films from the 1980s. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s action hero is also truly iconic, as he remains a massive part of pop culture to this day.

Predator is the most successful film in the franchise in terms of its ability to create tension. Director John McTiernan manages to stand out both in the heat of the action sequences and in the quiet tension that runs through much of the film. Even if 1987’s Predator is not on a par with ’79’s Alien, both sci-fi horror films are classics of the genre in terms of their significance – hence their ‘marriage’. A gradual decline in quality characterises both franchises, but Alien was a later example.

-theGeek-