Every Predator Movie, Ranked (Including Predator: Badlands)

by

For years, the Predator series consisted of just the first two films. While Alien vs. Predator and its sequel tried to expand the universe, many fans felt it should have stopped there. Like the Terminator films after James Cameron’s involvement, there were several attempts to revive the franchise. Thankfully, Dan Trachtenberg’s Predator demonstrated how to build a lasting series, moving beyond simply recreating the original’s success. With the release of the well-received Predator: Badlands, the Yautja franchise now includes nine installments, leading to the question: how does this latest film stack up against the others?

We’ll be looking at all nine Predator films, including the original series and the two crossovers with the Alien franchise. Let’s see how the newest movie compares to the rest.

9) Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem

Often considered the worst installment in both the Alien and Predator series, Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem feels like a low-budget film that only got a theatrical release because of its famous titles. In fact, the movie is so dark, it’s often hard to see what’s happening on screen.

Honestly, the best I can say about Requiem is that it at least tried to deliver on the cool Predalien idea we got at the end of Alien vs. Predator. But, like before, it’s just so hard to actually see the creature! I don’t want to put all the blame on The Brothers Strause – it was their first big movie, and they had $30 million less to work with than AVP did. Still, even with $40 million, the movie should have looked a lot better. Look at Predators, which also cost $40 million and had to pay for bigger-name actors!

8) The Predator

It’s a shame we didn’t get to see Shane Black’s initial plan for The Predator. The final movie feels so different from what he likely intended that it’s hard to fairly judge it. Still, enough of Black’s original ideas made it into the film to make you wonder if an unedited version would have performed much better than landing at number eight.

The movie relies too much on shock value and crude language, and some elements, like the Predator dog, are just ridiculous. The storyline involving autism is also handled poorly and is offensive. It’s clear the film suffered from extensive meddling and reshoots, which created several problems. For example, the conflict between the two Predator characters isn’t developed enough to be understandable, making both villains feel weak. Overall, the movie is often confusing, and not always because of the reshoots – the sudden and poorly lit death of a key character, Sterling K. Brown’s Will Traegar, is a prime example. It was so dark and quick, many viewers likely didn’t even realize he was gone.

7) Alien vs. Predator

As a fan, I was really hoping Alien vs. Predator would give us some incredible action, and honestly, it mostly does! When the Predator and the Xenomorph finally clash – about halfway through the movie – I remember people in the theater back in 2004 were genuinely on the edge of their seats. It was a thrilling moment!

The choice to aim for a PG-13 rating was a mistake, even if the reasoning behind it is clear. Predator: Badlands successfully avoids this issue by keeping the story focused entirely on the creatures, but this film features humans, and their deaths are handled with predictable, quick shots of blood on snow. Overall, the movie feels like a less intense version of what it could have been. It’s better than Requiem, mainly because it makes sense, and the underground pyramid location is a creative idea – though even that would have been more effective with a more mature rating.

6) Predators

Despite a few questionable casting choices, Predators was generally a good addition to the series and a commendable effort to revitalize the franchise, which had been inactive for two decades aside from the AVP films. However, it often feels predictable and relies too much on familiar tropes.

This installment features multiple Yautja, along with their frightening animal companions. However, it really shows how the series struggled to break away from the formula established by the first film. Despite this, the opening scene – with soldiers parachuting into the action – is arguably the best in the entire franchise.

5) Predator 2

For a long time, Predator 2 was considered a significant drop in quality compared to the first Predator movie. However, over time, it’s been re-evaluated more favorably. It notably expanded the world of the franchise, particularly by showing more of the Predators’ weapons and culture—like their tradition of giving a gift to a worthy opponent, such as Lieutenant Harrigan.

The second Predator movie works well for several reasons. The detailed world-building is impressive, and it was fantastic to see Kevin Peter Hall return as the Predator. While stepping into Arnold Schwarzenegger’s role was a tough challenge, Danny Glover did a great job. Plus, Bill Paxton and Gary Busey deliver knowingly funny supporting performances, making Predator 2 a really enjoyable film.

4) Predator: Badlands

While it might not be as strong as the first two Predator films, Predator: Badlands is still a success. It seemed like a huge challenge—maybe even an impossible one—to make the Yautja creatures the heroes of a story, let alone make audiences care about them. But director Trachtenberg has managed to do just that.

Despite being created with computer-generated imagery (specifically his face), Dek feels like a truly believable character with relatable motivations, anxieties, goals, and relationships. He undergoes a complete transformation throughout the movie, and the audience fully invests in his journey. Elle Fanning also shines in her dual role as Thia and Tessa, seamlessly portraying both charming adventurousness and cold calculation. Alongside Dek, Thia is central to the emotional core of Badlands. The film’s action is relentless, but never feels excessive. Each sequence flows naturally into the next, and importantly, it consistently expands the world and deepens our understanding of the characters, while also keeping us engaged. Director Trachtenberg has delivered three excellent films in a row, and the ending of Badlands suggests he has another exciting project in the works.

3) Predator: Killer of Killers

From beginning to end, Predator: Killer of Killers is a fantastic addition to the Predator series, proving Dan Trachtenberg is a great choice to lead the franchise. Even if you don’t usually enjoy animated movies, this one’s stunning visuals and obvious passion for the source material will definitely keep you engaged.

What makes this film truly stand out is its structure. It’s built like a collection of separate stories, but they’re all connected by a central idea, which ultimately brings them together as a single, larger narrative. Though each story features intense and violent action, it’s the well-developed characters that elevate Killer of Killers and make it a strong sequel to Prey.

2) Prey

What made Prey the second strongest film in the Predator series was its willingness to surprise audiences. Director Trachtenberg set the story in the 1700s, prioritized developing compelling characters – more so than any previous film – and still delivered the intense, action-packed Yautja encounters fans expect.

The action featuring the Yautja (the alien hunters) in Prey is actually better than in most of the sequels to the original Predator movie, and it features some impressively violent uses of their advanced weapons. You might worry that having humans armed with simple flintlock rifles wouldn’t create a thrilling fight, especially against seemingly invulnerable aliens, but director Dan Trachtenberg avoids that problem. He cleverly portrays the Yautja’s technology as less sophisticated than in the 1987 film, and crucially, he features Amber Midthunder as Naru, a character who is both smart and resourceful. Midthunder’s performance is phenomenal – truly the best acting seen in any Predator film – and it rightfully launched her career to new heights.

1) Predator

For years, John McTiernan’s Predator was widely considered the best in the series. While its position at the top is now a little less secure, it’s not because the movie itself has aged poorly – aside from one awkward line delivered by Jesse Ventura. The reason is simply that Trachtenberg is now a key figure in the future of the Predator franchise. And, as a bonus, Predator is one of the best horror films to feature a professional wrestler in its cast.

The original Predator stands out for several reasons. The jungle setting is incredibly effective, creating both a sense of openness and claustrophobia. The cast is perfectly chosen, and the script is full of memorable lines. What really elevates the film is the high stakes – watching highly skilled characters get systematically defeated by a single, powerful enemy is genuinely thrilling. The movie also maintains a fantastic pace, constantly moving the story forward from the initial attack to the final showdown. It’s a remarkably rewatchable film, arguably one of the best of the 1980s. A lot of that is thanks to screenwriters Jim and John Thomas and the incredible creature design by Stan Winston.

https://comicbook.com/movies/news/predator-director-reveals-mcu-influence-on-franchise-as-avp-connections-get-bigger-exclusive/embed/#

Read More

2025-11-08 20:16