With Predator: Badlands set to release this week, it’s the perfect time to revisit one of the most enduring sci-fi franchises of all time. From jungle hunts to intergalactic warfare, the Predator series has delivered over three decades of brutal action, iconic one-liners, and some of cinema’s coolest creature design.
We’ve hunted through them all — here’s how we rank the Predator movies from best to worst 👇
🥇 1. Predator (1987) – ★★★★★ (9/10)
Directed by: John McTiernan
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Jesse Ventura
The one that started it all. A perfect blend of 80s action and horror, Predator remains a masterclass in tension and testosterone. Arnold’s team of commandos facing an invisible hunter in the jungle? Iconic. The one-liners (“If it bleeds, we can kill it”), the suspense, and the reveal of the creature — everything about it works.
Verdict: The original remains untouchable — pure, primal, and endlessly rewatchable.
🥈 2. Prey (2022) – ★★★★☆ (8.5/10)
Directed by: Dan Trachtenberg
Starring: Amber Midthunder
Prey surprised everyone. Stripping the franchise back to basics, this prequel follows a young Comanche warrior facing a Predator centuries before modern technology. It’s beautiful, brutal, and smart — proof the franchise still has fresh blood.
Verdict: A tense, visually stunning return to form. The Predator hasn’t felt this scary in years.
🥉 3. Predator 2 (1990) – ★★★★☆ (8/10)
Directed by: Stephen Hopkins
Starring: Danny Glover, Gary Busey
Trading the jungle for the streets of Los Angeles, Predator 2 turned up the heat (literally). Danny Glover battles the creature in a crime-ridden city, and while it’s over-the-top, it’s got great world-building — introducing Predator lore, trophies, and that iconic Xenomorph skull.
Verdict: Underrated and wild — a bold sequel that expanded the mythos.
🧠 4. Predators (2010) – ★★★☆☆ (7/10)
Directed by: Nimród Antal
Starring: Adrien Brody, Alice Braga, Laurence Fishburne
A clever twist: instead of Earth, the hunters bring humans to their game preserve planet. Predators is gritty, action-packed, and features some great tension, even if it leans heavily on nostalgia for the original.
Verdict: A solid, if safe, return to Predator roots.
⚙️ 5. The Predator (2018) – ★★☆☆☆ (6/10)
Directed by: Shane Black
Starring: Boyd Holbrook, Olivia Munn, Sterling K. Brown
The most divisive of the bunch. The Predator had a great cast, fun ideas, and high-octane action, but struggled to balance its humour and horror. The genetically enhanced “Super Predator” looked great, but the tone felt messy.
Verdict: Fun and flashy, but tonally confused — still entertaining for die-hard fans.
💀 6. Alien vs. Predator (2004) – ★★☆☆☆ (5/10)
Directed by: Paul W.S. Anderson
It’s the crossover fans always wanted… sort of. The concept of Predators hunting Xenomorphs beneath the Antarctic ice is cool, but the PG-13 rating kills the horror. Still, it’s pure 2000s nostalgia.
Verdict: More popcorn than powerhouse — a guilty pleasure for sci-fi fans.
🧟♂️ 7. Alien vs. Predator: Requiem (2007) – ★☆☆☆☆ (3/10)
Directed by: The Brothers Strause
Everything AVP did well, this one buried in darkness — literally. You can barely see what’s happening for most of the film, and the tone is grim without any of the fun.
Verdict: The Predator deserved better lighting.
🚀 Coming Soon: Predator: Badlands (2025)
Early whispers suggest Badlands will be a darker, more character-driven entry — set in the aftermath of Prey, exploring how human warriors begin to fight back against the Predator species across time. If it continues Prey’s stripped-down approach, this could be the return to form fans have been waiting for.
Our final thoughts on the Predator collection
The Predator franchise has had its highs and lows, but few movie monsters have remained as iconic. Whether stalking soldiers in the jungle or warriors on the plains, the Predator remains one of cinema’s ultimate hunters.
Here’s hoping Predator: Badlands gives us the kill we’ve all been waiting for. 👊
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