Opened: June 12, 1987

Directed by: John McTiernan

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Elpidia Carrillo, Bill Duke, Richard Chaves, Jesse Ventura, Sonny Landham, Shane Black, R.G. Armstrong, Peter Cullen & Kevin Peter Hall

Though it’s now considered a sci-fi classic, anyone watching Predator for the first time might question how it rose to such prominence.

Tasked with rescuing a foreign cabinet minister and his aides who crashed in a guerrilla-held territory in a Central American rainforest, Major Alan “Dutch” Schaefer (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and his team encounter a deadly Predator (Kevin Peter Hall), who has technologically advanced skills.

A good portion of the film is dedicated to showing off the physical strengths of Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers and Jesse Ventura. It becomes comical with close-up shots of their muscles and shirtless figures. The script is somewhat lacking with many unconnected one-liners.

However, the fear brought by the Predator feels real and allows for this to be more than a gun show.

Final say: Not quite top of the food chain, but a sustainable predator. ★★★★☆