Out of 7 Predator Movies, Only 1 Scored Above 90% on Rotten Tomatoes (and It's a Prequel)
A movie that has impressed critics and audiences with its setting and ability to get the adrenaline pumping.
Summary
- Predator is one of the most popular sci-fi action franchises.
- However, most of the installments have received mixed reviews from critics.
- The prequel that came out 2 years ago changed all that.
Nearly 40 years after the release of the classic film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers and Kevin Peter Hall as the title villain, Predator remains one of the most recognizable and undeniably iconic franchises. The hyper-masculine epic of steely muscles and sweaty glory is interspersed here with the horror of the unknown, as the Predators are far more agile and stealthy, far more bloodthirsty, technologically advanced, and far more physically capable than Schwarzenegger himself.
Given the popularity of both series, and the space horror elements of each, it's only natural that the Predator got a crossover sub-franchise, Alien vs. Predator, which gave the stories of the confrontation between humans and the Predators a much more existential, chthonic twist in a dystopian universe based on the works of H. R. Giger.
But did you know that despite the undeniable cult status of the franchise, with fans still remembering the lines of the characters played by Weathers in the first installment and Danny Glover in the second, critics treated each film much more coldly at the time of its release.
As a result, the very first film was only recognized as a classic years later, and now, in 2024, only three of them have 'fresh' status on Rotten Tomatoes, while the rest have been absolutely crushed by critics. Moreover, only one movie in the history of the Predator franchise has a score above 90%, and it is by no means any of the original installments, but the prequel released in 2022.
What Is This Movie About?
In recent years, we have seen an increasing tendency on the part of major studios to cash in on once-popular franchises, resulting in an endless string of remakes, sequels, prequels, and any number of spin-offs and indirectly related projects that could, in theory, bring in new revenue. However, while most of these projects fail, some still manage to impress critics and audiences with their innovation, unconventionality, and yet love and understanding of the originals.
For example, Prey, which was released in 2022, completely changed the situation and brought a breath of fresh air to the iconic setting.
According to many critics, Prey is just about the best movie in the franchise since the release of the first installment. The plot follows a young Comanche woman named Naru (Amber Midthunder) somewhere on the northern Great Plains in the early 18th century. As the title suggests, in a clever subversion of the original, the theme of hunter and prey is again at the center, but this time a sinister, warlike alien who poses a threat to the Comanche tribe is pitted against another human, the French colonists who have been slaughtering buffaloes.
The movie is very much in the spirit of the original, offering even more narrative and visual suspense combined with the fear of the unknown — after all, behind the fog may lurk not only a hostile man, but a demon from folklore. As a result, the film received an unprecedented 94% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
Where and How to Watch It?
After premiering at San Diego Comic-Con on July 21, 2022, Prey was released in on-demand format on August 5. As the co-production was handled by Disney subsidiary 20th Century Studios, Prey was also released on Disney-controlled streaming services in various countries.
As such, in the US, the film is available for streaming on Hulu. In Latin America, the movie is available on Star and in Southeast Asia on Disney+ Hotstar. In all other territories, the movie can be streamed on Disney+.