Predator (1987)

A team of commandos on a mission in a Central American jungle find themselves hunted by an extraterrestrial warrior.

Director:

John McTiernan

Writers:

Jim Thomas, John Thomas

Stars:

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Kevin Peter Hall

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 3 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Arnold Schwarzenegger	...	Dutch
Carl Weathers	...	Dillon
Elpidia Carrillo	...	Anna
Bill Duke	...	Mac
Jesse Ventura	...	Blain
Sonny Landham	...	Billy
Richard Chaves	...	Poncho
R.G. Armstrong	...	General Phillips
Shane Black	...	Hawkins
Kevin Peter Hall	...	The Predator / Helicopter Pilot

Storyline

A team of special force ops, led by a tough but fair soldier, Major "Dutch" Schaefer, are ordered to assist CIA man, Colonel Al Dillon, on a rescue mission for potential survivors of a Helicopter downed over remote South American jungle. Not long after they land, Dutch and his team discover that they have been sent in under false pretenses. This deception turns out to be the least of their worries though, when they find themselves being methodically hunted by something not of this world.

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Plot Keywords:

jungle | survival | hunting people | commando | predator | 

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Taglines:

In this movie, Arnold will experience every meaning of the word '' Pain ''.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Editor Mark Helfrich says he may have let the helicopter scene run too long..."I had a lot of cool helicopter shots... I wanted to use them. I guess I was influenced by Apocalypse Now (1979)."

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Goofs

At the beginning of the movie, the helicopter flying the team into the base can be seen in full frontal profile aimed at the camera, and it clearly does not have any rocket launchers on the sides. After it has landed and the team is disembarking, there is a rocket launcher attached.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Major General Phillips: You're looking good, Dutch.
Dutch: It's been a long time, General.
Major General Phillips: Come on inside.

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Crazy Credits

All the 7 main cast members re-appear in ascending order as their names are displayed to give a smile to the audience in appreciation.

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Alternate Versions

A limited edition DVD collector's box set of Predator including both Predator movies was released in the UK in June 2001. For this UK DVD releases, Fox used the same master as the heavily censored German version. Ironically, it was released uncut in Germany. The scene where Dutch throws a knife at the soldier and saying "Stick around" was removed. The scene where Dillon loses his arm was shortened. However, the UK video is completely uncut.

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Connections

Spoofed in Robot Chicken: Spike Fraser in: Should I Happen to Back Into a Horse (2019)

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Soundtracks

Long, Tall Sally
Performed by Little Richard
Written by Little Richard (as R. Penniman), Enotris Johnson (as E. Johnson) and Robert 'Bumps' Blackwell (as R. Blackwell)
Courtesy of Specialty Records

User Reviews

Very, very tense and murderously suspenseful

First of all, if you haven't seen this action, suspense and violence extravaganza, you most certainly are not a true action movie afficionado. The immediate grabbing feature of this movie is its score, very imaginatively composed and created by Alan Silvestri whose other credits include the Back to the Future series and other gems like Who Framed Roger Rabbit. The tempo and build up which the score lends to the film engage its viewers with feelings of fear and nerve wracking suspense for what lurks within the thick of the forest. Take note of Sonny Landham's comment;"there's something out there,and it ain't no man.

The action is fast, furious and merciless. The commandos are killed off one by one, leaving Arnie, Carl Weathers and the surviving members extremely terrified and on the verge of breaking down. Note the heated arguments that some of the commandos get into with each other. There is very animated and fiery action in the beginning (assault on the terrorist camp) but as we are introduced to the true terror of the jungle (or should I say, outer space), the action takes a turn for the more insane eg.Arnie running away armed only with a knife and trembling in fear, almost drowning in a waterfall and thereafter, continually pursued by the Predator). All this followed by a half hour long jungle battle mano a mano with spears, rocks and fists and hall deafening yells by both warriors. Very, very fierce and macho stuff I assure you all.

I shall not go into the other intricacies of the film and will leave it to the curiosity of potential/virgin viewers to find out for themselves. "Predator" is essentially one of the few action movies that truly lives up to its name and delivers the thrills and spills in no small amount and at breakneck speed. True connoisseurs of hard action.....YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!!!!! 9.5/10

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA Mexico

Language:

English Spanish Russian

Release Date:

12 June 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Alien Hunter

Filming Locations:

Sierra Madre del Sur de Oaxaca, Mexico

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$12,031,638, 14 June 1987

Gross USA:

$59,735,548

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$98,268,458

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox, Lawrence Gordon Productions, Silver Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) Dolby Stereo (35 mm prints) (4 channels)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1