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The Predator returns to Earth, this time to stake a claim on the war-torn streets of a dystopian Los Angeles.

Director:

Stephen Hopkins

Writers:

Jim Thomas (characters), John Thomas (characters) | 2 more credits »
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Popularity
2,938 ( 93)
1 win & 4 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kevin Peter Hall ... The Predator
Danny Glover ... Lieutenant Mike Harrigan
Gary Busey ... Peter Keyes
Rubén Blades ... Danny Archuleta (as Ruben Blades)
Maria Conchita Alonso ... Leona Cantrell
Bill Paxton ... Jerry Lambert
Robert Davi ... Captain Phil Heinemann
Adam Baldwin ... Garber
Kent McCord ... Captain B. Pilgrim
Morton Downey Jr. ... Tony Pope
Calvin Lockhart ... King Willie
Steve Kahan ... Sergeant
Henry Kingi ... El Scorpio
Corey Rand Corey Rand ... Ramon Vega
Elpidia Carrillo ... Anna
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Storyline

LAPD lieutenant Mike Harrigan (Danny Glover) and his cocky detective partner Jerry Lambert (Bill Paxton) soon realize that what seemed a bloody feud between voodoo high priest King Willie's (Calvin Lockhart) Jamaican gangs and Ramon Vega's (Corey Rand) Colombian drug gang is actually the work of a scary third party. Peter Keyes's (Gary Busey) federal team shields the crime scene even for the LAPD, but after forensics proves it must be an alien, who keeps making victims, the chase brings them all together. Written by KGF Vissers

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

alien | city | gang | chase | blood | See All (397) »

Taglines:

Silent. Invisible. Invincible. He's in town with a few days to kill. See more »

Genres:

Action | Horror | Sci-Fi

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence and language, and for sensuality and drug content | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

How is it nobody noticed the Predator's spacecraft land in the middle of L.A. Two theories have been offered. (1) She uses an invisibility cloak and also has a silent run. This is supported in the first AvP film when Lex sees the ship decloak not 20 yards from her while she was standing in the open, and she didn't even notice it. (2) The Predators on the ship had all taken turns hunting in the city which may have taken decades. So they landed before the technology to detect her was invented and the area wasn't developed yet or the population was minimal at the time so nobody saw her, which might explain how the ship wound up being located in a tunnel beneath a building. However, part of this theory is extremely unlikely, as the types of killings done by the Predator were unheard of in Los Angeles at the time. Had there been repeated visits to the area at more or less regular intervals, the LAPD, sheriff's office, California state police and the FBI would have records of similar cases. Assuming that the ship's cloak and silent run are sufficient to avoid visual detection by pedestrians and bystanders, this does not rule out that the ship was detected by radar. This would certainly explain why Keyes and his team are very quick to intervene during the gang war at the beginning, forbidding Harrigan and his team to enter the building. As Keyes explains, they have quite some knowledge of the Predator species and their modus operandi, so when they detect unidentified flying objects that are not visually confirmed, they probably know what they are dealing with. See more »

Goofs

When the Jamaican stabs the hanging Colombian to remove his heart you can clearly see the blade retracting into the handle. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Reporter: As drought-ridden Los Angeles swelters in agonizing heat, drug lords wage bloody warfare in the streets. Yet another open conflict... Oh, fuck this, get me out of here!
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Crazy Credits

When the Elder Predator throws Harrigan the flintlock pistol he says "Take it". Harrigan reads the inscription "1715" ... the subtitles on the DVD regard the Predator as 'mumbles incoherently' but the Predator, being from a society based on trophies and the hunt, just witnessed Harrigan make a kill and not take a trophy. He is calling Harrigan a "heathen" See more »

Alternate Versions

The German VHS rental release was cut by 1,5 minutes to secure a "Not under 18" rating. The uncut version was released on DVD with a SPIO/JK approval, later also on Blu-ray. In 2010, due to the release of Predators, Fox released a heavily cut version (missing ca. 9 minutes of footage) on DVD, rated "Not under 16". In 2014, the film was removed from the index for youth endangering media and the uncut version was rated "Not under 18" by the FSK. See more »

Connections

Referenced in The Cinema Snob: Leprechaun 2 (2019) See more »

Soundtracks

YOUNG GIFTED AND BLACK
Written by Papa Dee and Karl "Utopia" McFaul
Produced by Bankrash and Papa Dee
Performed by Papa Dee
Courtesy of Telegram Records AB & BMG Music International
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User Reviews

 
I LOVE this movie!!!
2 February 2002 | by LebowskiT1000See all my reviews

I just watched this movie again tonight for the first time in a long time, and I have to say that this movie is GREAT!!! I know I'm going to get hurt for saying this, but I actually think I like Predator 2 just as much, if not more than the original Predator. I'm not sure, but I kind of think that I saw Predator 2 first, which may be the reason, but I think the true reasons are the following:

I loved that the Predator has more weapons, and the action sequences were more interesting.

In this film they do a much better job developing and explaining the Predator. This isn't just a crazy beast that kills things left and right. This is an intelligent being that is looking for a good hunt. I love that the Predator doesn't attack anyone that he doesn't consider a threat or isn't a challenge. I LOVE that he has compassion and respect for an expectant mother.

I have to say there are only 2 or 3 little things that I didn't like about the movie, but they aren't anything I can't deal with. I wasn't too fond of the Predator being struck by lightning...sure, it looks cool, but don't you think that would hurt him pretty bad?

All in all, I genuinely LOVED this movie! I don't know what is is about this movie that just doesn't sit well with a lot of the reviewers on this site, but I loved it. I REALLY hope that they go ahead with a 3rd installment, but it won't be the same without Kevin Peter Hall (R.I.P.). Thanks for reading.

-Cortex


219 of 313 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? | Report this
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Frequently Asked Questions

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 November 1990 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Predator 2 See more »

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Box Office

Budget:

$35,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,784,943, 25 November 1990

Gross USA:

$30,669,413

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$57,120,318
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

| (FSK 18 version) (heavily cut) (TV) (FSK 18) | (vcd)

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)| Dolby SR (as Dolby Stereo SR) (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
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