Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Film

Predator

Predator is a 1987 American science fiction action horror film directed by John McTiernan and written by Jim and John Thomas.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Predator is a 1987 sci-fi action horror film that launched a franchise. It follows a commando team hunted by an alien in the jungle.

What it is

Predator is a 1987 film about a special forces team that encounters an alien hunter during a mission in Central America. The story combines military action, survival horror, and science fiction as the team is stalked one by one.

Why it matters

The film launched the Predator franchise, which includes multiple sequels and spin-offs such as Predator 2, Predators, The Predator, Prey, and upcoming films. The franchise centres on the recurring alien hunters and different human encounters.

Key details

Kevin Peter Hall portrayed the Predator in the 1987 film. The franchise also overlaps with the Alien franchise through crossover films and shared universe material.

In short

  • Predator follows a paramilitary team hunted by an advanced alien.
  • The film introduced the Predator, a long-running franchise centrepiece.
  • Kevin Peter Hall played the Predator in the original film.
  • The franchise includes sequels and crossovers with Alien.
Canadian angle

The Predator films have been widely available in Canada through theatrical release, home video, and rotating streaming catalogues, but the sources provided do not confirm a specific current Canadian distributor or platform.

Quick questions

What is Predator about?
Predator is about a paramilitary rescue team in a Central American jungle that becomes the target of an alien hunter with advanced technology and stealth abilities.
Predator movies in order?
The film series includes Predator (1987), Predator 2 (1990), Predators (2010), The Predator (2018), Prey (2022), Predator: Killer of Killers (2025), and Predator: Badlands (2025).
Who played the Predator?
In Predator (1987), the Predator was performed by Kevin Peter Hall.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predator_(film)
    Supports: 1987 release year, director, writers, cast, and franchise films spawned by the original movie.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predator_(franchise)
    Supports: Franchise overview, recurring premise, and Alien-related crossover context.
  3. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/predator-1987
    Supports: Basic plot description and Kevin Peter Hall as the performer in the Predator costume.
  4. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/predator
    Supports: Plot synopsis of the 1987 film.
  5. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_predator
    Supports: 2018 film synopsis and franchise context.
  6. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093773/
    Supports: Basic synopsis of Predator (1987).
  7. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3829266/
    Supports: Basic synopsis of The Predator (2018).
  8. Digital Spy — https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a865913/predator-movies-timeline-explained-alien/
    Supports: Timeline context for Predator franchise entries.