Year: 1987
Runtime: 107 min
Language: English
Director: John McTiernan
Budget: $15M
In the dense jungles of Guatemala, a team of elite mercenaries led by Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger) finds themselves hunted by a technologically advanced and lethal extraterrestrial. This skilled predator stalks them through the jungle, systematically eliminating them one by one. As the team realizes they are not fighting a conventional enemy, a desperate battle for survival ensues, testing their courage and pushing them to their limits.
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Read the complete plot breakdown of Predator (1987), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
Dutch, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, leads a highly skilled commando team on a daring mission deep within a Latin American country named Valverde. Upon arrival, they meet an officer, General Phillips, along with a CIA operative named Dillon. Dillon informs Dutch about a critical situation involving a high-ranking cabinet minister who has mysteriously disappeared after a helicopter crash, likely at the hands of ruthless rebel guerrillas lurking in the dense jungle. With their mission set, Dutch and his team are tasked with crossing hostile territory to rescue the man before it’s too late.
As they are dropped into the unforgiving jungle landscape by helicopter, the team embarks on a perilous hike towards the rebel camp. Their journey takes a grim turn when they stumble upon the wreckage of the downed helicopter. The team’s tracker, Billy, portrayed by Sonny Landham, utilizes his skills to deduce that the rebels have taken the minister. However, he senses an ominous feeling when he discovers the bodies of three men gruesomely displayed as a warning; one of them turns out to be Jim Hopper, a Green Beret, which leaves the team questioning the reality of their mission. When confronted, Dillon appears oblivious to the existence of another team, further complicating their already precarious situation.
Undeterred, they advance toward the enemy stronghold undetected and launch a full-frontal assault, obliterating the camp and its inhabitants. However, the expected rescue does not materialize, as Dutch finds only a terrified woman named Anna, played by Elpidia Carrillo. The horrifying truth dawns on Dutch: they were mere pawns in a larger scheme orchestrated by Dillon to eliminate the rebels. As they prepare to leave, the team becomes aware of a sinister force tracking them silently through the trees, utilizing its ability to blend into the environment by detecting their body heat.
In a chilling turn of events, Anna attempts to flee but is followed by Hawkins, who ultimately meets a deadly fate at the hands of a monstrous, predatory figure emerging from the shadows. Left shaken, Anna can only articulate her fear by claiming, “the jungle came alive and took him.” As the stakes skyrocket, the formidable Blaine, characterized by [Jesse Ventura], is ambushed and killed, leaving Mac, portrayed by Bill Duke, frantically searching for answers alongside the rest of the team.
The tension continues to build as the team struggles against an unseen enemy, whose presence becomes more pronounced as they try to regroup. As night descends, their fear intensifies, culminating in a desperate attempt to catch their foe using a trap designed from jungle materials. Anna shares tales of a legendary demon from her village that killed men with impunity, sowing further dread among the group.
The trap is ultimately triggered, albeit to catastrophic effect, injuring one of their own, Pancho. When Dillon goes in pursuit of Mac, they devise a plan to confront the unseen adversary, but tragedy ensues as Mac falls victim to the creature’s advanced weaponry. Despite the escalating chaos, Dutch finds himself in a race against time, navigating treacherous terrain while clinging to the hope of regrouping with any surviving members.
As the team maneuvers across a precarious tree trunk bridge, they encounter further losses. With fear running rampant, Dutch, Anna, and Pancho barely escape the jungle’s wrath, only to be hunted relentlessly by the enigmatic predator. Dutch’s tactical mind kicks into gear as he prepares elaborate traps and weapons in an effort to turn the tables on his formidable enemy.
After igniting a bonfire to draw the alien entity into a confrontation, Dutch engages in a brutal struggle, showcasing remarkable resilience and tenacity. As the battle reaches its apex, Dutch manages to outthink the creature, ultimately leading to a climactic moment where he confronts the advanced humanoid predator, both beautifully terrifying and eerily intelligent. After a grueling test of wills and skills, an explosive finale ensues, attracting the attention of General Phillips and Anna as they witness the fallout from their vantage point.
Ultimately, Dutch emerges from the harrowing ordeal physically battered yet alive, forever changed by the grim reality of what he faced and the unrelenting might of nature intertwined with technology.
Last Updated: January 18, 2025 at 14:36
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Stories where a dangerous environment becomes an inescapable hunting ground.If you liked the intense jungle setting and desperate survival fight in Predator, explore more movies like it. This thread features similar stories where elite teams or individuals are hunted in remote, dangerous environments, blending action, horror, and a fight against nature itself.
The narrative typically follows a group or individual who enters a primal environment confident in their abilities, only to have their technology and tactics rendered useless. The story becomes a linear, desperate struggle for survival against an unseen or overwhelming force, stripping away civilization and reducing the conflict to its most basic form.
Movies are grouped here for their shared setting-as-antagonist theme, high-stakes cat-and-mouse tension, and the atmospheric dread created by an inescapable natural environment. They deliver a consistent vibe of claustrophobic action and primal fear.
When the hunters become the hunted by a technologically superior foe.Fans of Predator who enjoyed the theme of an elite military team being systematically hunted will find similar movies here. These stories explore the suspense and action of a group's desperate fight for survival against a far more powerful and mysterious adversary.
The narrative pattern involves a confident group facing a threat that dismantles their unit piece by piece. It's a story of escalating dread and realization of inferiority, leading to a final, often solo, confrontation where wit and grit must overcome advanced technology or pure power. The ending is frequently bittersweet, with survival coming at a great cost.
These movies are united by the core theme of role reversal—hunters becoming hunted—and the intense, methodical pacing of a deadly game. They share a heavy emotional weight from the loss of team members and a tense, anxious mood driven by a superior, stalking antagonist.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Predator in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Predator is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of Predator with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Predator. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Predator that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Predator: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
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