--- title: "Predator: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/predator/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/predator" critics_score: 65 critics_reviews: 7 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Predator (1987): what the critics said Critics' score 65 from 7 reviews: 4 positive, 1 mixed, 2 negative. Most critics lean towards Predator as an effective action thriller, with praise clustering around John McTiernan’s tense direction, the jungle setting and the special effects. Schwarzenegger’s physical presence is another asset, particularly when the film makes its imposing hero seem vulnerable. Favourable reviews value the stripped-down storytelling and brisk action rather than looking for much characterisation. The photography and oppressive atmosphere also earn some respect from critics who find little else to admire. The spread is wide, however, and the main disagreement concerns whether the craft compensates for the thin script. Some reviews find the effects sustain tension; others see them replacing suspense. The New York Times finds the action alternately grisly and dull, preferring the jungle habitat to what happens in it. The Los Angeles Times is harsher about the empty, derivative writing, while allowing limited praise for McTiernan’s visual flair and the cinematography. ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Rating 3.5/4. 12 June 1987. Ebert finds the film an effective, high-energy action picture that begins like Rambo and ends like Alien. He singles out the beautiful and convincing jungle locations in Mexico for particular praise. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/predator-1987) ## Radio Times — John Ferguson Rating 4/5. This is one of Schwarzenegger's most efficient movies, a stripped-down thriller that sacrifices characterisation for exhilarating action and special effects. McTiernan keeps the tension at snapping point with the cloaking device gimmick. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-yo5868/predator/) ## Variety — Variety Staff Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 31 December 1986. The review calls it a slightly above-average actioner that compensates for a tissue-thin plot with grisly death sequences and impressive special effects. It notes that director John McTiernan relies too much on special effects thermal vision photography. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1986/film/reviews/predator-1200427148/) ## The New York Times — Janet Maslin Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 12 June 1987. Maslin describes the film as alternately grisly and dull with few surprises, noting that it starts as a commando mission before turning into a monster movie. She singles out the interesting jungle habitat over the action itself. [Read the review](https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E02E2DD153BF931A25755C0A961948260) ## Los Angeles Times — Michael Wilmington Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 12 June 1987. Wilmington calls the film an ominous high-tech Stone Age mixture with an empty, feeble, and derivative script. He singles out the visual flair of director John McTiernan and the cinematography for limited praise amid the vacuity. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-06-12-ca-4018-story.html) ## Empire — Chris Hewitt 1 January 2000. The critic finds Predator more than a dumb 80s actioner and a sci-fi/action classic thanks to McTiernan's assured, tense direction. The Predator creature and Schwarzenegger's heroic performance at his physical peak are singled out as memorable highlights. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/predator-review/) ## Sight and Sound — Adam Barker 9 November 2017. The film fuses outer-space horror with Vietnam-war allegory and plays on Schwarzenegger's star image by casting him as the vulnerable human against the alien. Special effects substitute for suspense, making the final conflict predictable. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/predator-archive-review-arnold-schwarzenegger-finds-his-human-side) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Duane Byrge 12 June 1987. The critic finds the film a well-executed entry in the behind-enemy-lines buddy movie genre, with strong camaraderie among the team and Schwarzenegger's commanding presence. Direction, kinetic photography by Donald McAlpine, and technical credits including the percussive score are singled out as assets. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/predator-review-1987-movie-1009677/) ## Time Out — NF 25 September 2014. Arnie's platoon is picked off by an invisible alien adversary in a fight to the death. The film has the look of an expensive production but the feel of a B movie, delivering undemanding monster mayhem. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/predator) ## Eye for Film — Gator MacReady Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 29 June 2002. The critic calls it one of Arnie's best and a landmark action movie. McTiernan creates an oppressive atmosphere and turns the final act into a gothic landscape highlighting primitive brutality over advanced weapons. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/predator-film-review-by-gator-macready) ## Collider — Rae Torres Rating B+. 29 September 2022. The critic views the film as an enjoyable 80s action classic centered on macho men battling an invisible alien hunter, despite its cheesy dialogue and tropes. They single out its fast pace, strong special effects for the era, and effective man-versus-monster survival theme for praise. [Read the review](https://collider.com/predator-review-arnold-schwarzenegger-carl-weathers/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/predator.md