Predators (2010)

Predators is a 2010 science fiction action film directed by Nimród Antal and produced by Robert Rodriguez. It serves as a direct sequel to the first two Predator films and does not mention the events of Alien vs. Predator (film) and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem.

The film follows a group of elite killers who are abducted and dropped onto an alien game reserve planet where they are hunted by a new breed of Predators. Predators reintroduces the franchise’s core survival themes while expanding the lore with multiple Yautja clans and new technologies.

Release Information

Release Date: July 9, 2010 (USA)
Director: Nimród Antal
Producer: Robert Rodriguez
Screenplay: Alex Litvak, Michael Finch
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Runtime: 107 minutes
Rating: R
Budget: $40 million
Box Office: $127 million (worldwide)

Synopsis

A group of strangers awaken while parachuting into a dense alien jungle. Each of them is a trained killer: soldiers, mercenaries, convicts, and assassins. They quickly discover that they are not on Earth — and that they have been chosen as prey for an alien hunting party.

As the group struggles to survive, they encounter various traps, alien creatures, and eventually the Predators themselves — including a deadly new breed called the Super Predators. One lone survivor, Noland, has managed to live among the hunters for years and reveals the truth about the planet and its purpose.

The group is gradually picked off as they attempt to escape. In the end, only a few survive the hunt, having outwitted the Predators and learning the hard truth about their captors' methods.

Main Cast

Adrien Brody as Royce
Alice Braga as Isabelle
Topher Grace as Edwin
Laurence Fishburne as Noland
Walton Goggins as Stans
Danny Trejo as Cuchillo
Oleg Taktarov as Nikolai
Mahershala Ali as Mombasa
Louis Ozawa Changchien as Hanzo
Brian Steele and Carey Jones as Predators

Characters

Royce: A hardened ex-mercenary and the film’s main protagonist. Reluctant to be a hero, but a skilled tactician and survivor.
Isabelle: An Israeli Defense Forces sniper and one of the only group members with previous Predator knowledge.
Edwin: A seemingly harmless doctor with a dark secret.
Noland: A former U.S. soldier who has survived alone on the planet for years by scavenging and hiding from the Predators.
Super Predators: A genetically enhanced, larger and more aggressive Yautja clan that rivals the "classic" Predators.

Predators and Technology

Predators introduces two distinct Yautja types:

Classic Predator: A more traditional hunter resembling the original Jungle Hunter, captured and tied up by the Super Predators.
Super Predators: Larger, more brutal hunters who use bloodhounds, advanced cloaking, and enhanced weaponry.

The Super Predators include:

Tracker Predator – controls alien hounds
Falconer Predator – uses a robotic aerial drone
Berserker Predator – the clan leader, most violent

Themes

The Hunted Become Hunters: The abducted humans turn the tables, outwitting and killing the alien hunters.
Nature of Violence and Morality: Each character represents a killer from a different walk of life, examining how morality functions under pressure.
Evolution of the Predator Species: The Super Predators are shown as a more savage offshoot, contrasting with the older, honorable hunters.
Trust and Survival: Tension grows as the group realizes not all members are who they seem — especially Edwin.

Production

Produced by Robert Rodriguez’s Troublemaker Studios, Predators was filmed in Hawaii and Texas. Rodriguez had pitched the concept as early as 1994. The film pays homage to the original Predator while expanding its mythology.

Creature effects were handled by KNB EFX Group, and practical suits were used for most Predator scenes. Composer John Debney reworked Alan Silvestri’s original Predator score, preserving many of its iconic motifs.

Reception

Predators received generally positive reviews, with praise for its return to the franchise’s roots and tense atmosphere. It was considered a solid revival of the series after the mixed reception of the AVP films.

Rotten Tomatoes: 65%
Metacritic: 51/100
CinemaScore: C+

The film was a modest box office success and left the door open for sequels or spin-offs.

Legacy

Predators helped reinvigorate interest in the franchise, introducing:

A new Predator subspecies
The concept of a dedicated alien hunting planet
A more cerebral, survivalist tone
Deeper exploration of Predator culture and internal rivalries

Elements from this film were referenced in later entries like The Predator (2018) and in various comics and games.

External Links

Predators (film)

Contents