The Predator franchise is known for some familiar and classic moments, and fans could always do with a refresher over these details. These include the Predators' weapons and culture, the heroic humans who face these creatures, and some famous lines of dialogue as well.
The series now consists of 6 entries, counting the two Alien vs. Predator films. For clarity, the films are 1987's Predator, 1990's Predator 2, 2004's AVP: Alien vs. Predator, 2007's AVP: Requiem, 2010's Predators, and 2018's The Predator. Each film contributes to the legacy of this character, and some trends have become staples throughout the series.
Updated on August 4th, 2022 by Stuart Kilmartin: The Predator franchise has had an enduring legacy in the history of sci-fi/action cinema since the original Predator debuted in 1987. Since then, there have been four Predator solo movies, as well as two Alien vs Predator movies. The franchise returns this August 5th with Prey arriving on Hulu (or Disney+ depending on territory). While each new entry attempts to add to the Predator lore in different ways, there are tropes and clichés that appear again and again across all Predator movies.
"Get to the Chopper" - 3 Movies
Arnold Schwarzenegger's most famous line in his career is "I'll be back" in Terminator, but "Get to the chopper!" in the first Predator is up there. The line didn't appear again until AVP: Requiem, where Dallas says it to the others as they outrun the Predalien. The line appears in The Predator, albeit with a bit of a twist, as it's motorcycles and "get to the choppers."
Every classic series needs a few memorable quotes. This line took on popularity due to Arnold's delivery of it, but it's a popular line nonetheless. It's not a line that fits organically into every movie, but it has worked its way into half of them.
Only One Human Survivor - 3 Movies
In the tradition of many horror movies, half the Predator movies only have one survivor. Dutch is the sole survivor in the first film, after losing his entire team. Anna survives too, but she shows up for a brief time and then escapes (on the previously mentioned chopper). Mike Harrigan is the only survivor in Predator 2, and Lex is the only one to make it in AVP.
Surviving a Predator is a very difficult thing to do, and none of the other movies have that many survivors either. The respective numbers of survivors in the other films are 4 in AVPR, 2 in Predators, and 3 in The Predator.
"One Ugly Mother" - 3 Movies
Another popular line in the first film is "You're one ugly motherf***er." Dutch says this to the Predator after it removes its mask. This line was repeated by Harrigan in the second film, although the Predator finishes the line for him. Lex doesn't say it to a Predator in AVP, but rather to a Xenomorph that's attacking the Predator who had become her ally.
The significance of the line is that while the Predator may be dangerous, it doesn't look physically frightening until viewers see its face. But even then, characters reacting to the ugliness wins out over being scared. It's a good reminder to even casual fans that under that mask, there's a freaky-looking alien.
The Predator Respects A Human Warrior - 4 Movies
The Predators are fierce warriors who deeply value the hunt, but they're not above respecting another warrior when they see one. At the end of Predator 2, Harrigan kills the Predator on its ship with one of its own weapons. Suddenly, multiple Predators decloak around him. It appears Harrigan will have to make a last stand, but then one of the Predators tosses him an old-fashioned pistol. It tells him to "take it," and they leave with the body of their fellow warrior. This moment added a lot to the Predator mythos, as it showed their respect for other warriors, and the pistol showed they'd been doing this for a long time. The upcoming Prey will be the 5th Predator film and the 7th film featuring Predators overall, and it's set farther in the past, depicting more of these actions.
After killing a Xenomorph in AVP, Lex finds the Predator named Scar joining with her and even giving her a spear made from the Xenomorph's tail. Scar burns a symbol on his cheek with Xenomorph blood, and when other Predators see that symbol, they gift her one of their weapons. In Predators, Royce frees a chained Predator to fight the Berserker, and the Predator agrees to help him get to Earth in return. Finally, The Predator shows in-fighting among the species, and one Predator gives the humans a Predator Killer suit to fight future Predators.
Humans Sacrificing Themselves - 5 Movies
There are some absolute heroes in the Predator franchise and epic final boss battles to boot. Billy stands on a log over a chasm to face down the Predator in the first film, resulting in his death and giving the others a chance to get away. Jerry Lambert makes a similar stand in a subway in Predator 2. In Alien vs. Predator, Weyland sets Scar on fire so Lex and Sebastian can escape, which results in Scar stabbing Weyland.
Hanzo discovers a sword and faces down a Predator in Predators, and both of them fatally wound each other. And Nebraska lets himself fall into the Predator ship's turbine in The Predator, crashing it so McKenna can save his son. This shows what it can take to beat a Predator. In order for there to be any survivors at all, some of the humans have to put themselves in between the Predator and their friends.
Stealthy Sneaking - 6 Movies
All six movies feature the Predators employing their stealth camouflage, which renders them all but invisible. It lets them blend into their surroundings, whether it be the jungle, the city, or an Antarctic pyramid.
This is one of the reasons the Predators are such dangerous foes. It isn't a foolproof method though. If a human is eagle-eyed, they can still spot the Predator in its camouflage, as they leave a shimmering outline of themselves. Mac notably spots the Predator in a tree in the first film and stares at it while showing Dillon.
Array Of Weapons - 6 Movies
The Predators are always stocked with plenty of weapons, allowing them to make some truly horrific and bloody kills. Many of the weapons are the same throughout the series, but some new ones do occasionally show up. The main weapons consist of wrist blades, a net gun, a shoulder cannon, a spear-like combi stick, a throwing disc, and a self-destructing bomb.
The AVP movies introduced the Predator shuriken as a weapon. While fans argued over whether those two movies were canon or not, The Predator put that to rest by bringing the shurikens back and showing Lex's Xenomorph tail spear in a glass case.
Trophies - 6 Movies
Predators collect trophies from their kills. This includes flaying bodies, taking skulls, and claiming weapons. This is expanded in the Predator sequels. The trophy chamber in Predator 2 shows the extent of one Predator's collection, which famously included a Xenomorph skull (the first indication that Alien and Predator took place in the same universe).
Predators are also known to wear their trophies. The Predator that gives Harrigan the pistol in Predator 2 has it on him when he does so. The Berserker in Predators wears a piece of a Xenomorph jaw on his helmet.
The Main Predator Is Killed - 6 Movies
The Predators may be skilled hunters and dangerous warriors, but no "lead" Predator has ever made it out of a movie alive. The first two films both contain a single Predator, and they're killed by Dutch and Harrigan respectively. Of the three Predators in AVP, two are killed early on by a Xenomorph, and Scar is killed at the end by the Alien Queen.
The Predator named Wolf is wounded and dying along with the Predalien in AVPR when a nuclear strike is enacted on the city. The Berserker and its companions are all killed in Predators before a new hunt begins. And The Predator has the Upgrade Predator being killed by a team effort at the end. Obviously, many Predators survive their hunts, as shown by their trophies. But it's clearly a dangerous life they live.
Predator Takes Its Mask Off - 6 Movies
As mentioned earlier, the Predators are hiding hideous faces under their masks. And the moment always comes (sometimes more than once) where the Predator takes its mask off. Sometimes a Predator does it itself while facing down a foe, or it has its mask removed by someone else.
This moment is always iconic in the films, as it not only allows the Predators to show their true faces, but it makes the humans react to their faces. It's also a moment of showing off some impressive make-up effects, created by legendary special effects artist Stan Winston.