Common Sense Media Review
By Charles Cassady Jr.
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Arnold vs. alien action is violent, ultra macho.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Predator
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 26 parent reviews
Parents say this film is a classic for older audiences, particularly fans of action and sci-fi, with strong performances, especially by the lead actor. However, many reviewers caution about its intense violence, gory scenes, and explicit language, recommending that it may be suitable for mature teens aged 14 and up, yet not advisable for younger viewers due to its disturbing content.
- intense violence
- explicit language
- suitable for teens
- classic action film
- strong performances
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 162 kid reviews
What's the Story?
Set in the jungles of Latin America, PREDATOR follows a team of super commandos on a U.S. military rescue mission to liberate hostages taken by guerillas. Only after eliminating the guerilla headquarters do the swaggering heroes, led by Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger), find out that their target was really a Soviet spy-invasion camp that the Pentagon wanted destroyed. Meanwhile, an alien spaceship lands nearby, and its deadly occupant observes the bloodshed. Now it's after the commandos, so Dutch and his squad must figure out how to overcome its invisibility and superior death-ray firepower before they become its next victims.
Is It Any Good?
This violent, militaristic, hyper-macho movie makes a spectacle of biceps, bombs, and guns. Predator has plenty of catchphrases tossed out by bigger-than-life actors (e.g., Jesse Ventura's oft-quoted line "I ain't got time to bleed!" and Schwarzenegger's iconic "get to the chopper!"). If you can appreciate the movie's cartoonish aspects—for example, the film's savagely slaughtered characters reappear for the end credits, their cast members taking a bow and smiling—you'll likely be entertained.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the appeal of scary movies like Predator. Why is it fun to watch something that puts you on the edge of your seat? How do the scares in Predator compare to those in a typical slasher movie? Which do you find scarier? Why?
How does the time period in which a movie is made affect it? What political and historical events does this movie reference? If you don't know, how could you find out?
What makes someone a hero? Who is the hero of this movie, and how do they show up for others around them?
Movie Details
- In theaters : May 27, 1987
- On DVD or streaming : December 26, 2000
- Cast : Arnold Schwarzenegger , Bill Duke , Carl Weathers
- Director : John McTiernan
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : Aliens , Fantasy ( Monsters )
- Run time : 107 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Awards : Academy Award - Other Category Nominee , NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated : October 14, 2025
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