Sci-Fi Blockbuster Epic Nearly Killed A Franchise, Stream Right Now Without Netflix
The 2018 sci-fi action film The Predator is streaming on various platforms. The movie, directed by Shane Black from a script he co-wrote with Fred Dekker, is the fourth installment in the Predator film series and the sixth overall. It stars Boyd Holbrook, Trevante Rhodes, Jacob Tremblay, Keegan-Michael Key, Olivia Munn, Thomas Jane, Alfie Allen, and Sterling K. Brown.
Fresh Meat In The Predator
The Predator follows a group of military veterans suffering from PTSD and a scientist who team up to fight off a pair of Predators to save mankind. The story begins when a Predator ship crash-lands on Earth during a U.S. Army Ranger mission. Sniper Quinn McKenna (Boyd Holbrook) and his team confront and manage to incapacitate the creature.
Seeking to prove the existence of extraterrestrial life, Quinn mails parts of the Predator’s armor to himself. However, government agent Will Traeger (Sterling K. Brown) captures him and keeps the creature for experimentation. Evolutionary biologist Casey Bracket (Olivia Munn) studies the Predator and discovers human DNA in its genetic makeup.
New Predators And Even Hounds
The Predator eventually managed to escape. Eventually, Quinn discovers that his estranged wife, Emily (Yvonne Strahovski), received the mailed Predator armor. When he asks his former spouse to return the alien tech, they realize that their autistic son Rory (Jacob Tremblay) wore the armor to go trick-or-treating, hoping it would disguise him from bullies.As the story unfolds, the group faces Predator Hounds and a more powerful Predator. They also discover that the Predators seek to enhance themselves with human DNA. The final scenes take place at the crashed alien ship, where battles are fought while heartbreaking sacrifices and dangerous revelations are made.
Blockbuster Status Despite Its Terrible Reviews
The Predator made its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2018. Despite receiving mixed to negative reviews from critics and audiences, the film managed to rake in over $160 million at the global box office. Accompanying the home media release in December 2018 was a short film called The Predator Holiday Special.
The Predator is notable for a production history plagued by controversy. The film faced major backlash due to the casting of Steven Wilder Striegel, who happened to be a registered sex offender in a minor role. Shane Black apologized for the decision, and the scenes involving Striegel were subsequently removed from the final cut.
The Franchise
Despite its problems, The Predator maintained the franchise’s tradition of showcasing the deadly extraterrestrial hunters in action-packed scenarios. The filmmakers incorporated practical effects for the alien creature whenever possible, aiming to maintain its unique, iconic look while using CGI for more complex movements.
The Predator is part of a larger franchise that began with the 1987 film Predator, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. The series includes various films, comics, novels, and video games. The original film is considered a classic in the action genre, and subsequent entries, including Predator 2, Predators, and the two Alien vs. Predator films, have expanded the lore of the extraterrestrial hunters.
Where To Stream The Predator
Despite the varied success of individual entries, the allure of the iconic Predator character continues to keep audiences entertained. The Predator is available to stream on Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and on TubiTV.
