Predator (franchise)

The Predator franchise is a science fiction action franchise, consisting primarily of a series of films focusing on the Yautja, commonly referred to simply as "the Predator", an extraterrestrial creature that hunts and kills other dangerous lifeforms, including humans, for sport and honor. Unlike the Alien franchise, which features a continuous story arc, the Predator films are more non-linear, instead focusing on individual encounters with the Predators spread across multiple timeframes. Produced by 20th Century Studios, the franchise started with the 1987 feature film Predator, continued with three sequels, Predator 2 (1990), Predators (2010) and The Predator (2018), and a prequel Prey (2022). As well as these feature films, the franchise also includes numerous "expanded universe" comic books, novels and video games.

Related to the Predator franchise is the Alien vs. Predator franchise, including the feature films Alien vs. Predator (2004) and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007), which pits the titular Predators against the Aliens from the Alien franchise.

Films[]

Predator (1987)[]

Main article: Predator (film)

A team of elite mercenaries is dispatched to Guatemala to eliminate a guerrilla force in the area. However, once their mission is complete they find themselves being hunted by an extraterrestrial lifeform that kills for sport. Gradually the team is slaughtered one by one, until only their leader Dutch remains for one final showdown with the creature.

Predator 2 (1990)[]

Main article: Predator 2

Ten years after events in Guatemala, a new Predator arrives in Los Angeles to hunt the city's armed inhabitants. Its trail of slaughter brings it into conflict with a veteran cop and his team investigating the gangs, as well as a secret government taskforce attempting to capture the alien alive for study.

Predators (2010)[]

Main article: Predators (film)

A group of hardened killers and criminals find themselves transported across space to an alien planet where they are hunted by a new breed of Predators. They discover these Predators have been using the planet for centuries as a ground for hunting dangerous game from across the universe, and must find a way to escape before they all fall victim to the alien creatures.

The Predator (2018)[]

Main article: The Predator (film)

A US Army Ranger and a group of mentally unstable former soldiers find themselves caught in a battle between a Fugitive Predator and the genetically-modified Predator assassin sent to eliminate it, as well as the government taskforce seeking to capture the alien hunters' technology.

Prey (2022)[]

Main article: Prey (film)

Set in the Comanche Nation 300 years ago, Prey is the story of a young woman, Naru, a fierce and highly skilled warrior. She has been raised in the shadow of some of the most legendary hunters who roam the Great Plains, so when danger threatens her camp, she sets out to protect her people. The prey she stalks, and ultimately confronts, turns out to be a highly evolved alien predator with a technically advance arsenal, resulting in a vicious and terrifying showdown between the two adversaries.

Comic Books[]

Main article: Predator (comics line)

Dark Horse Comics[]

Main article: Predator (Dark Horse Comics)

The vast majority of the comic books based on the Predator franchise have been published by Dark Horse Comics. These include adaptations of two of the three Predator films, as well as a large number of original stories set in the Predator universe.

Film adaptations[]

Original stories[]

Marvel Comics[]

Main article: Predator (Marvel Comics)

In 2019, the Walt Disney Company purchased the film studio 20th Century Fox, and with it the rights to the Alien, Predator and Alien vs. Predator franchises. As a result of the merger, the license to produce Predator comics moved to Disney-owned Marvel Comics, having previously resided with Dark Horse Comics for 30 years.

Original stories[]

Non-Dark Horse/Marvel comic books[]

While Dark Horse are by far and away the most prevalent publisher of Predator comics, a small number of officially licensed comic books based on the franchise have also been released by other publishers. These are not considered a part of Dark Horse' continuity, and have never been collected together with Dark Horse stories.