8 Movie Genres The Predator Could Invade Next (& How It Would Work)

Summary

• Western genre would be perfect for a Predator invasion, with isolated settings and weapons in place.
• A Predator horror movie could lean into the series’ roots and shake up the genre by facing common horror antagonists.
• The found footage genre could intensify a Predator movie, creating chilling scenes with innovative camerawork.

The Predator series is inherently a franchise that thrives off of invading other genres, with several tantalizing options ripe for invasion by the infamous warrior race. Every Predator movie thus far has taken place in a unique subgenre all its own, simply airdropping one of the fearsome Yautja aliens into a new setting or time period. With the announcement of the upcoming Predator movie Badlands, which will take place in a post-apocalyptic future, it’s fascinating to imagine what other suitable genres the Predators could cross over into.

The very first Predator was something of a split-genre film itself, seeming like a stock-standard war movie until the Predator’s initial attack deep into the first act. Thus far, nearly every mainline Predator movie shows off a unique world, from the neo-future crime dystopia of Predator 2 to the period drama of pre-Colombus America in Prey. The Predator species is even willing to invade different franchises altogether, the most notable being the Alien Vs Predator movies. Following Predator: Badlands, the series could go in plenty of fun new directions in terms of where the Predators will seek their prey next.

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The
Predator
movies have received several accolades, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects and multiple Saturn Awards, particularly for the original 1987 film.

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8 Western

One of the most obvious choices for a Predator crossover

Custom Image by Yailin Chacon.

If there’s one genre that quickly comes to mind when it comes to determining the Predator’s next landing zone, it’s easily a dramatic Western. The setting is simply perfect for an alien invasion by the brutal species, from the desolate desert landscapes typical in the genre to the well-armed lawbringers who prowl its films. The best Westerns all contain isolated settings and dead-eyed gunslingers, all of which would make for the perfect playground for a given Predator.

The closest thing to this concept being done before is the seldom-remembered Cowboys vs Aliens, which saw six-shooter-wielding cattlemen facing off against bulky extraterrestrial brutes with advanced technology. A Western Predator movie could do the concept better with a more iconic and memorable alien antagonist, putting its archaic, yet futuristic weaponry against the firearms of the late 1800s. The plot could possibly follow bounty hunter searching for an outlaw, only to find himself in the crosshairs of a Yautja warrior, creating a three-way-chain of predators and prey.

7 Horror

Predator could lean in harder to its horror aspect

Arguably, every Predator movie is already a horror movie to some degree, featuring plenty of gore and scares to keep audiences on their toes. However, realistically the Predator movies function more as an R-rated action series than anything else, with the protagonists typically able to fight back against the titular villains to some degree. A Predator movie could lean further into the series’ horror roots than ever before with the right tone and setting, causing a complete genre shift in the process.

It would be very interesting to see a Predator go up against a more common horror movie antagonist, such as a human slasher

It would be very interesting to see a Predator go up against a more common horror movie antagonist, such as a human slasher in the same vein as Michael Meyers or Jason Voorhees. Perhaps the two killers could find themselves competing for prey, going up against one another in a dramatic open conflict that leaves the protagonists desperate to survive. Admittedly, this would work best if the Predator franchise could cross over with a more traditional slasher film series, but the prospect of that happening is sadly unlikely.

6 Found Footage

Goes hand-in-hand with horror

The monster in Cloverfield (2008).

In addition to horror in general, one particular subgenre the Predator could truly excel in is the found footage genre. More of a filming technique than a genre in the traditional sense, found footage movies are made up of footage with an in-universe explanation, whether its a documentary filmmaker, security cameras, or simply a collection of webcam recordings put together to make a cohesive film. This format could do wonders for a Predator movie for a variety of reasons.

The closest thing that already exists to a found-footage Predator movie is 2008’s Cloverfield, which uses diagetic footage to chronicle the attack of a giant alien monster. The Predator movies already use found footage in a sense whenever they switch to the species’ signature thermal vision, using the aliens’ perspective. A movie that expands on this element while combining it with hand-held human camerawork could make for the most chilling and intense Predator movie yet.

5 Martial Arts

What if the Predator found a human who could keep up with it?

Another movie genre that deals in sufficient levels of action to be ripe for a Predator invasion would have to be the martial arts genre. Spanning a variety of settings, time periods, and levels of supernatural kung fu powers, martial arts movies are inherently dangerous affairs featuring human combatants duking it out in hand-to-hand combat. Throwing a Predator in the mix could be endlessly entertaining, whether the film was a more grounded sports movie or a high-flying wuxia epic.

One thing a martial arts Predator movie could really tap in to is the Yautja’s innate sense of honor. Predators have typically shown to only go for prey that they see as a worthy challenge, usually refusing to slaughter helpless or unarmed targets. A martial arts movie could present the opportunity for one of the alien Predators to intentionally shed their impressive Yautja arsenal and instead focus on unarmed combat, willingly stepping into the ring with a human opponent on equal footing.

4 Heist

A Predator could be the perfect monkey wrench to a well-thought-out plan

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There are few genres easier to appreciate than a well-executed heist movie. Usually following criminals or spies, heist movies revolve around the theft of some precious object or treasure trove with tight security, requiring a meticulously-planned caper run by eclectic crews of specialists to steal. These plans usually go wrong in some way in heist movies, and the addition of a Predator could be a singularly unexpected and brilliant wrench to throw into an intricate criminal plan.

Heist movies usually have some degree of action to them, making the violence of the Predator movies not out of the question for the genre. The Predator’s supernatural elements wouldn’t be the first time science fiction concepts have made their way into heist films before either, as proven by Zack Snyder’s zombie-heist fusion film Army of the Dead. The trophy of a Predator could even be the object of the protagonists’ affections in the first place, with the heist taking place within a Yautja spaceship.

3 Disaster

The wake of a natural disaster could be the perfect place for a Predator to strike

Like Predator movies, disaster films rely on terror, excitement, and tense life-or-death scenarios to drum up audience investment. The only difference is that in these movies, it’s wide-scale natural or supernatural disasters, like earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes, hurricanes, aliens, and apocalyptic events that serve as the “villain”. Rather than simply replacing the natural disaster as a source of fear, the addition of a Predator could actually enhance it. The wake of a natural disaster could be the perfect opportunity to insert a ferocious Predator.

A Predator disaster movie could have two distinct halves — One in which the disaster in question is the primary source of danger, and one in which the Predator mops up the survivors of a ruined city. Seeing human characters navigate floods, weakened infrastructure, and lawlessness while also dodging a Predator could make for an incredibly gripping story. It could even be revealed that the Predator themselves caused the disaster with advanced alien technology, hoping for a new environment to hunt in.

2 Noir

Might be the perfect setting for a Predator murder mystery

Prey proved just how successful the Predator concept could be in a period setting, pitting a slightly de-powered Predator against a more vulnerable, less technologically-advanced target. Another great genre that typically takes place in the past is the noir film, characterized by black-and-white footage, troubled private eyes, grisly murders, and femme fatales. From the dour subject matter to the propensity for action and violence, a classic noir (or futuristic neo-noir) movie would be the perfect place to insert a deadly Predator.

Rather than a hyper-futuristic version of Los Angeles, the Predator could this time be haunting the rainy alleyways of a 1940s or 50s New York City

Like Predator 2, a noir Predator film could focus on a detective investigating a series of brutal murders that turn out to actually be the work of a Predator on Earth. Rather than a hyper-futuristic version of Los Angeles, the Predator could this time be haunting the rainy alleyways of a 1940s or 50s New York City, blending in to some bleak scenery with its invisibility cloak. To really sell the setting, the hypothetical noir Predator movie could even be shot in black-and-white, if the producers were willing to take such a risk.

1 Superhero

The Predator has a surprising pedigree in comic books

The superhero genre is one of the most wildly popular types of movie in the modern age, frequently raking in some of the biggest box office hauls of all time. At first, the largely PG-13 genre might seem like an ill-fitting place for a Predator, who might clash with the aesthetic of most superheroes. But R-rated comic book movies are slowly becoming more and more normalized, and the Predator has been in PG-13 movies before with the Alien Vs. Predator crossover series.

At first, it may seem as though the Predator has no business interfering with superhero activity. But a crossover comic between the Predator, Batman, and Superman sets the precedent for the alien beasts intersecting with the DC universe. One of the highlights is Batman’s reveal that his famous “no-kill” policy is strictly reserved for humans, willing to go all-out on alien invaders. It would be incredible to see this dynamic re-created on the big screen with a high-profile crossover in a Predator movie.

Movie	Year	Genre
Predator	1987	Sci-Fi, Action, Horror
Predator 2	1990	Sci-Fi, Action, Horror
Alien vs. Predator	2004	Sci-Fi, Action, Horror
Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem	2007	Sci-Fi, Action, Horror
Predators	2010	Sci-Fi, Action, Thriller
The Predator	2018	Sci-Fi, Action, Horror
Prey	2022	Sci-Fi, Action, Thriller

Predator

Predator is an action sci-fi franchise created by Jim and John Thomas, beginning with the original film released in 1987. The franchise follows a warrior alien race known as the Yautja who travel the far reaches of space looking for worthy prey to hunt, constantly bringing them to Earth due to the sheer amount of conflict harbored on it. The series has spun off into comic books and animated features and has even enjoyed several crossover events via film and video games with the Aliens franchise.

Created by Jim Thomas , John Thomas First Film Predator Cast Carl Weathers , Arnold Schwarzenegger , Kevin Peter Hall , Peter Cullen , Derek Mears , Danny Glover , Gary Busey , Adrien Brody , Topher Grace , Walton Goggins , Françoise Yip , Boyd Holbrook , Olivia Munn , Amber Midthunder , Dakota Beavers Expand

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