Predators (2010)

Last updated:
September 17, 2025

Predators (2010), directed by Nimród Antal and produced by Robert Rodriguez, revives the legendary Predator franchise with a survival-horror twist. Instead of humans encountering the Predator on Earth, this time the hunters bring their prey to a mysterious alien game reserve. It’s a brutal, atmospheric, and surprisingly tense addition to the series.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

The Drop

The movie opens mid-action with mercenary Royce (Adrien Brody) awakening while parachuting onto an unknown jungle planet. Soon he encounters others who have also fallen from the sky, including a sniper (Isabelle, played by Alice Braga), a death row inmate, a cartel enforcer, a Yakuza member, and a few others. None of them know why they’ve been brought here.

The Deadly Jungle

As they explore, the group realizes they are not on Earth. The sky has a different alignment, and the wildlife is monstrous—oversized alien plants, bizarre creatures, and hunting traps. Slowly, it dawns on them: they are game, brought here to be hunted by Predators.

The Predators Reveal Themselves

Eventually, the group finds a Predator camp with three Super Predators—larger, more feral versions of the classic hunter—along with a classic Predator chained up as bait. The new species is at war with the traditional kind, and the humans are just pawns in this feud.

The Mysterious Survivor

The group encounters Noland (Laurence Fishburne), a soldier who has survived on the planet for years by scavenging weapons and hiding. At first, he seems like an ally, but paranoia gets the better of him. He tries to kill Royce and the others, but they outwit him, leaving Noland dead. His brief appearance highlights the psychological toll of long-term survival against the Predators.

Battle After Battle

As numbers dwindle, the survivors each meet grisly ends. Notably, Hanzo (the Yakuza) duels one of the Super Predators with a katana in a visually striking fight that ends with both combatants dead. Stans, the death row inmate, sacrifices himself by distracting a Predator long enough for the others to escape.

Movie Ending

The climax revolves around Royce, Isabelle, and Edwin (Topher Grace), a seemingly mild-mannered doctor. But in a shocking twist, Edwin reveals his dark nature: he’s actually a psychopathic killer who was chosen by the Predators not for combat skill but because of his twisted instincts. He poisons Isabelle with a paralytic toxin to slow her down, planning to leave her as bait.

Royce returns to rescue her, having set traps and prepared for a final showdown. He lures the last Super Predator into battle, using fire, cunning, and brutal hand-to-hand combat. After a savage fight, Royce finally kills the Predator by decapitating it with its own blade.

The film ends with Royce and Isabelle bloodied but alive. They look to the skies as more parachutes begin falling, signaling that the hunt is far from over. The movie closes on this chilling note, suggesting the cycle of Predator hunting continues endlessly.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, Predators does not have any post-credits scenes. The ending is self-contained, though it leaves the door open for sequels.

Type of Movie

Predators is a sci-fi action horror film with survival-thriller elements. It blends jungle warfare reminiscent of the 1987 original with a darker, more psychological tone.

Cast

Adrien Brody as Royce
Alice Braga as Isabelle
Topher Grace as Edwin
Laurence Fishburne as Noland
Walton Goggins as Stans
Oleg Taktarov as Nikolai
Louis Ozawa Changchien as Hanzo
Danny Trejo as Cuchillo
Mahershala Ali as Mombasa

Film Music and Composer

The score was composed by John Debney, who incorporated themes from Alan Silvestri’s original Predator soundtrack (1987). The familiar tribal drums and eerie motifs return, tying this film to the franchise’s roots.

Filming Locations

The movie was filmed primarily in Hawaii for the lush jungle sequences, with additional studio shooting in Texas. Hawaii’s dense vegetation created the otherworldly, claustrophobic environment essential for the story, making the alien planet feel simultaneously exotic and familiar.

Awards and Nominations

Predators didn’t sweep awards season but received attention from genre outlets. It was nominated for several Saturn Awards, including Best Science Fiction Film, and gained recognition for its sound design and creature effects.

Behind the Scenes Insights

Robert Rodriguez originally pitched his Predators script in the mid-1990s, but it was considered too expensive to make at the time.
Adrien Brody went through intense training to bulk up and fit the action-hero mold.
The “Super Predator” design was created to contrast with the classic Predator, making them bulkier, more animalistic, and more brutal.
Laurence Fishburne’s role was expanded during production because Rodriguez loved his performance.

Inspirations and References

The film heavily references the original Predator (1987) in tone, setting, and themes of man vs. hunter.
The jungle environment is a deliberate callback to the Schwarzenegger-led classic.
The Yakuza duel with Hanzo mirrors the original’s showdown between Billy and the Predator.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

Several alternate endings were rumored:

One version supposedly revealed Royce as a Predator in disguise.
Another idea considered Isabelle and Royce escaping the planet, only to end up on a Predator ship.
Most of these remained unused, as Rodriguez and Antal wanted to keep the bleak, cyclical ending intact.

Book Adaptations and Differences

The film inspired a novelization that included deeper character backstories and expanded descriptions of Predator culture. The book reveals more about Edwin’s psychopathy and Noland’s descent into madness, fleshing out what the movie only hints at.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

The opening freefall sequence with no explanation of where or why.
The reveal of the crucified “classic Predator.”
Hanzo’s katana duel with the Predator in the tall grass.
Royce covered in mud and fire during the final fight, echoing Schwarzenegger’s camouflage tactic from the original film.

Iconic Quotes

Royce: “This planet is a game preserve… and we’re the game.”
Stans: “I’m gonna rape, kill, and eat you. And not necessarily in that order.” (delivered with his usual twisted humor).
Edwin: “Why are you here? Same reason as you. Same reason we all are. We’re predators too.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

Isabelle references Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character from the original) and the events of the 1987 film, directly connecting Predators to the original timeline.
The Predator hound designs are inspired by unused concept art from earlier films.
Royce covering himself in mud mirrors Dutch’s iconic tactic.

Trivia

Adrien Brody shocked fans by taking on an action-hero role, as he was known for dramatic roles like The Pianist.
Danny Trejo’s character Cuchillo was designed specifically for him after Rodriguez suggested his involvement.
The Predator camp was built with both practical effects and CGI to honor the legacy of Stan Winston’s original creature work.

Why Watch?

If you enjoyed the original Predator and crave a return to tense jungle hunts, Predators is a worthy sequel. It restores the franchise’s primal survival feel, mixes brutal combat with psychological dread, and gives fans memorable kills, creatures, and set pieces.

Director’s Other Movies

Kontroll (2003)
Vacancy (2007)
Armored (2009)
Metallica: Through the Never (2013)

Predators (2010)