Predator Franchise Origins and Core Timeline
The Predator franchise began with the 1987 film Predator, directed by John McTiernan and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. The film was produced by Silver Pictures and distributed by 20th Century Fox, introducing the iconic alien hunter character. The original Predator grossed approximately 98 million USD worldwide against a 15 million USD budget, establishing a profitable sci-fi action template. The franchise expanded with sequels, crossovers, and multimedia projects, with the core timeline now spanning over three decades of releases and development cycles Forbes.
The franchise timeline includes major entries such as Predator 2 in 1990, the crossover films Alien vs. Predator in 2004 and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem in 2007, and the reboot Predators in 2010. The most recent mainline film is The Predator, released in 2018 and directed by Shane Black, which featured a revised script and additional shooting under the supervision of 20th Century Studios. The franchise also includes direct-to-video sequels and a planned new film currently in development by 20th Century Studios, with reports confirming that a new Predator movie is in active pre-production Deadline.
Box Office Performance and Production Companies
Key Financial Data and Studio Involvement
The original Predator earned a domestic gross of 59.7 million USD and a worldwide total of 98.4 million USD, making it a commercial success relative to its budget. Predator 2 earned approximately 34 million USD domestic and 57 million USD worldwide, while the Alien vs. Predator crossover grossed 172.5 million USD worldwide against a 60 million USD budget. The franchise has involved multiple production companies, including Silver Pictures, Brandywine Productions, and 20th Century Studios, with 20th Century Studios serving as the primary distributor for the modern entries Box Office Mojo.
The Predators, released in 2010, grossed 127.2 million USD worldwide against a reported budget of 60 to 65 million USD. The 2018 film The Predator earned 51 million USD domestic and 160.3 million USD worldwide, underperforming relative to its estimated 110 million USD production budget and marketing costs. The franchise's financial data reflects a pattern of strong international box office returns, with markets such as China, the United Kingdom, and Germany contributing significant revenue. The ongoing development of new Predator projects is guided by 20th Century Studios and its parent company, the Walt Disney Company, which acquired 21st Century Fox's entertainment assets in 2019 SEC Filing.