Predator is a 1987 science fiction film, action and horror film directed by John McTiernan, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, and Jesse Ventura. The story follows a US Army Special Forces Unit on a mission to rescue hostages from a guerilla terrorist group in Central America. Unknowingly, the group is prey of an extraterrestrial lifeform. Reaction to the film was generally favorable, and the film grossed US$60 million in the United States. The film has generated a sequel, Predator 2 (1990) and two crossover films, with the Alien franchise: Alien vs. Predator (2004) and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007).

The Predator film uses the story of the hunter being the hunted from The Most Dangerous Game-inspired stories. The Predator is an alien humanoid with advanced technology and a penchant for hunting difficult game. With interstellar travel capability, multi-spectrum vision enhancement (although the film only shows him seeing the infrared), and a light-bending armor suit with equally advanced weaponry, the Predator is able to travel anywhere, hunt anything, and usually succeed. Much of the Predator's history and motivation are unknown throughout the film, but after its success, a franchise was created with a detailed back-story on the creature, including another film Alien vs. Predator (2004).

Predator is the first of the film series, as the creature descends on Earth interested in hunting exotic game - in this case humans. Information released after the film reveals the Predator scans the Earth's broadcast frequencies and chooses Central America as a location. A U.S. Special Forces unit is also en route to the same location, and during their operations stumble upon the Predator. The military unit possesses significant firepower, which attracts the creature's attention. During the film's final conflict, only one American is left and a cat-and-mouse game begins with each adversary hunting the other.