Predator – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Predator

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie1987

22%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Arnold vs. invisible alien in a jungle bloodbath—iconic 80s action, but absolutely not for kids.

7.8/10

65%

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Predator

movie

R, 1987

22%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Arnold vs. invisible alien in a jungle bloodbath—iconic 80s action, but absolutely not for kids.

7.8

65%

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7.8/10

65%

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, Predator is an undeniable piece of 80s action cinema history. The creature design is legitimately cool, and there's a reason it spawned sequels, crossovers, and endless Halloween costumes.

But let's be clear: this is not family viewing. It's brutally violent, genuinely scary in parts, and soaked in testosterone and blood. The 'get to the chopper' memes have given it a comedic legacy, but the actual film is a grim survival horror where most characters die horribly.

For adults who grew up with it or love action-horror? Sure, it's a fun watch. For kids? Absolutely not. The WISE score reflects that this has zero place in a family media library. It's well-made schlock, but it's still schlock designed to shock.

If your teen is begging to see it because of the cultural references, maybe wait until they're actually 17, watch it with them, and prepare for them to say 'this is so cheesy' approximately 47 times.

Age Fit

This is strictly adult fare—17+ at minimum, though honestly it's best for nostalgic Gen-X and older millennials who saw it in their youth. The violence is too graphic and the dated machismo too thick for modern teen sensibilities. If you're reading this wondering if your 13-year-old can handle it: they probably can't, and they'll likely find it boring anyway.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

A relentlessly violent action-horror film where muscular commandos are systematically hunted and killed by an alien trophy hunter. Features graphic violence, dismemberment, skinned corpses hanging from trees, and a body count that includes most of the main cast. The emotional tone is pure testosterone-fueled survival horror with virtually no cooperation or kindness—just machismo, profanity, and brutal combat. Not emotionally healthy viewing for kids.

Imaginative

The invisible alien hunter with thermal vision and advanced cloaking technology was genuinely innovative for 1987 and remains an iconic sci-fi creature design. The premise of elite soldiers facing something beyond their training invites genuine tension and curiosity. The jungle setting and predator-prey dynamics create memorable sequences. However, it's not asking viewers to build or create anything—it's pure spectacle and survival.

Safe

This is emphatically unsafe for kids. Extreme violence including on-screen deaths, bodies skinned and displayed, graphic gunfire wounds, an arm blown off, a character's spine ripped out with skull attached, blood sprays, and multiple jump scares. Brief sexual dialogue and tobacco use throughout. The entire film is designed to shock and terrify. While it's not 'unexpected' violence given the genre, it's far too intense for young viewers.

Enriching

As a cultural touchstone of 80s action cinema, it offers some value in understanding film history and practical effects work. The survival tactics and guerrilla warfare elements show problem-solving under pressure. Arnold Schwarzenegger's Dutch learns humility when brute force fails. But let's be real—it's primarily a violent spectacle designed for thrills, not growth. The ethical takeaway is thin: 'humans aren't always apex predators.' Limited empathy-building when characters are mostly one-dimensional soldiers.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Genuinely innovative creature design and practical effects that hold up surprisingly well
Created an iconic sci-fi villain that spawned an entire franchise and countless cultural references
Tight survival thriller that subverts the 'unstoppable action hero' trope when Dutch realizes muscles won't save him
Peak 80s Schwarzenegger doing what he does best before he became a walking punchline

⚠

What to Watch For

Graphic violence throughout—skinned bodies, dismemberment, spine-ripping, blood sprays, the works
Intense jump scares and sustained horror tension that will genuinely frighten younger viewers
Constant profanity and macho posturing that feels extremely dated
Sexual dialogue in early scenes (brief but crude)
This is a hard R-rated film—don't let the action-figure tie-ins fool you into thinking it's kid-friendly

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think the Predator only hunts armed opponents—what does that say about honor in combat?"
"Dutch wins by using his brain instead of his weapons—when have you had to outsmart a problem instead of powering through?"
"The film plays with who the 'real' predator is—are the commandos any better than the alien hunting them?"

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