3. Predator 2 (1990)
We’re into classic Predator territory now. After the huge success of the the first film, 20th Century Fox was eager for a sequel but didn’t want to retread the same ground. 1990’s Predator 2 made a lot of bold choices and might be the most underrated movie in the franchise. It traded the dense Central American rainforest for the urban jungle of Los Angeles and starred Danny Glover as rogue cop Lt. Mike Harrigan. Glover does a great job in the role as he and his squad gradually unravel the mystery behind a cloaked monster that’s slaughtering local gang members.
Predator 2 was made right as CGI was starting to get more popular in movies, so some of the film’s computer-generated effects don’t slap quite as hard as in other Predator movies. That said, the practical effects are excellent, the script is razor sharp and conveys lots of information very naturally, and the premise of multiple forces converging on L.A. is unique in the franchise. It’s not just the Predator who’s on the hunt; there’s also a shady government task force led by Gary Busey, who’s out to capture the alien for its advanced technology.
One place where Predator 2 really sets itself apart is in its climactic sequence. After a long, bloody chase, Lt. Harrigan pursues the Predator down an elevator shaft and finds its ship is parked in the subterranean tunnels beneath the city. That sequence is one of the most important in the entire series; the entire Alien vs. Predator spinoff brand would never have happened if not for the inclusion of that xenomorph skull on the ship’s trophy wall.
The only reason Predator 2 isn’t higher on this is because the last two movies we have to discuss are near perfect.