10 Best Sci-Fi Horror Movies From The '80s

A lot of sci-fi in the 1980s challenged viewers with multi-layered themes and a thought-provoking story. However, John McTiernan's Predator doesn't do any of that. Instead, it has a straightforward plot about a bunch of mercenaries battling an alien in the jungle. That's what you expect and that's exactly what you get.

But due to its visceral action, masterful suspense, and iconic monster, Predator is pretty much as good as sci-fi gets. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his crew may be cast as stock characters but each actor performs their role so firmly, it doesn't come across as trite. Despite the fact Arnie tends to stand out due to his natural charisma and his ability to churn out iconic one-liners, everyone in the cast acts like they're trying to outdo one another with hilarious dialogue and memorable banter.

Even though Arnie was on his way to superstardom at the time, he gets shown up by the Predator itself - one of the most terrifying villains of the decade and a masterclass in character design. Predator has inspired sequels and copycats galore over the years but the original has never been bettered.