20 Things You Didn't Know About The Predator
11. The Predator Movie Franchise Is Part Of A Larger Cinematic Universe (And Not Just With Aliens)
Predators and Aliens exist in the same universe. Once you start to pull a few threads, and if you're willing to stretch a bit, deeper connections emerge that make Predators potential threats to a variety of movie characters.
Ridley Scott, the director of both Alien and Blade Runner, has gone on the record saying that he considers those two movie franchises to take place in the same world. With that in mind, Predators exist in the same world as well.
Which leads to another movie, 1998's Soldier, starring Kurt Russell. There are several data screens that tie Russell's character to the same universe - his weapon training includes the Pulse Rifle and Smartgun from Aliens, he's fought in several battles alluded to in Blade Runner, and the "spinner' vehicles from Blade Runner are seen flying around the background. Supplemental material on the Blu-ray of Prometheus also lists the Tyrell Corporation from Blade Runner as a rival to the Weyland-Yutani company from the Alien films.
If you really expand your view, the use of the Weyland-Yutani company would also connect this world to Firefly, Angel, and V (2009), all of which featured W-Y as a corporate entity.
Also, as an in-joke, the producer of Predator said the movie took place in the fictional country of Val Verde, which was the same country that Schwarzenegger invaded to rescue his daughter in Commando. Val Verde later made an appearances in Die Hard 2, as well as in the TV shows Supercarrier and NCIS.