History YMMV / ThePredator

** The movie decides to up and rewrite 30 years worth of film continuity by saying [[spoiler:the Predators were never just trophy hunting, but stealing DNA to modify themselves. This is especially jarring, as previous lore showed that the Yautja were disgusted and offended by genetic modification, as it diluted bloodlines. Even setting aside [[AllThereInTheManual sources outside the films themselves]], it dramatically changes the species' motivations in prior films, and not necessarily in a more-interesting way.]]

* OvershadowedByControversy: Just days before the film was set for picture lock and a week before release, the film became the center of ugly attention in the midst of the [=#MeToo=] era. It turned out Creator/OliviaMunn had discovered a month prior that Steve Wilder, a friend of Creator/ShaneBlack who had a bit part in the film, was a convicted sex offender. This was made worse by the fact that Black was ''aware'' of Wilder's past actions, the actor having been similarly hired for Black's [[Film/IronMan3 previous]] [[Film/TheNiceGuys two]] films and Wilder playing a character that makes unwanted advances at Munn's character (who, herself, is a real-life victim of sexual harassment). Fortunately, the studio responded by having his scene cut, but given the film’s financial disappointment, it seems likely that the deluge of news stories addressing the controversy didn't particularly help the box office returns.

** Did the first Predator [[spoiler:betray his race as a revenge for the genetic experiments he was subjected to, or out of genetic empathy for humans, whose DNA he received? Or both?]] Or, considering the longstanding canon of how there have been humans who have worked with Predators in not just comics and novels, but in films (case in point, ''Alien vs. Predator'', ''Predators''), could this Predator see humans as potential allies to help fight the Ultimate Predators?
** Did he really intend [[spoiler:to give the Predator-Killer supersuit to the humans to defend themselves from the Predators]] as Traeger and [=McKenna=] speculate? Or did he just come to Earth to hide it? Keep in mind that at the beginning of the movie the Predator [[spoiler:kills two of Quin's men even though he could have easily just evade the group and go on undetected, so it's more than likely that Traeger and [=McKenna=] were completely wrong about his noble intentions. Maybe he simply stole the suit for himself and by chance ended up on Earth after being chased by the Ultimate Predator.]]
** By that standard, were they also right that the Yautja were planning to [[spoiler:invade Earth because of global warming? In other media portrayals, while they were always obsessed with the hunt, they were completely disinterested in organized warfare and would quickly lose interest in a planet that challenged their hunting expeditions with open war. While this seems to be a huge departure from canon, it could easily be shrugged off as the humans misunderstanding the situation, since most of the exposition in the movie comes from them speculating rather than a Predator actually revealing anything about their motives.]]
** Were all previously seen Predators [[spoiler:collecting DNA from their trophies to modify themselves this whole time]] like the movie alludes to? Or were the Fugitive Predator and the Ultimate Predator both members of a clan of "Bad Bloods", or Predators shunned by the rest of their species for abandoning their CodeOfHonour, similar to the Super-Predators? Due to Shane Black's remarks on the Ultimate Predator being a cheater and the Yautja previously being shown as respecting and sparing prey if they managed to slay a fellow hunter, which would be counterproductive if [[spoiler:their objective was to collect DNA from strong specimens]], many prefer to believe the latter.

** The movie decides to up and rewrite 30 years worth of film continuity by saying [[spoiler:the Predators were never just trophy hunting, but stealing DNA to modify themselves. This is especially jarring as previous lore showed that Yautja were disgusted and offended by genetic modification, as it diluted bloodlines. Even setting aside [[AllThereInTheManual sources outside the films themselves]], it dramatically changes the species' motivations in prior films, and not necessarily in a more-interesting way.]]
** Even in its own continuity, the movie still screws things up with the reveal that the Fugitive Predator was [[spoiler: actually trying to help humans. [[PlotHole So why was]] it hunting down and killing Quinn's first team in traditional Yautja fashion the first thing it did when it got to Earth, with no indication of ulterior motives?]]

* BrokenBase: ''Oh boy.'' To say that ''The Predator'' is the most contentious film in the franchise to date would be an understatement, but to keep it short short and simple, viewers will either enjoy this movie as a fun sci-fi film, or despise it for its weak second and third acts and rewriting the 30+ years of history surrounding the Predators, in and out of the films.

* FanonDiscontinuity: While the movie is supposed to be in the same universe as the previous films, a good portion of the fanbase wanted nothing to do with it. Usually they'll either ignore it out of disdain or treat it nothing more as poorly-written AlternateContinuity or a WhatIf related story.

* FanDislikedExplanation: The idea that the Yautja [[spoiler: have been taking trophies all this time to [[LegoGenetics steal human DNA]]]] has not gone over well with many, if not most fans of the franchise.
* HilariousInHindsight: Creator/KeeganMichaelKey had hoped to sneak in a shout out to ''Film/{{Dolemite}}'' into this movie, until the producers prevented it - now Keegan has the last laugh, with a role in ''Film/DolemiteIsMyName''.
* MemeticMutation: The ImageBoards had a lot of fun with this film's portrayal of autism as a DisabilitySuperpower, making it ''literal'' [[https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/weaponized-autism "weaponized autism"]].

** Casey literally shooting herself on the foot with her tranq gun while chasing the Predator. For all her earlier talks about having prepared herself for her mission and her admittedly impressive athleticism, it all falls short by way of slapstick self-injury.
** The Ultimate Predator's character design is admittedly intimidating in closeups, but its [[TopHeavyGuy hulking upper body on top of strangely slender legs and digitigrade feet]] makes it unintentionally ridiculous if seen whole, like a badly done mix-and-match creature or as if he had forgot to work out on half of his body. Amusingly, none of the otherwise quite spoilerific marketing pieces shows clearly the baddie's lower body, which means the producers probably realized this by themselves at some point and tried to hide it until the release.
** [[spoiler:Autism, particularly the unrealistic IdiotSavant archetype, being considered "evolution's next step". It only avoids being offensive by being laughable, given how inaccurate by evolutionary science standards it is]].
** For some reason, a bunch of stock sound effects start being used during the final fight with the Ultimate Predator when ones like this hadn't been heard up in the movie to this point--the standard "tree falling over" sound, a cartoon cough sound as a hatch on the Predator ship opens, and the Ultimate Predator himself uses two different stock roars.

** Most of the first part of the film runs on Creator/QuentinTarantino-esque dialogue, juvenile BlackComedy and unapologetic action film tropes from TheEighties, and whether it succeeds or not with them is up to the viewer. However, for good or [[SoBadItsGood bad]], it can be said it makes for a rather entertaining, even unpredictable product.
** Coyle and Baxley shooting each other. It initially seems like Baxley is going for a MercyKill to spare Coyle a long and painful death. Then Coyle takes out his gun and you might wonder if it wouldn't be easier (and with smaller chances to fail) for each of them to use their own gun on themselves. However, their friendship and the solemnity of the scene still makes it a genuinely touching moment.

** The concept of Human-Predator hybrid was brought up in the 2005 video game ''VideoGame/PredatorConcreteJungle'', though the roles are reversed this time.
* OvershadowedByControversy: Just days before the film was set for picture lock and a week before release, the film became the center of ugly attention in the midst of the [=#MeToo=] era. It turned out Creator/OliviaMunn discovered a month prior that Steve Wilder, a friend of Creator/ShaneBlack who had a bit part in the film, was a convicted sex offender. Made worse by the fact that Black was aware of Wilder's past actions, the actor having been similarly hired for Black's [[Film/IronMan3 previous]] [[Film/TheNiceGuys two]] films and Wilder playing a character that makes unwanted advances at Munn's character (who, herself, is a real-life victim of sexual harassment). Fortunately, the studio responded by having his scene cut, but given the film’s financial disappointment, it seems likely that the deluge of news stories addressing the controversy didn't particularly help the box office returns.
* TheScrappy: Rory. Hated by long-time fans of the ''Predator'' franchise, for being a misplaced AdorablyPrecociousChild, who also happens to be the catalyst for the sudden GenreShift happening with the movie. He's hated even more by autistic people, the community he's supposed to ''represent'', for being a bland, unrealistic ChildProdigy, who is a thorn in the eye of many average-skilled autistic people for setting harmful expectations and generally having [[HollywoodAutism very little to do with autism representation]].
* {{Sequelitis}}: While both of the films following the original ''Predator'' have ContestedSequel status, ''The Predator'' is considered to fall heavily short, with much criticism going to its script and the Predator species feeling extremely out of character.

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: An important complaint of the film is how out-of-character the Predator race feels in comparison with the rest of the franchise. The Predators genetically modifying themselves, taking part in a ''Film/{{Deadpool|2016}}''-esque comedy scene, [[spoiler:seeking out body parts not only as hunting trophies but as genetic samples]], [[spoiler: calling an unarmed, mentally disabled child his species' "[[WorthyOpponent greatest warrior]]"]], [[spoiler:shooting enemies around with energy weapons without regard for their famous honor standards towards opponents]], [[spoiler:creating Predator-dogs out of their own race]], and [[spoiler:building super-suits]] are all ideas which stray so far away from known Yautja lore and culture that they seem like something out of a completely different movie, and not a good one. It is better exemplified by the main villain, who not only is genetically modified into barely resembling a Predator anymore, but does not even use any of his race's signature weapons and armor in the first place.

** More like "they wasted a good ''joke''", but the Halloween setting adds almost nothing to the film and neither of the Predators spend much time in the suburbs. [[ForHalloweenIAmGoingAsMyself The Predator walking around on Halloween]] and scanning Trick-r-Treating kids to identify if their toy weapons are real or not, anyone?
** A common criticism is that while the movie has interesting ideas like the Predator attacking the suburbs, PTSD vets banding together to survive, a government conspiracy, and etc., too many of these plot threads are crammed into the film's 107 minute runtime, thereby turning its story into a confusing mess and leaving these ideas underbaked.

* TooCoolToLive: [[spoiler: The Loonies (Nebraska, [[Creator/KeeganMichaelKey Coyle]], [[Creator/ThomasJane Baxley]], [[FriendlySniper Lynch]] and [[AcePilot Nettles]]) and [[Creator/SterlingKBrown Will Traeger]]]].

* TastesLikeDiabetes: The Predator-dog suddenly acting exactly like a real dog upon its HeelFaceTurn. Many fans were baffled at such a sentimental element being put into this particular franchise.

* WhatAnIdiot: [[spoiler:The first Predator shoots the Ultimate Predator with his plasma caster, but after missing the shot, instead of keep shooting, he decides to just charge forward and get into a hand-to-hand battle he obviously cannot win against such a gigantic opponent. As a result, he gets his head ripped off.]]

** The movie decides to up and rewrite 30 years worth of film continuity by saying [[spoiler:the Predators were never just trophy hunting, but stealing DNA to modify themselves. This is especially jarring as previous lore showed that Yautja were disgusted and offended by genetic modification, as it diluted bloodlines.]]

* BrokenBase: ''Oh boy.'' To say that ''The Predator'' is the most contentious film in the franchise to date would be an understatement, but to keep it short short and simple, viewers will either enjoy this movie as a fun sci-fi film, or despise it for rewriting the 30+ years of history surrounding the Predators.

* FanonDiscontinuity: While the movie is supposed to be in the same universe as the previous films, a good portion of the fanbase wanted nothing to do with it. Usually they'll either ignore it out of disdain or treat it nothing more as poorly written AlternateContinuity or a WhatIf related story made with not too much brilliance.

* FanDislikedExplanation: The idea that the Yautja [[spoiler: have been taking trophies all this time to [[LegoGenetics steal human DNA]]]] has not gone over well with many, if not most fans of their history and lore.

* BrokenBase: ''Oh boy.'' To say that ''Film/ThePredator'' is the most contentious film in the franchise to date would be an understatement, but to keep it short short and simple, viewers will either enjoy this movie as a fun sci-fi film, or despise it for rewriting the 30+ years of history surrounding the Predators.

* BrokenBase: ''Oh boy.'' To say that ''ThePredator'' is the most contentious film in the franchise to date would be an understatement, but to keep it short short and simple, viewers will either enjoy this movie as a fun sci-fi film, or despise it for rewriting the 30+ years of history surrounding the Predators.

** Even in its own continuity, the movie still screws things up with the reveal that the Fugitive Predator was [[spoiler: actually trying to help humans. [[PlotHole So why was]] hunting down and killing Quinn's first team in traditional Yautja fashion the first thing it did when it got to Earth, with no indication of ulterior motives?]]

* SoBadItsGood: While few will say it's a good ''Predator'' movie, there are some who enjoy TheEighties {{Narm}} schlockfest that it is and the NarmCharm that it delivers. The whole plot of Predators playing LegoGenetics, and and assimilating genes to become stronger, as well as the rampant ArtisticLicenseBiology adds to the unintentional comedy, and it has [[Creator/GaryBusey Gary Busey's son Creator/JakeBusey in it too.

* SoBadItsGood: While few will say it's a good ''Predator'' movie, there are some who enjoy TheEighties {{Narm}} schlockfest that it is and the NarmCharm that it delivers. The whole plot of Predators playing LegoGenetics, and and assimilating genes to become stronger, as well as the rampant ArtisticLicenseBiology adds to the unintentional comedy, and it has Creator/GaryBusey's son Creator/JakeBusey in it too.

* SoBadItsGood: While few will say it's a good ''Predator'' movie, there are some who enjoy TheEighties {{Narm}} schlockfest that it is and the NarmCharm that it delivers. The whole plot of Predators playing LegoGenetics, and and assimilating genes to become stronger, as well as the rampant ArtisticLicenseBiology adds to the unintentional comedy.

* SoBadItsGood: While few will say it's a good ''Predator'' movie, there are some who enjoy TheEighties {{Narm}} schlockfest that it is and the NarmCharm that it delivers. The whole plot of Predators playing LegoGenetics and assimilating genes to become stronger adds to the unintentional comedy.

* SoBadItsGood: While few will say it's a good ''Predator'' movie, there are some who enjoy TheEighties {{Narm}} schlockfest that it is and the NarmCharm that it delivers.

* CriticalResearchFailure: The film intends to show Casey Bracket as a [[InformedAbility professional evolutionary biologist and scientific genius]], though she mainly serves as a mouth-piece for the writers’ complete lack of understanding evolution or science.
** She repeatedly refers to the Predator growing natural armor as creating "an exoskeleton under their skin". An exoskeleton is only an exoskeleton if it's specifically an ''outer layer'' (as in, that's literally what exoskeleton means), and otherwise would be an ''endo''skeleton. Or, as it’s more commonly known, ''a regular skeleton.''
** Her assessment that autism is the "next step in evolution" is complete nonsense, and laughably outdated by modern scientific standards. Even taking the unrealistic EvolutionaryLevels trope into effect, it still doesn't work, because the effects of autism run directly ''against'' what evolution stands for [[note]]Autism often hinders social interaction, thereby diminishing an individual's chances of surviving and passing on their genes, and while its neurological effects might have some situational advantages in a survival scenario, they are much less useful in modern society[[/note]]. While autistic people ''can'' sometimes have higher intelligence than people without it in certain fields, the autism itself is still not something that many would argue is an evolutionary advancement since the negatives brought by it can be varied and difficult to gauge.

** Her assessment that autism is the "next step in evolution" is complete nonsense, and laughably outdated by modern scientific standards. Even taking the unrealistic EvolutionaryLevels trope into effect, it still doesn't work, because the effects of autism run directly ''against'' what evolution stands for [[note]]Autism hinders social interaction, thereby diminishing an individual's chances of surviving and passing on their genes, and while its neurological effects might have some situational advantages in a survival scenario, they are much less useful in modern society[[/note]]. While people with autism ''can'' sometimes have higher intelligence than people without it in certain fields, the autism itself is still not something that many would argue is an evolutionary advancement since the negatives brought by it can be varied and difficult to gauge.

* CriticalResearchFailure:
** "Scientists" within the film repeatedly refer to the Predator's natural armor as "an exoskeleton under their skin". Note that an exoskeleton is only an exoskeleton if it's specifically an ''outer layer'' (as in, that's literally what exoskeleton means), and otherwise would be an endoskeleton. Or, as you may commonly know it, ''a regular skeleton.''
** The idea that autism is the "next step in evolution" is complete nonsense, and laughably outdated by modern scientific standards. Even taking the unrealistic EvolutionaryLevels trope into effect, it still doesn't work, because the effects of autism run directly counter to what evolution stands for. (Autism hinders social interaction, thereby diminishing an individual's chances of surviving and passing on their genes, and while its neurological effects might have some situational advantages in a survival scenario, they are much less useful in modern society.) While people with autism ''can'' have sometimes higher intelligence than people without it in certain fields, autism is still not something that many would argue is an evolutionary advancement since the negatives brought by it can be varied and difficult to gauge. The fact that Casey, an actual evolutionary biologist, is the one who says this makes it even more preposterous.

* {{Narm}}: [[Narm/ThePredator Enough to have its own article.]]

%%* TooCoolToLive: [[spoiler: The Loonies (Nebraska, [[Creator/KeeganMichaelKey Coyle]], [[Creator/ThomasJane Baxley]], [[FriendlySniper Lynch]] and [[AcePilot Nettles]]) and [[Creator/SterlingKBrown Will Traeger]]]].

* ContestedSequel: Does it revitalize the series in fun and outrageous ways along with an 80s action vibe, or one disappointing sequel that goes too far from the rest of the series? (A few of the dissers even claimed it to be worse than ''Film/AliensVsPredatorRequiem'', considered the lowest point for ''three'' franchises.)

* TooCoolToLive: [[spoiler: The Loonies ([[BlackBestFriend Nebraska]], [[Creator/KeeganMichaelKey Coyle]], [[Creator/ThomasJane Baxley]], [[FriendlySniper Lynch]] and [[AcePilot Nettles]]) and [[Creator/SterlingKBrown Will Traeger]]]].

* HilariousInHindsight:
** Somebody apparently didn't learn from the lessons of ''Film/IndependenceDayResurgence'' and ''Film/PacificRimUprising'', since this movie not only seems likely to end up victim to the [[FranchiseKiller same fate]] as those two but has an ''almost identical'' SequelHook: [[spoiler: humans acquire the ability to give alien invaders ATasteOfTheirOwnMedicine.]]
** Just the fact that Boyd Holbrook plays a PapaWolf here, considering that [[Film/{{Logan}} his last major film role involved hunting down another one. With his own Predator claws, no less.]]
** Creator/KeeganMichaelKey had hoped to sneak in a shout out to ''Film/{{Dolemite}}'' into this movie, until the producers prevented it - now Keegan has the last laugh, with a role in ''Film/DolemiteIsMyName''.