They almost called the film Hunter. However, once the alien underwent a complete redesign, the team didn't like the name anymore. Therefore, they switched to the more ominous Predator.
The idea for Predator came as an inspiration by a joke about Rocky Balboa. It said that Rocky Balboa defeated every earthly opponent, so he will have to fight an alien in the next movie. This concept then gave rise to the screenplay of the movie.
The filmmakers have achieved the Predator thermal vision by using a combination of infrared photography and post-production effects. Because of this extra effort, the audiences got a glimpse of how the creature sees its prey.
The 'Predator' suit worn by Kevin Peter Hall was incredibly hot and heavy, so much so the actor lost several pounds each day due to dehydration. Hall stood at 7'2'', making the Predator an imposing figure on screen.
Arnold Schwarzenegger's line, 'Get to the chopper!' became one of the most famous quotes from the movie. It is still widely quoted in pop culture today.
They turned filming into a survival test. Cast and crew endured contaminated food, venomous snakes, leeches, and breakneck terrain. Even director McTiernan lost 25 pounds, and Schwarzenegger often shot scenes with an IV in his arm.
They forced Schwarzenegger to endure freezing mud for weeks. He spent three weeks slathered in pottery clay—used as mud—while night temps dropped, leaving him shivering despite heat lamps and, at one point, needing schnapps just to keep warm.
The filmmakers added Predator's to the creature's design after Stan Winston showed early concept art to James Cameron. He suggested adding something unique to the alien's face, to make it feel distinct.
Schwarzenegger and his co-stars improvised almost the entirety of the final showdown, as they and the director were making decisions on set to create the intense cat-and-mouse game.
Jesse Ventura (Blain) discovered that his biceps were actually smaller than Schwarzenegger's, even if others told him otherwise in the costume department. Because of that, both actors upheld a small, friendly competition.
The film was originally going to be called 'The Hunter,' but the title was changed to 'Predator' to better reflect the creature's role as a relentless hunter of humans.
To alienate the Predator even more, the filmmakers made his blood glow green with glow sticks. When the Predator bled, they mixed glow-stick fluid with lubricant in order to produce that eerie neon effect..
The success of 'Predator' led to several sequels and crossovers, including 'Predator 2,' 'Predators,' and the 'Alien vs. Predator' films, expanding the creature's mythology. However, none of them reached the same success as the first movie.
Alan Silvestri composed the score for 'Predator,' which has since become iconic for its tense, atmospheric themes that perfectly complement the film's suspenseful tone.
The Predator franchise became a significant influence on science fiction and action films, with the character appearing in various media, including comic books, video games, and merchandise.
