The Ultimate Showdown: Unveiling the Secrets Behind Mastering the Alien vs Predator Movie Genre

Audiences often find themselves consumed by the timeless question of who would emerge victorious in a battle between two closely resembling pop culture icons. Throughout history, numerous franchises have emerged, dedicated to analyzing the weaponry, armor, and abilities of beloved characters in lethal encounters. While most of these comparisons are unofficial, on occasion, the holders of intellectual property rights will indulge in the speculation. One such example is the concept of Aliens vs. Predator, though it unfortunately falls short in its execution.

The Predator and Alien franchises have always shared subtle connections. Notably, renowned director James Cameron provided the inspiration for the mandibles on the Yautja's face to designer Stan Winston, who worked on the Aliens film. The first explicit reference occurred in Predator 2, where a Xenomorph's skull was displayed on the predator's spacecraft. The initial narrative of Alien vs. Predator materialized in comic form back in 1989, while the idea for a cinematic adaptation was proposed in 1994 but faced rejection, resulting in nearly a decade of developmental challenges. However, the concept ultimately found its way onto the silver screen.

How many Alien vs. Predator movies are there?

Two Alien vs. Predator films were released in theaters. The first one, AVP: Alien vs. Predator, debuted in 2004 under the direction of controversial filmmaker Paul W. S. Anderson. The plot revolves around a secretive billionaire who hires a team of experts to explore a hidden pyramid. However, their mission becomes complicated when they encounter an invisible hunter equipped with advanced technology. Trapped inside the pyramid, they soon discover that it is infested with Xenomorphs, formerly held as prey for the powerful Yautja predators. Humans become caught in the crossfire of this ancient rivalry, forcing the heroes to seek an unlikely ally and adapt to the ways of the hunters in order to survive.

Three years later, Alien vs. Predator: Requiem took a different approach. In the first film, a facehugger attached itself to a Yautja, resulting in the creation of a monstrous hybrid known as the Predalien. Possessing the strength of a Yautja and the corrosive blood of a Xenomorph, the Predalien escapes confinement and wreaks havoc on Earth. It unleashes a horde of Xenomorphs upon a small town in Colorado. A skilled Predator is summoned to eliminate the infestation using any means necessary. The human heroes consist of the town's residents who struggle to assist the Predator and defend against the invasion.

Why don't the Alien vs. Predator movies work?

Both AvP films achieved profitability at the box office, with the 2004 original ranking as the second highest-grossing film in the Alien or Predator franchises, following Prometheus. The sequel, however, was produced with a significantly reduced budget and generated considerably less profit. Critics heavily criticized both AvP films. However, there are defenders of AvP, and for valid reasons. While it may lack originality and depth, it embraces its mindless, absurd, and somewhat cynical nature, providing entertainment through its premise. It fails to capture the essence of what fans love about either franchise but delivers the intense confrontation that viewers would expect from a fan film with exceptional production value. On the other hand, Requiem proves to be a complete failure. It lacks the necessary excitement to be humorous, lacks intelligence to be enjoyable, and is frequently too dark to even be visible. It sacrifices the few redeeming qualities of the first film in exchange for cost-saving measures, resulting in an amplified version of its flaws. Despite leaving room for a potential third installment in the script, the disastrous reception of the second film appears to have deterred studio interest. It is truly disappointing to witness such a promising concept falter due to poor execution.

How to make a better Alien vs. Predator movie

One way to improve would be by adapting Dark Horse's Alien vs. Predator comic book series, which tells the story of Machiko Noguchi. She is a human woman who not only learns the ways of the Yautja but also abandons her corporate job to join the hunt. While these comics may not be flawless, they treat the source material respectfully and spin an intelligent narrative in a captivating setting. If the film studios are uninterested in adapting the comics, they can still learn valuable lessons from them. An AvP movie cannot solely rely on two iconic creatures as its main attraction. Regardless of its approach, it will always face criticism for being an IP-driven narrative. To succeed, an AvP film simply needs a compelling, original science fiction storyline that effectively utilizes the unique characteristics of the Xenomorph and Yautja.

The Alien vs. Predator concept has resulted in one enjoyable yet flawed film and one extremely disappointing one. Both franchises have continued to evolve in their own unique ways. It is uncertain whether fans will ever witness another epic battle between these famous space horror enemies on the big screen. However, a series of new books exploring this theme emerged in 2016, with the most recent installment, Aliens vs. Predators: Rift War, being released last year. Although there may not currently be a satisfying Alien vs. Predator movie available, their rivalry persists and it is impossible to predict when they will return for another confrontation.