36 Years Ago, Danny Glover Starred In A Major Sci-Fi Sequel That Deserved More Respect

A sequel to John McTiernan's beloved 1987 sci-fi horror "Predator" without the director and Arnold Schwarzenegger was always going to be at a disadvantageous position, especially when talking about a film franchise that had no clue back in 1990 it would be a successful one. After directing only two low-budget features, director Stephen Hopkins had big shoes to fill and a tall order to deliver with "Predator 2." Although he got a budget that was double the original, Hopkins didn't have what mattered most: the cast that made the first movie such a bloody good time (except for Kevin Peter Hall as Predator).

What he did have was a 44-year-old Danny Glover after two "Lethal Weapon" films (the fourth was Jet Li's American debut) and an alien hunter people came to know as one of the coolest monsters cinema has ever produced. The Mexican jungle was replaced with a steamy, chaos-ridden Los Angeles in the future of '97 — which, to Hopkins' credit, is an immersive and apt setting for the dreadlocked ugly-face to hunt and collect skulls in — where the gang war between the Colombians and Jamaicans had the city in its grip.

Lieutenant Mike Harrigan (Glover) is first in line among those cops who make it their mission to stop the rampant violence by any means necessary. And to do that, he needs to fight gunfire with gunfire, bureaucracy with insubordination and incessant stubbornness. In the midst of that ongoing battle, Harrigan learns there's a third party — camouflaged and armed to the teeth with high-tech weaponry — interested in eviscerating all parties.

Beginning with a hectic opening scene, "Predator 2" establishes early on that it has no interest in following its predecessor's footsteps. Instead of a measured build-up, Hopkins opens with an LA that's loud, sweaty, and unapologetically in-your-face. Bullets are flying, people are scream, and order on the streets is non-existent. You have to pace yourself in this world to even breathe, and Glover's intense, on-the-edge cop is mere gasoline to the fire. Lieutenant Harrigan is a fuming pile of nerves with a bull-headed mindset to everything and everyone (the opposite energy the actor brought to "Lethal Weapon 1-2"). He's reckless but also resilient enough to be worthy prey to the alien hunter.

Although "Predator 2" operates on a unique wavelength from the get-go, Jim and John Thomas' script largely adheres to the typical formula of '80s and '90s action flicks. The first half doesn't offer much beyond decently gory and high-octane shootouts that arrive in quick succession without revealing much of the fan-favorite alien. The best bits come later when the cheap CGI camouflage and infrared POV are switched to the dreadlocked Predator in his full glory — Kevin Peter Hall donning the outfit with confidence and swag.

It takes a while until Hopkins' effort evolves from generic action film to a true Predator outing, but once Harrigan finds himself face to face with the alien, you're treated to an epic cat-and-mouse chase. By mixing action, gore, and humor into a delicious cocktail in the third act, "Predator 2" earns its rightful place in the franchise. The final confrontation between Harrigan and the titular monster captures the essence of what a "Predator" movie should be, deepening the lore as well as delivering the coolest visuals (including some fantastic practical effects) with aplomb.

Upon release in the late autumn of 1990, "Predator 2" hardly impressed anyone. Both critics and audiences felt let down by it, missing the thrill and suspense of the hunt the original provided in spectacular R-rated fashion. At the time, it was hard not to share that sentiment, especially without the knowledge of how future sequels (or eventual Marvel crossovers) would pan out in the franchise. That clearly manifested in the film's box office performance, which wasn't terrible but also far from what the studio expected.

Against a $30 million budget, "Predator 2" only managed to scrape together $57 million and change worldwide (significantly less than what the 1987 original made three years prior). Yet looking back from a 36-year distance, "Predator 2" doesn't fare that poorly at all today. Sure, it's nowhere near the level of the original — few sequels, prequels, or spin-offs are, to be fair — but it's kind of a dumb, bloody, and fun ride down memory lane with a memorable cast.

Thus, it's not that surprising many fans and casual viewers came around to it over the years, causing a soft reappraisal that championed the movie's unusual approach and bold swing for the fences in terms of not repeating the formula of the original and going in a different direction. In the end, Hopkins' sequel has found much of the respect it didn't get at the dawn of the '90s.