Predator: Killer of Killers
‘ age rating continues an almost four-decade-long tradition for the Predator franchise. After first being introduced back in 1987 in John McTiernan’s action classic starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, the alien Yautja made a triumphant comeback in 2022 with Prey from director Dan Trachtenberg. Trachtenberg is now poised to deliver two new franchise installments to screens this year, with Predator: Badlands arriving in November and Predator: Killer of Killers, an animated anthology film that he co-directs with Joshua Wᴀssung, set to premiere on Hulu this summer.
According to FilmRatings.com, the MPA has given Predator: Killer of Killers an R rating for “strong bloody violence, some gore and language.” This decision by the MPA means the upcoming animated film will carry the same rating as every previous installment in the franchise, and for many of the same reasons. See how Killer of Killers compares to the other installments in the chart below:
|
Predator Franchise MPA Ratings |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Film |
Rating |
Justification |
|
Predator |
R |
N/A |
|
Predator 2 |
R |
Strong violence and language, and for sensuality and drug content. |
|
Predators |
R |
Strong creature violence and gore, and pervasive language. |
|
The Predator |
R |
Strong bloody violence, language throughout, and crude Sєxual references. |
|
Prey |
R |
Strong bloody violence. |
|
Predator: Killer of Killers |
R |
Strong bloody violence, some gore and language. |
What This Means For Predator: Killer of Killers
The Animated Anthology Film Will Follow In Its Predecessors’ Footsteps
The first Predator movie is now widely considered a classic in its genre. It held little back in terms of its action, with Dutch’s team dying in often brutal and bloody ways. This trend continues in every franchise installment that follows, including Prey, which features Comanche warrior Naru (Amber Midthunder) doing battle against a Yautja in the early 18th century. Predator: Killer of Killers will mark the first animated feature film in the franchise’s history, but this change in medium is evidently not affecting the graphic nature of the violence the Yautja perpetrates.
As seen in the Predator: Killer of Killers trailer, the film will feature the тιтular alien encountering the Vikings, Samurai warriors in feudal Japan, and World War II pilots. If previous entries in the franchise are anything to go by, many characters in the film will be dying in graphic ways as the Yautja proves its hunting prowess. As a streaming release, Killer of Killers won’t have any box office performance by which to judge the movie, meaning the R rating will have no impact in this regard.
Our Take On The Predator: Killer Of Killers Rating
This Was The Best Decision For The New Movie
Though the first Alien vs. Predator spinoff movie had a PG-13 rating, the fact that every installment in the Predator franchise proper has been rated R means it would have been surprising if Killer of Killers wasn’t. The level of violence and language in past films is a core part of why the franchise remains relevant and beloved almost 40 years after its debut. Plus, animation has become more widely accepted as a medium that is also for adults in recent years, and Killer of Killers is set to further establish that.
After the critically-acclaimed Prey, Trachtenberg seems like the best filmmaker to carry the franchise forward. Killer of Killers will be an interesting movie in this regard, but the real test will be the release of Predator: Badlands later this year, which is sure to also carry an R rating. It’s unclear whether the franchise’s dip into animation will be successful with Predator: Killer of Killers, but the R rating is just one more reason to look forward to this unique new project.
Source: FilmRatings.com
