The following contains spoilers for Predator: Killer of Killers, now streaming on HuluPredator: Killer of Killers is the first film in the Predator series to make one key detail about the тιтular alien species canon. On top of being one of the best films in the franchise, Predator: Killer of Killers also has one of the most extensive explorations of Predator culture yet depicted on-screen. The main characters of Predator: Killer of Killers find themselves on a mysterious planet implied to be the Predator homeworld, where they witness a ritual calling for them to fight to the death.

Beyond the glimpses into the Predator worlds and their hierarchy, including the introduction of the Predator King, the film also formally introduces the name of the Predator species. The term, which originated 31 years ago in a tie-in novel, has been taken as canon by fans but never formally recognized in one of the films until now. It’s a big step for the Predator franchise and highlights not just how the series is looking to tie-in material for potential inspiration, but how it further cements the alien killers as unique enтιтies in the sci-fi pantheon.

Predator: Killer Of Killers Finally Brings “Yautja” Into Movie Canon

The Yautja Term Was Introduced In A Predator Novel

Predator: Killer of Killers formally canonizes the Predator species as the Yautja, bringing a popular aspect of Predator lore into the film canon. Killer of Killers opens with a declaration of the Yautja Codex, which represents their hunter culture and underlying belief system. The code calls on the species to become the “killer of killers,” capable of hunting the cosmos for the greatest challenges in the universe. The term has long been used to refer to the alien species at the center of the Predator franchise, but it has not formally appeared in the film franchise.

Because the previous Predator movies have focused on the humans trying to survive the aliens instead of diving into their perspective, there has been little formal terminology offered in the films. The term “Yautja” actually first appeared in the novelization of the first Aliens vs. Predator comic book, Alien vs. Predator: Prey by Steve Perry and Stephani Perry. While many aspects of that novel were dropped by later writers, the name of their species became more or less accepted and embraced by other tie-in material and the fanbase at large.

Using Yautja Is Actually Important For The Predator Franchise

Introducing Yautja Highlights The Unique Strength Of The Predator Franchise

For one thing, formally using the name “Yautja” in a Predator movie highlights how the tie-in material can now be used for inspiration by future projects in the franchise. Similar to the way the modern Star Wars films and shows have adapted ideas from the now non-canonical tie-in material of the 1990s and 2000s, Predator is now seemingly willing to look beyond the other films for inspiration. The establishment of the Yautja code also goes hand-in-hand with the way Killer of Killers quietly expands on the culture and lore of the species central to the Predator franchise.

One of the things that always separated Predator from other sci-fi and horror franchises was the idea that the alien hunters were more than just mindless killers. There was a logic to their actions, a motivation behind their hunts. The establishment of their race and culture cements the idea that this is a warrior culture, literalizing their code of honor into a species-wide edict. The Predator King speaks of the code and the populace bleed themselves in tribute to the battle they witness, highlighting this is an entire other culture.

Predator has always stood out among its peers, but Predator: Killer of Killer expands the lore in a way that makes the series particularly unique. This establishment of an entire society, through not just their formal name but their codes and laws, makes them a more compelling enтιтy to explore. This gives their villainous appearances more depth, and opens up the possibility to see stories from their perspective (as in the upcoming Predator: Badlands). Predator: Killer of Killer formally using Yautja speaks to how the Predators aren’t just murderous monsters in the modern take on the franchise.