The Predator franchise is among the most popular of all time. The Yautja (the Predator’s race) are easily recognizable. Combine that with their cool weapons, and slick fighting, they became movies that people look forward to. They’ve even made their way into comic books.
In each of their projects, the Yautja have battled interesting characters. A lot of them died along the way. However, at least one character manages to survive the Predator. Coming up are the eight that have done it better than anyone.
Honorable mention: Hanzo (Predators), the bear (Prey)
8. Royce
Project: Predators
"We're being hunted. The cages. The soldier. All of us. All brought here for the same purpose. This planet is a game preserve. And we're the game." -Royce
Royce wanted no part of the Yautja, their hunting planet, or the people he was stranded with. Nevertheless, he became the hero of the movie. What puts him on this list is what he did with everything he was given, which was almost nothing.
He had a gun with a finite amount of ammo and a group of people he wasn’t familiar with and he couldn’t trust. Meanwhile, the Yautja had superior weapons, home-field advantage, and more. Royce ends up killing Edwin and Berzerker Yautja. Of course, the latter came with help from Isabelle’s sharpshooting.
7. Wolverine
Project: Predator Vs. Wolverine (Marvel Comics)
"I admired him as much as I hated him. I imagine the feeling was mutual." -Wolverine
Long before he became Wolverine, a young Logan accidentally came across the Yautja. He won their first fight but started a blood feud. For decades, the same Yautja attempted to kill Logan. He didn’t care if Logan was unconscious or if it wasn’t a fair fight. He just wanted Logan's skeleton as a trophy. In the end, the Predator makes the mistake most of Logan’s villains make. He underestimated Wolverine.
6. Theta Berwick
Project: Predator (Marvel Comics)
"The universe is capable of producing endless horrors. Innumerable monsters. But I will not give up until I find the one monster that destroyed my life. Took everything from me." -Theta Berwick
Theta Berwick was riddled with guilt. If she hadn’t left her ship, her parents may not have been killed by Yautja. Like most tragic moments in comics, it leads to another’s fortune. At a young age, Theta dedicates her life to killing Predators and saving innocent people from the Yautja Stasis Farms (where they hunt people for sport).
Theta has lost multiple body parts throughout her journey. Despite that, she’s continued her mission. Along the way, she’s saved countless people and killed close to two dozen Yautja. The conclusion of the next Marvel Comics Predator series (Predator: The Last Hunt) determines if Theta becomes one of the best Yautja hunters ever or just another trophy on their wall.
5. Lieutenant Mike Harrigan
Project: Predator 2
"Look, I don't care how big this is or who's involved! This guy killed Danny, and he's gonna fall!" -Lieutenant Mike Harrigan
Lieutenant Mike Harrigan was in the middle of a gang war in Los Angeles. While attempting to maintain control, the Yautja came to town to hunt. If that wasn’t enough, he had to avoid the people hunting the Predator. That put him in the middle of three battles he came out on top of.
At the end of Predator 2, it was an old, tired Mike Harrigan, one-on-one against the Yautja. Mike didn’t have his normal weapons and still won the fight. Coming out victorious against a superior opponent using their tools is an accomplishment.
4. Ronald Noland
Project: Predators
Roland shouldn’t be a forgotten character in the Predator lore. He spent years on the Yautja’s Stasis Farm, survived, and killed a bunch of his hunters. Finding food and drinkable water must have been a challenge. Doing that while fighting for your life makes it more impressive.
Unfortunately, being there drove him crazy. Roland started talking to himself and lost all of his humanity. The latter cost him his life. Nevertheless, he’s still a top-five Yautja killer. Imagine how good he was before he went crazy. Maybe that’s the project we need to see.
3. Naru
"You bled my brother. So now you bleed. You think that I am not a hunter like you. That I am not a threat. That is what makes me dangerous." -Naru
Project: Prey
Naru wasn’t supposed to fight the Yautja or be a fighter at all. She was supposed to be a healer. But Naru wasn’t going to let either of those stop her. She wanted to be a hunter and felt an obligation to protect her people.
Naru is the most inexperienced fighter on this list. Realistically, she shouldn’t have won this fight. However, as Naru said in the movie, "It knows how to hunt. But I know how to survive." She knew the land better than the Yautja, she was faster, had more patience, and exploited the Predator’s arrogance. That's why she survived while her opponent didn’t.
2. The Xenomorph
Project: Aliens vs. Predator franchise
"*inaudible alien noise*" -Xenomorph
The Xenomorph always beat the Yautja. Even in the flashbacks (Alien vs. Predator), they had to blow themselves up to defeat the Xenomorphs. It could be that they don't have a particular fighting style. That makes it difficult for the Predators to predict their movements. That and the Xenomorphs are quick despite their size.
Since the Predators don’t take losing lightly, they continue to try again. Whenever they do win it’s with with the help of a human. It should make them their greatest enemy, but Arnold has to be number one.
1. Dutch
Project: Predator
"You're one... *ugly* mother(censored)!" -Dutch
Dutch expected to do a job with his team and leave alive. Instead, they're attacked by an unknown killer. As the movie progresses, the killer slaughters them one by one. Eventually, they find out it's an alien we now know as the Yautja and Dutch is the only one who survives.
Dutch’s victory comes after having no time to plan. The other people on this list at least had some. Dutch made traps in the jungle with nothing but a blade and his wits. He was lucky he discovered he was untraceable while covered in mud. Even then he almost died when the mud washed off.
Quickly put, Dutch is the innovator and Arnold Schwarzenegger's performance is the reason Predator is a profitable franchise.