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One of the best sci-fi action movies ever is on TV tonight

Published 12:56 15 Jul 2026 BST

Updated 12:56 15 Jul 2026 BST

Stephen Porzio
One of the best sci-fi action movies ever is on TV tonight

Homemovies & tv

'Doubles as a wickedly entertaining and suspenseful mean-and-lean action thriller, and a sly satire.'

Our TV movie pick for tonight (Wednesday, 15 July) is Predator, the 1987 sci-fi action flick from director John McTiernan (Die Hard, The Hunt for Red October).

The film follows the soldier of fortune, Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger), who is secretly hired by the US government to rescue a group of politicians trapped in Guatemala.

But when Dutch and his team, which includes weapons expert Blain (Jesse Ventura) and CIA agent Al (Carl Weathers), land in Central America, something is wrong.

"After finding a string of dead bodies, the crew discovers they are being hunted by a brutal creature with superhuman strength and the ability to disappear into its surroundings," the plot synopsis adds.

Predator doubles as a wickedly entertaining and suspenseful mean-and-lean action thriller, and a sly satire, as the paramilitary team's machismo and arsenal of firepower is no match for their otherworldly threat.

This leads Dutch to resort to more stripped-back old-school methods to turn the tables on his adversary.

Watch the trailer for Predator right here:

Thanks to its plethora of quotable lines and GIFable moments, as well as its fascinating and striking villain, Predator has secured a place in movie history.

It also launched a franchise that has crossed over with the Alien films and saw its most recent film - Predator: Badlands - release in cinemas just last year.

The original Predator is airing on TV tonight on Film4 at 10.50pm. It's also streaming on Disney+.

Here are the other movies on TV tonight:

Commando - Film4 - 9pm

Another Arnie action classic, although this one is not as good as Predator.

Now You See Me 2 - Sky One - 9pm

The sequel in the franchise about famous magicians who also pull off bank heists and robberies.

S.W.A.T. - Legend - 9pm

Colin Farrell and Samuel L. Jackson headline this action thriller, which reboots a '70s cop drama.

Robin Hood - Legend Xtra - 9pm

Taron Egerton and Jamie Foxx star in this 2018 retelling of English folklore.

Emily - RTÉ One - 9.35pm

Emma Mackey stars in this well-liked biopic about Emily Brontë.

Rush - BBC One - 11.10pm

This fantastic sports drama focuses on the rivalry between F1 drivers James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and Niki Lauda (Daniel Brühl).