Hulu’s ‘Predator: Killer Of Killers’ Combines All The Best Qualities Of The Franchise Into An Unmissable Animated Action Extravaganza
by Sergio Pereira · Thought CatalogWho had a Predator animated movie being one of the best instalments in the series on their 2025 bingo card?
Updated 7 hours ago, June 6, 2025
Toward the end of the Predator franchise’s run at 20th Century Fox, it lost its way.
No one is about to forget the abomination of 2018’s The Predator, which is a worse torture device than waterboarding. So, when the Disney-Fox merger happened and Predator found itself sitting under the Disney umbrella, the expectations were lower than low for the Yautja. Out of nowhere in 2022, Dan Trachtenberg’s Prey surprised us all, as the director took the story in a different and welcome direction. Now, Trachtenberg proves it wasn’t only sheer luck on his side, as he teams up with Joshua Wassung to unleash another masterpiece in the form of the animated anthology film Predator: Killer of Killers. Mild spoilers to follow.
What is ‘Predator: Killer of Killers’ about?
Much like Prey, the stories of Predator: Killer of Killers take place in different time periods. The first is titled “The Shield” and goes back to the time of the Vikings, as Ursa (Lindsay LaVanchy) seeks to avenge her father. The second, “The Sword,” takes place in feudal Japan, as brothers Kenji and Kiyoshi (Louis Ozawa) battle to become the Shogun after their father’s death. And finally, the third is called “The Bullet,” occurring during the events of World War II, where a young Torres (Rick Gonzalez) wants to head for the skies.
Each of these tales features a main protagonist on a quest to achieve something greater. However, matters take a turn for the worse, as an alien hunter arrives, throws a spanner into the works, and forces them to fight for survival. In essence, it’s what we have known from the series in the past, whereas the Yautja want to test themselves against the greatest warriors – whether they agree to the terms or not. What makes Predator: Killer of Killers remarkable is how it ties all the narratives together in a pulsating climax that makes each story’s theme stronger in the process.
Three stories combine for one special film
Since each tale takes place in a different time period, the fighting styles and weapons are different for the protagonists (and even for the Yautja, who are always more technologically evolved than humans, but not necessarily at their peak). Yes, the action is frenetic and bloody, as one would expect it to be, but the battles demonstrate why these warriors are the best of their respective era. It isn’t about their weapons, but their spirit and ingenuity to overcome the overwhelming odds. They’re also not cookie-cutter clones of one another, as each character possesses their own strengths and weaknesses that will play critical roles in the climax of the film.
Borrowing a similar art style to Netflix’s Arcane, Predator: Killer of Killers boasts an easy-on-the eye aesthetic. It’s a golden thread throughout the stories, as even though the setting and characters change, the animation remains consistent. That being said, there’s something extra special about “The Sword.” The sequence doesn’t feature a lot of dialog, relying more on the deliberate and carefully choreographed on-screen action to tell the story and connect with the viewers – and it does exactly that. It’s a beautiful and emotional journey about the balance of family and honor, proving that no matter how bad things get nor how far people drift apart, there’s always a chance at forgiveness and reconciliation.
‘Predator: Killer of Killers’ is a bloody good time
Those who have read Marvel’s Predator series in recent years might recognize a few similar ideas in Predator: Killer of Killers, especially in terms of the Yautja collecting warriors like they’re baseball cards. However, that doesn’t mean it’s an entirely recycled concept, as Trachtenberg and Co. blend their own flavor into what’s quickly becoming an exciting instalment (and continuation) of this long-running franchise.
It’s ironic, though. Disney didn’t have too much faith in the Predator franchise, hence it stepping away and largely letting Trachtenberg do whatever he wanted to do on Prey, then chucking the movie on Hulu to a response it couldn’t have predicted. Now, the franchise is hotter than ever, with Predator: Killer of Killers adding even more coal to this already sizzling fire. It’s funny how this is all due to a studio allowing creators to create without too much executive interference. What a novel concept! Maybe other studios could learn a thing or two from this approach.
Catch Predator: Killer of Killers now on Hulu.