The Predator franchise has spawned five films (plus two crossovers) across almost four decades, beginning with John McTiernan’s 1987 original about an elite military rescue team hunted by an alien creature in a Central American jungle. While the first film appeared to be a straightforward military action movie, it shifted gears when Dutch’s (Arnold Schwarzenegger) heavily-armed squad discovered their weapons and tactics were useless against an enemy with advanced technology like thermal vision and cloaking devices. The franchise has maintained this core setup throughout its sequels and spinoffs, from Danny Glover’s tired cop pursuing a Yautja through 1997 Los Angeles in Predator 2 to Amber Midthunder’s Comanche warrior defending her tribe against one of the first creatures to visit Earth in Prey. However, what all these movies have in common is the simple question at their core: what happens when the fiercest humans on Earth become someone else’s prey?

Over the years, Predator has spawned many imitators, but few grasp what makes these films resonate with audiences. While we are all in for the spectacle, the franchise is at its best when it pitches technological advantage against primitive ingenuity in a desperate fight for survival, showing how humans’ ability to adapt is the species’ biggest triumph. The following films may not feature mandible-mouthed aliens – still, they scratch a similar itch by mixing breathtaking action sequences, nasty sci-fi threats, and brave protagonists who rise to the occasion to face immeasurable odds. Here’s our pick for the best alternative movies for fans of the Predator franchise: