“Came Across as Ridiculous”: Arnold Schwarzenegger Revealed Creator’s Big Mistake in Order to Save $1.5 Million on Predator’s Shoot

Legendary bodybuilder and actor, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 1984 action movie, The Terminator was a massive hit worldwide. So much so that, it grossed 78.3$ million and was dubbed in several languages globally. It was also depicted in five subsequent franchises. However, that was not the case for his 1987 movie, Predator. The director employed a different special-effects company that helped them cut costs of around 1.5$ million from that segment itself.

In his autobiography, Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story, the bodybuilder once elucidated surprising details from the behind-the-scenes of the movie. The creature in the movie wasn’t designed by the professionals who created the star’s robotic ensemble in The Terminator. Hence, the $15 million budgeted film was an expensive disappointment and Schwarzenegger explicitly mentions why. Here’s what his book entailed.

Arnold Schwarzenegger opens up about his Predator dilemma

According to the book, the 75-year-old icon admitted to having a miserable time with the film’s shooting. “Was more of an ordeal than a pleasure to make. There were all the hardships you’d expect in a jungle: leeches, sucking mud, poisonous snakes, and stifling humidity and heat,” the book revealed. However, that wasn’t the worst part. The main creature that the movie revolves around was questionable and phony. The director, John McTiernan couldn’t afford Stan Wilson’s special-effects designs and thus, resorted to an option that cost him half the price of the former. 

Thus, he wrote, “The creature came across as ridiculous, not menacing; it looked like a guy in a lizard suit with the head of a duck.” However, the seven-time Mr. Olympia subtly claimed that making any action movie was distressing. Yet, this one was particularly more difficult because of the doubtful decisions made behind the scenes. “The predator we had wasn’t up to the job,” the actor added. 

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Besides that, the shoot location’s rough terrain wasn’t desirable or pleasant. “There was hardly an inch of level ground,” Schwarzenegger claimed. Speaking of the creature, it was supposed to look like an “alien and fearsome enough to terrify and wipe out big, macho guys.” Evidently, that was not the case even though it was invisible for the most part of the movie. Nevertheless, the legend also illustrated his tumultuous experience with The Terminator, in an interview once. 

Arnold Schwarzenegger explains a shocking take in the movie

Talking to sources, Schwarzenegger shared the movie was shot under budget constraints. It had a budget of $6.5 million. Therefore, detailing one of its scenes, he said,  “I remember one time I got out the car and they said: ‘Go across the street here on Sunset [Boulevard], and punch the window of car. We need the shot.”

Astonishingly, the actor bolted right into the car breaking through the window. “So I walked across the street and looked Terminator-esque and then looked around and – boom – punched through the window and reached inside…That’s the way we shot the first movie,” he enlightened. The antic also invited the cops to investigate the matter later on. 

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Movie or not, Schwarzenegger now is a blockbuster in himself. Wherever he goes, fans follow him. However, his current focus seems to be on promoting fitness and healthy living through his innovative ventures. What was your impression of The Predator? Tell us in the comments.