In the summer of 1987 two huge blockbusters entered our known universe and blew us all away. Both films were among the top grossing in 1987, with RoboCop pulling in 53 million dollars and Predator 59 million. Both films directed by men who are masters of their craft. John McTeirnan, better know for Die Hard and The Hunt For Red October, and Paul Verhoeven who is responsible for other sci-fi epics like Total Recall and Starship Troopers. But who is the victor? Not which is the better movie, but who would win, RoboCop or Predator, in an all out battle to the death. We’ve all seen Alien vs. Predator, and even the Sega Genesis game RoboCop vs. Terminator. But these are all robots and aliens fighting there own kind. I say cyborg vs. extra-terrestrial. Disclaimer: This essay does not take into account sequels or video games, for they change characters attributes so the audience doesnt get bored. Example predator will not have a ship as seen in the sequel. You don’t see the ship in the first one so it’s not an advantage. Also this does not take anyone’s opinion of which movie is better and or more “bad-ass”.

First off what is the location of the battle? You will have to pick two locations, so there wont be any dispute over home field advantage. First location, obviously the  jungle, and second an abandoned warehouse, where a cocaine distribution ring is  going on. But does Predator really have an advantage with the jungle fighting  RoboCop? Predator has two ways of seeing things, his infrared with the mask on  and some kind of one color rendering where all he sees is things in red. RoboCop  also has two forms of vision. A computer enhanced full color sight system, and  infrared that seems to be more powerful that normal, where as it can see through  walls. This is seen when RoboCop sees the terrorist holding the mayor hostage  through the wall and punches through it to disarm him. Predators infrared is a little  less advanced. He has trouble seeing Dutch in the end of the film when he’s simply  just covered in mud. So how will he see RoboCop? Hes not warm living tissue. The only tissue he has in underneath his cold steel outer frame. The mouth does show, but is it just a skin outer coating, that doesn’t produce heat? One would think it is. When RoboCop takes off his mask near the end of the film you see that it almost looks like the face has been stretched over a steel skull. If Predator couldn’t even see Dutch when he was covered in mud, Predator would not be able to see him unless he had taken of his mask to his natural unassisted sight. The Jungle does give Predator one advantage, that does not have to do with sight. Predator is extremely more agile than RoboCop. So moving from tree to tree and through bushes would be difficult for RoboCop, but with a computer assisted aiming system, it wouldn’t matter.

Both RoboCop and Predator have pin-point accuracy, which in Predators sake is assisted by his helmet and laser guidance. You know the 3 red dots. And RoboCop’s accuracy is assisted by his vision being in synchronization with his robotic arm. As stated earlier, Predator will not see RoboCop with his helmet on therefore rendering his laser guidance ineffective. Robocop can see with or with out his helmet and still have his accuracy. The only downfall of RoboCop’s guidance is its somewhat easily knocked off aim. In the film he almost gets taken down but the Detroit Police and has to reset his aim later. So during a brutal fight with a 7 foot alien, his aim could again be taken out. But its still better than not having any.

If Predator won’t be able to lock on to RoboCop’s cold steel outer skeleton would he even use his shoulder mounted plasma canon? That seems to be his only weapon other than his self destruct mode. RoboCop only has a fully automatic gun hidden in his thigh. And what if RoboCop is still in arrest mode? Will he just try to hand-cuff and book Predator? Not if Predator attacks RoboCop. RoboCop will kill out of self defense. He did take out an entire drug ring because they shot first. Predator can bleed and die fairly easily like a human, but its his quickness that keeps him alive.With RoboCop not dying from a barrage of bullets from the his own police force with at least 25 guys firing at him with fully automatic weapons for 5 minutes, getting fired at from a plasma cannon from someone who cant lock onto you shouldn’t be a problem. But Predators a hunter right? Hell out smart RoboCop. Yes there is a chance of that happening, but RoboCop’s vision calculates his environment with computer like speed. Predator cant be too cunning he walked right into an obvious trap set by Dutch at the end of the film and a giant tree stump crushed him. Well wat about the fact that RoboCop has feelings? Could this be his downfall? Predator could, in the usual action movie style, hold a helpless girl hostage. Use her as bait and trap RoboCop using his human emotions against him. This “could” happen, but very unlikely. Predator does not invite inncocent and unarmed people into fights. This is seen when Predator kills, but lets the native girl go because she is unarmed. So in standard action movie fashion, RoboCop couldn’t simply take him out with one shot with his aim. The movie would only last 10 minutes. So what have to happen to make it somewhat even is both weapons would be taken out through the battle, and no one would have guns or pin-point accuracy. The battle would resort to hand to hand combat. In that case Predator would have a serious advantage in the jungle. But we know how fragile he is with how he met his demise in the end with the tree stump. RoboCop had a bunch of steel beams dropped on him and he survived, so he’s obviously more durable. Also RoboCop took the end of a gun and bent it, so his strength is also far superior to Predator’s.

So in conclusion with Predators inability to see RoboCop with his infrared and helmet on rendering his laser guidance useless, and the fact that RoboCops infrared is far superior that his opponent making his invisibility useless, its obvious RoboCop will kill Predator. And along with RoboCop’s far superior strength, hand to hand combat is no contest. Well what if he just blows up in self destruct mode? If Dutch can be right next to him when he arms it, and run away and duck to safety, RoboCop’s bullet proof steel will protect him even better. And good guys always win in movies, duh.

RoboCop wins.

Here’s some trailers to remind you of these movies awesomeness.

Who knew the future of law enforcement was set to the same score as The Terminator?

I like how trailers from the 80’s kinda suck, but this one’s a joke.  Talk about about anti-climactic!  Where’s Carl Weathers? And that other governor guy? Geez this movie deserves better.